Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell was knocked out cold after Rashad Evans landed a vicious right hand square on his chin. Evans went inside the octagon as the underdog then came out the winner after pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the UFC.

Liddell, having lost 3 of his last 4 fights, stands at 21-6 while Evans has 14 wins against 0 defeats.

Liddell was already booked to fight current UFC light heavyweight champion, Forrest Griffin on December, but with Evans’ victory, Liddell might take the backseat for awhile. Though nothing is really final, UFC officials already declared that Evans earned the chance to fight for the light heavyweight title in the coming months.

-fouledout

From the Associated Press:

Chuck Liddell was the face of the Ulimate Fighting Championship. Rashad Evans is part of the changing of the guard in mixed martial arts.

"Hopefully it puts me right up there," Evans said. "I'm a patient man."

Liddell, the former champ and a key figure in the rise of the sport, has lost three of his last four fights, two of them by knockouts.

"I'm fine. A guy caught me," Liddell said after the loss. "What you want me to say?"

There has been speculation that the 38-year-old would retire, but Liddell wouldn't discuss it.

"I'll decide in the gym whether or not to retire. Not after a fight," he said.

Liddell was on the canvas for several minutes after the knockout before getting to his feet and walking out of the octagon.

"You've got to go right for the horns," Evans said. "You can't fight him trying to takedowns."

The 28-year-old Evans is unbeaten after getting his start on the reality television series "The Ultimate Fighter." He won the second season of the Spike TV series.

Por otro lado Matt Hamill es derrotado por Rich Franklin a los 39 segundos del tercer round al recibir una patada en el higado, obligandolo a tapear.

Dan Henderson gana por decisión después de dominar en todos los rounds.

Mañana tendré los resultados completos de este evento

Legendary former Ultimate Fighting champion Chuck Liddell suffered a major loss Saturday night at UFC 88 in Atlanta.

Liddell was caught with a one-punch knockout by Rashad Evans. Evans remains undefeated in UFC and is now a major player at 205 lbs. Meanwhile, it was Liddell's third loss in his last four fights and was particularly disappointing following his December win over Wanderlei Silva.

Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt and Jason McDonald were other winners on the UFC 88 card.

CHUCK LIDDELL BACK IN THE DAY AGAINST TITO ORTIZ

The news of the night is obviously Rashad Evans' HUGE KO of Chuck Liddell who was out for a good three minutes in the middle of the octagon. Evans could've hit him with a fucking sledgehammer and we wouldn't have known the difference, folks, that's how much power was behind that shot he dished out.

What does this mean for the division and the two fighters respectively? Well, obviously Chuck lost his title shot with Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 in December, that is clearly off now. Where Chuck goes from here, it's hard to tell right now. I'm sure Dana and Joe Silva will give him some time to recover and get his head straight. Perhaps a fight with Franklin (who won his 205 return against Hamill tonight and looked damn impressive in doing so) makes sense, perhaps Anderson Silva down the line. I don't think he fights till '09 though, that's for sure.

As for Evans, he takes a monster step up the light heavyweight rankings that's for sure. There are a couple possibilities for him right now and he certainly needs to fight more often than he has been recently. My first thought is to give him Thiago Silva who has recently pulled out of his match-up with fellow undefeated LHW Lyoto Machida due to a back injury. Silva should be ready to train again in a month or so and the reason why he shouldn't stay scheduled with Machida is Machida should now be bumped up to the title shot against Griffin at 92. Fact of the matter is, Griffin needs to put his title on the line then and Machida deserves it the most.

Other quick notes: It's good to see Hendo getting back in the winning circle again, very nice win over the tough Palhares who is no joke at all. Palhares is one dangerous mofo. Also, Marquadt and MacDonald both looked very good in their wins. I could see a Marquadt/Henderson bout happening in the near future, maybe 92, maybe 93. Somewhere around there for sure. Tim Boestch continues to impress as well. I'd like to Boestch beat the fuck out of Stephan Bonnar personally...

