It was billed as “The Ultimate 2008” and it lived up to its name with some stunning finishes and some cracking results. The card that has had fans salivating for weeks, delivered a delicious entrée, magnificent main meal and a delectable dessert!

Cheick Kongo vs Mostapha Al Turk
The main card got under way with an international Heavyweight match up. Impressive French striker Kongo was out to stop Englishman Al Turk, who was making his Octagon debut. After an initial size up Al Turk wanted to close the gap, while Kongo was happy to stay standing and deliver strong leg kicks and direct strikes. Mostapha heads to the mat and Cheick goes to work with kicks to the legs.

Al Turk gets back to his feet and drives for the clinch he gets the fight to the fence and connects with a knee to the groin. Kongo takes a good couple of minutes to recover and then lands a low blow of his own. Al Turk then gets a reprieve and the fight restarts. Upon resumption Cheick lands a solid right sending Mostapha south, then he dives in and reels off some vicious ground and poundage, hammer fists like I’ve never seen and elbows that tear up Al Turk. The ref decides enough is enough and calls a stop to the fight. Kongo impressive once again as he patiently moves across the HW landscape.

Wanderlei Silva vs Quinton Jackson
Part three of this story was always going to be interesting, with many thinking that Wandy had seen his best years and with the recent turmoil that Rampage had been through, no one had any real advantage.

We didn’t get out of the first chapter as Quinton put to rest the demons of his Pride days and cold knocked the Brazilian into next week, with one of his signature hooks (the left this time) with a little under two minutes remaining in round one. Wanderlei seemed a little stand offish, unlike when he waded in against Jardine. Rampage on the other hand was rejuvenated thanks largely to his move to the UK based Wolfs Lair gym. I see another run at the title coming very soon!

CB Dollaway vs Mike Massenzio
Season seven TUF runner up Dollaway kept his record against his old (wrestling) foe clean, as he won via TKO in the first round. CB escaped a possible guillotine choke, mounted Mike and began the barrage of strikes and elbows. Massenzio rolled and Dollaway flattened him out and bounced fists of Mikes’ ears until he was waved away. A no fuss win for a no fuss fighter.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Frank Mir
Following their rival stints as coaches on the most recent installment of TUF it was finally time for these two ground specialist to show their respective wears. The victor would get the Interim Heavyweight belt and also a shot at Brock Lesnar for the undisputed title.

Minotauro was the out right favorite before the fight but somebody forgot to tell an inspired Frank Mir. The Las Vegas native and one time Heavyweight champion dominates the opening round with nice strikes and good movement stunning Nogueira, not once but twice en route to a definite 10 / 8 score line.

Minotauro starts the second round with a little more purpose and looks to have blown out the cobwebs as his striking seems to have improved from the first round. However it’s Mir that lands again with two consecutive over hand lefts that send Nogueira to the canvas, Frank swoops in and finishes his dazed opponent, in the process stunning the MMA world and most of all himself. In his post fight speech he touched on some of the mental and emotional mountains he and his family have climbed in recent years and in my opinion was quite inspirational, humble and honest. Then he told Brock Lesnar that he had his belt and that Frank was coming for it. There is no doubt the chance of a great trilogy right there, regardless of the outcome of the next fight.

Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans
In what was possibly the greatest endorsement for the TUF franchise, two former winners faced each other to determine the Light Heavyweight Champion. From the opening bell it was hard to split these two, as it was pre fight. Griffin narrowly taking the first round as he used his reach to his advantage and also landed his trade mark leg kicks in what could have been a kick boxing bout as there was no clinching or ground work involved.

Forrest lands the best exchanges of round two as well, earning an air kiss and crotch grab from “Sugar”. Evans begins to land some jabs and catches Griffin with a few of his own leg kicks. Forrest finishes the round with a nice superman punch that stings Evans.

Griffin is ahead and sets out to mimic the previous rounds and throws a leg kick that is caught by Rashad, he hurts Griffin with a punch and takes it down. Rashad now works hard from within the guard as Forrest tries to gather his thoughts. Evans rises up and unloads with some crunching ground and pound further clouding Griffin’s mind and then finishes off the fight with unanswered lefts to the face. Victory is very sweet for the still undefeated “Sugar” Rashad Evans!

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