Well that's it for now, let me know what you guys thought. over and out from the general

Franklin opens with a lot of leg kicks.

both fighters circling a lot.

Franklin's movement and counters are quite well.  He is using a lot of leg kicks.

Small cut under Rich's right eye.

He keeps attacking Hamill's lead leg with the low kicks.

50 seconds to go Hamill takes Franklin down.

Round 2

Leg kick to start the round.  Hamill catches the leg but nothing happens.

More leg kicks to Hamill's lead leg.

Hamill tries the take down and gets two punches for his trouble.

Kick sraight to groin of Hamill.

2:50 Hamill pushes the pace.  But keeps getting the worse of the punching exchanges.

1:50 More kicks to Hamill's lead leg.

Hamill appears to be trying to be trying to catch Franklin with an uppercut.

Keeps connecting with the stiff jab on Hamill.

Round 3

Strong body kick by Franklin to Hamill to start the round.

A strong body kick to Hamill's midsection causes Hamill to tap.

TKO takes place at 39 second in the 3 round.

Jiu Jitsu Innovator and UFC Commentator Eddie Bravo

Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the more flexible and adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it. - Lao Tzu

Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) first touched down in the United States in the late 80's. At first, like everything else, it was ignored. But soon after its arrival, we saw suave speaking dudes with very little in the way of threatening physicality demolish men of brawn with ease. It made American martial artists rethink everything they had been doing all the years prior. Most American audiences left the first MMA matches confused, but respectful of what they did not understand. "What did that Royce dude do again?" was echoing across the plains. But then, eventually, the Americans caught on. Once we got bit by the Brazilian grapplin' bug, we never let go.

Remember now, this is America. Love us or hate us, American's are innovators who break rules and shun traditions. We do what we want, because we know we can. So when an unknown guy named Eddie Bravo began beating some of the top Brazilians with moves like The Twister- we saw things changing. Not long after that, we watched in awe as that same guy forced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu living legend Royler Gracie to tap out at the ADCC World Grappling Championships!

It was like Eddie was from another world! His approach was beyond what we had seen. Soon after, Eddie Bravo opened 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. His system most known for the ever popular Rubber Guard, and his approaches to The Twister is one of the most genuine examples of American improvements on the Brazilian model. Eddie Bravo is the author of two books "Mastering the Rubber Guard" and "Mastering the Twister" as well as a 3 DVD series on his system. It's undeniably powerful in style and approach. Eddie Bravo knows his system well and transfers the system effectively.

Eddie's root approach to jiu jitsu exploits flexibility. By refining his use of flexibility, Bravo designed a new matrix of possibility of how someone can attack a man fighting from the bottom. This gives the practitioner new perspective on what it means to use formlessness in combat. Its refreshing to see in an MMA world where more and more we see weak, passive guards being the downfall of many BJJ "expert". At the same time, critics argue that the 10th Planet deviate too far from traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. That it has some authentic applicable aspects, but an equal amount of weaknesses. One some argue, is that everybody will not, and cannot be extremely flexible. Besides, original BJJ was cool because you did not need a great deal of strength, speed or flexibility to be effective.

When Bruce Lee introduced Keet Kune Do many were sold on it be cause of how powerfully effective Bruce was with it. However, since his passing and the evolution of MMA into a mainstream American sport, JKD has all but disappeared. Some say its because Bruce was its only true innovator. They say no one was courageous enough to carry the torch for the system to help it advance. The 10th Planet system has some convincing up and coming grappling stars, like Denny Prokopos among others. But it may be some time before we have a clear understanding of the 10th Planet impact on ground fighting. There is one thing is for sure though, Eddie Bravo has changed the face of contemporary BJJ.

In this interview we have an in depth look at Eddies journey to becoming a jiu jitsu innovator, and how he has used jiu jitsu to further his true passion in life- music. Talk about a guy with a life strategy...

HHCF: How did 10th Plant Jiu Jitsu start? How was your jiu jitsu system born?

EB: Well, I got my black belt in jiu jitsu from Jean Jacques Machado in traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But by the time I was a purple belt I was already morphing my style of jiu jitsu into a whole different style in itself. So when I decided to open my school, I was already thinking more about no-gi than the average jiu jitsu guy. I was a no-gi fanatic. I hated the gi. I hated training in a big bath robe. There was too much stalling. It was too slow.

So when I got my own school, I dropped the gi. No gi was more fun, and I wanted to have more fun. At Jean Jacques Friday nights were fun. I wanted every day to be fun. The head of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, is Carlos Gracie Jr. He felt like I was dissing or betraying the gi, by not teaching in it. He thought I was a traitor.

I said "Well, I don't need any of those Brazilian politics anway". I decided to start my own school, with my own ranking system- and go off on my own.

HHCF: OK so Carlos Gracie Jr. was not a fan. Were there any other hurdles that you did not expect?

EB: First of all, this whole jiu jitsu thing was an accident. My whole goal since I was ten, was to produce music. Jiu jitus was just a way to stay in shape, so I wasn't a fat rock star. I moved to Hollywood in '91. Put together a band. I did not wanna be a fat rock star. So, I got into martial arts. I went from karate to jiu jitsu after I saw Royce Gracie beat all the karate guys. I got obsessed with the jiu jitsu.

But my plan was never to open up a school. It was like "If nothing else works out, I'll have jiu jitsu". It was a last resort. I thought the music was gonna blow up first. The jiu jitsu blew up first. Once I tapped out Royler Gracie that changed everything for me in the jiu jitsu world.

HHCF: Wait! You are moving too fast. That match really defined you as a fighter- would you say that?

EB: It made it possible to teach jiu jitsu and make a living off of it. I was working for The Man Show. I was a writer for The Man Show for one season. During that time, I knew the show was gonna get canceled- it was terrible. I thought, "What the hell am I gonna do? I'm probably gonna have to start taking some MMA fights. My dream was never to do MMA. The reason I got into no gi was because in the back of my mind it was like "If the music has not popped yet, and I have a choice...Between getting up at 5 AM in the blue collar days, or doing MMA- I'm gonna do MMA.

I wanted to open up a school in LA, but all the legends are here. Rickson is here, the Machado's are here...Many Brazilians came to LA to set up shop and just crumbled. They have had to go to Wyoming, or Tenesse, or Virginia- then they are gods out there. 'Cause there is no competition. Its so hard to get anything going in LA. So that was not an option for me as the man show was winding down.

I'm thinkin', "I gotta fight man. I gotta fight! F***!!

But it was while at The Man Show, that I went to Brazil and tapped out Royler.

Eddie Bravo Vs. Royler Gracie at ADCC 2003 Grappling Championships

HHCF: I don't wanna stop you. But I have to ask, what did you do to prepare mentally for the match against Royler Gracie?

EB: Mentally? Whew! I'd never been a professional athlete. I never competed. It was all for fun and just to test myself. It was more like "Lets go to the Abu Dhabi Trials and see what happens? Oh, I won? I'm going to Brazil? Maybe I should start weight lifting and doing the things that athletes do."

Mentally, I did not prepare in any special way, the way Randy Couture does. I was nervous, but I felt confident that I could handle myself. There was a chance that I could do well. There was a chance that I could get smoked. It would not have surprised me to beat Royler. It wouldn't have suprised me to get smashed.

But once that happened I was able to open up a jiu jitsu school in LA. Right away I was able to open a school and make a living. Im right here in LA right next to Rickson and Jean Jacqu. I'm not ballin' outta control or anything. But I am making some money and I am able to work. The main thing was not going back to the blue collar life. I'm opening affiliates all over the world. I'm teaching seminars all over the world.

So now, all the money I made in jiu jitsu is funding my studio in Van Nuys, CA. I'm producing five different acts. I'm just using the jiu jitsu to blow my music up. Jiu jitsu was always an accident. I was just lucky enough to beat Royler Gracie. Thank God I don't have to fight! I can teach jiu jitsu, make money and concentrate on our music.

HHCF: Do you remember what Royler said to you after the match?

EB: He didn't say anything to me. He gave me a respectful hug. I was told after he did an interview on the sideline and said "I'm not a machine. I made a mistake. What are you gonna do"?

HHCF: Looking at the youtube videos you have on training, has revealed a lot to me. Mostly, about my own laziness. You've got students like Denny and an armada of fighters you are grooming. If you had some core advice for anyone about what they could do to improve- what would it be?

EB: I'm not an awesome strength and conditioning coach. All I'm good at, is teaching folks how to submit people without the gi. Thats what I'm good at. But my drills and classes and strategies- they work. But when it comes to training fighters to be champions? That comes from within. Like Denny, the guy you mentioned- he has a champions mind. He studies the fight game like a rookie quarter back studies a playbook. He's always training and always thinking. You either got that or you dont. People know what Denny got. Still they try to be champions. But Denny just pushes further than others. I'm just guiding. Denny is doing the real work. I'm just steering.

10th Planet Brown Belt Denny Prokopos (music by Dilated Peoples)

HHCF: As amazing and innovative as your system is, there are critics. They say that you ignore the basics of the art. They say you rely too heavily on flexibility. Do you agree?

EB: Anyone who says I don't teach the basics- they don't come to my school. They have never seen me teach. I mix it all up. Also, consider that its hard to look at something new, and still consider it basic. If its valid, you look at it and you think of it as high tech. The rubber guard actually isn't that hard. It just takes work. Like the open guard or any other aspect of jiu jitsu. You teach someone open guard its gonna take a while before they get really good at it. I already got guys that have been training for six months that are using mad rubber guard. See, thats basic at my school. Its just not basic to anybody else.

To say that my style relies on flexibility is like to say that Cro-Cop's style relies on flexibility- because he kicks to the head. People think you need all of this crazy flexibility [to do the rubber guard]. Not many people have it. But nobody really used it 'cause no one really needed it. Its like the rubber guard is discovering that you can kick to the head and knock people out. But no ones been doing it. So no one can kick to the head. You gotta get flexible its part of your game. Its not like there are bones in your groin that keep you from being rubber guard flexible. You just gotta get off you a** and stretch.

I got plenty of guys that cant do rubber guard. They work on their stretching. They do yoga or whatever- stretch in their free time. To day that my style is all about flexibility is true. But at the same time anybody can have that flexibility.

HHCF: So for you, developing flexibility is just as important as cardio, strength or another aspect of fighting?

EB: Yes, explosiveness, cardio, all that. Its all the same. If you want dangerous head kicks you gotta stretch. You wanna do the rubber guard, you gotta stretch. Its just so new, that people don't know how to take it.

You got instructers all over the planet. They're not gonna teach it. Because they are not going to promote a system and style they cannot teach. They're not flexible. So they are not gonna teach it. For an instructor who is not flexible and cant teach rubber guard- its GOOD for him to tell people it does not work. "Its a waste of time"...Thats good business for them.

Hardcore instruction by Eddie Bravo

HHCF: So thats how it all happened, huh?

EB: I am really, a music producer, whos ventures are being funded entirely from martial arts. Thats the real story. I moved to Hollywood in 91. I started training jiu jitsu in 1994. My friends who I grew up with...They are just finding out what this jiu jitsu thing is and cant believe it. They look at me as a wannabe rock star.

I got back from Abu Dhabi and my mom is like "How'd you do baby?" I'm like, "I lost the tournament but I beat Royler. Shes like, "Awwww, maybe next time". She didn't know what that meant! [laughs]. My uncles are like "I know a guy at work who does jiu jitsu and he does not believe that I know you. What's going on? What did you do"?

I never really explained to my family what it meant. You talk to people that knew me, they'd be like "Eddie Bravo tapped out a Gracie? No way that guys is a p****. He's writing books on the art of strangulation and joint manipulation. They remember me as a long haired dude moving to Hollywood trying to be a rock star.

Jiu Jitsu dudes are like "Awww, he's trying to do music now. How is it possible that this guy is doing jiu jitsu and he's good at music"? But I rammed it down their throats. I made music videos and sprinkled them in my instructional videos. Before it was like ten percent of my jiu jitsu fans liked my music. Now its in the eighty to nintey percent. Anybody can reach me by hittin me at www.myspace.com/thetwister !!

Chases Kampmann to the cage.  Then proceeds to hit him with body and head shots.  Seemed that Kampmann might survive the initial onslaught.  When Kampmann slumps on the cage not intelligently defending himself the match was called with only 1 minute 22 second gone in the first.

LPGA Backs Down From English Requirement

Facing anger from lawmakers, where even a California lawmaker said he would push for legislation to ban the policy if taken into effect, and even astonishment from the sponsors, whom they were trying to help in the first place, the LPGA Tour rescinded its stringent punishment of suspending players if they couldn't speak English on Friday. They've decided to devise a new way of going about the process, and fining remains an option.

Good to see some people actually have the courage to take back their word if they know it to be wrong. That's a tough thing for a lot of people, and I applaud the LPGA despite the fact that they really had their own foot up their ass with an unreasonable aspect to the game. Really, they had themselves in the doghouse with Jason Whitlock, FOX Sports writer, who recently wrote how Richard Collier's shooting went underreported because he was black and how an NFL owner would rather choose a white person because he's less likely to get into legal trouble. I don't know how they still let him write.

LeBron Loses in H-O-R-S-E to Warehouse Worker

You read that right. If you haven't heard by now, LeBron James was at an outdoor court in Venice Beach, CA earlier this week for a game of H-O-R-S-E against David Kalb, a warehouse worker who won an online contest for the right to face James. James lost both games, not even recording a letter in one of them and losing in about five minutes. $50 million a year, my ass.

Is it acceptable for NBA players to lose to nobodies in a basketball game despite the fact that people like Kalb spend their entire time perfecting trick shots? It's kind of pathetic for one of the most athletic people in the world to get whooped like so, kind of like NBA players who shoot under 70% from the free-throw line. (Yes, I have an issue with that.) It sure isn't the first time, as Steve Nash got it handed to him in H-O-R-S-E as well. The unathletic-looking and smaller Kalb sure has some hops though. Check out the vid here:

Culpepper Retires From the NFL

Daunte Culpepper, unable to find a starting job to begin the season, has quit at the tender age of 31. The ex-Vikings quarterback, who was offered backup jobs from the Packers and Steelers, declined to take a back seat to a team. He had this to say, "Since I was not given a fair chance to come in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other arenas of life." That's kind of a pitiful thing to say, being that it was known Culpepper wasn't the same since he blew out his knee. He'll be kicking himself when Matt Flynn is on the field leading Green Bay because Aaron Rodgers got benched for poor play.

I wonder what other skills Culpepper has.

OKC Thunder the New NBA Team Name

The Seattle Supersonics have undergone an entire name change, as they have decided on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Durant and company will don the blue, orange-red and yellow beginning next season in what is going to be the most exciting thing to come from the team.

Nightmare for Dream

The Atlanta Dream is on pace to set the WNBA record for worst regular season record, where they are currently 3-28 (.098). Their best shot is this Mon. at home against the 14-16 Indiana Fever before finishing the season on the road against the L.A. Sparks (18-13) and Seattle Storm (20-10). (By the way, I have a crush on Sue Bird.)

The 1998 Washington Mystics hold the infamous record for the worst WNBA season at 3-27 (.100).

FOX Sports Calls Arenas' Contract Worst This Offseason

Remember my list two monts ago of the worst NBA free agent signings this offseason? I can tell you it didn't include Gilbert Arenas, who topped Fox Sports' list as the worst contract this offseason. Check out their ludicrous list here.

It's almost as crazy as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson saying he was delusional the day of his arrest because after reading the bible and that he was a son of God, that he was a god himself.

Where someone replied, "Why did you lose your last fight?" (Jackson lost to Forrest Griffin in July.)

Liddell's Career on the Line Tonight Against Evans

Chuck Liddell, who has lost two of his last three fights, headlines another major fight tonight when he squares off against the undefeated Rashad Evans. Evans, who is the Ultimate Fighter 2 heavyweight winner, is 16-0-1 with his draw coming against Tito Ortiz. The Iceman has some points against him even before this match begins. At 38, he is ten years older than Evans, and a loss tonight could prove devastating for his career.

Rashad has been inactive for about a year.  If his timing is off he will be in for a short night caused by a looping right.  Chuck is coming off losses to Quinton Jackson and Keith Jardine.  His beating of Wanderlei Silva has given him his mojo back.  Rashad is not as one dimensional as a Tito and not a blood and guts fighter like W. Silva.  The fans say he runs but the guy is elusive.  I have seen quite a few of his fights but have yet to see him take a solid punch.  Chuck has knocked a lot of guys out but none with the defensive style of Rashad.  Chuck does leave himself open to good counters.

There is a point when a fighter concedes that he will get his butt kicked.  It is on his face and shown by his body language during the fight.  Rashad promises to take Liddell there.

Straight talk only if one can deliver.

Here are my very quick picks for UFC 88 'Breakthrew'.

1. carneiro over Chonan
2. Lambert over MacDonald
3. Dong Hyun Kim over Matt Brown
4. Boetsch over Patt
5. Tavares over Pellegrino
6. Henderson over Palhares (not an easy choice)
7. Kampmann over Marquardt
8. Franklin over Hamill
9. Liddell over Eveans

Get more UFC 88 content at Combat-hooligans.com

Looking forward to the Liddell vs Evans UFC Fight in Atlanta!

+Colin | cleanupmyspace.com -UFC Layouts

The Middleweight division was relatively quiet in August with only one bout taking place. However, this month will see some new prospects debut in an effort to add depth to a division that needs it. Oh, and Anderson Silva is still at the top if you were curious.

The Explanation for the Power Rankings Guidelines can be found
here

Middleweight Division – 185 Lbs

Overview:
An interesting month is ahead for the Middleweights. August didn’t provide a lot of action but this is a busy division in September. A lot of prospects will be appearing on the scene which may not mean much for the top 10 right away but can add depth to the division for down the road.

Fought This Month:

• Demian Maia (#6) Def. Jason MacDonald (#10) – UFC 87

It was the only fight in the division in August but man it was fun.

Fights Next Month:

• Dan Henderson (#3) Vs. Rousimar Palhares (NR) – UFC 88
• Nate Marquardt (#7) Vs. Martin Kampmann (NR) – UFC 88
• Jason MacDonald (#10) Vs. Jason Lambert (NR) – UFC 88
• Ed Herman (NR) Vs. Alan Belcher (NR) – Fight Night 15
• Alessio Sakara (NR) Vs. Joe Vedepo (NR) – Fight Night 15
• Wilson Gouveia (NR) Vs. Ryan Jensen (NR) – Fight Night 15
• Drew McFedries (NR) Vs. Mike Massenzio (NR) – Fight Night 15
• Dan Miller (NR) Vs. Rob Kimmons (NR) – Fight Night 15

Actually, this would be a pretty decent UFC card all by itself.

Right on the Verge:

• Martin Kampmann

He’ll crack the top 10 with a win for sure.

Taking the Plunge:

• Jason MacDonald

He’s the only guy that lost in August so he goes here by default. He and Marquardt are both in serious danger of falling out of the top 10 with losses this month. In fact, even if MacDonald wins, he might still fall out depending on whether Palhares beats Henderson.

New on the Scene:

• Joe Vedepo
• Dan Miller
• Mike Massenzio

The IFL Middleweight champion (Miller) makes his debut. Aside from these 3, Ryan Jensen is back in the company and Wilson Gouveia and Jason Lambert drop from Light Heavyweight.

For past editions of the power rankings see the
Power Rankings archive.

The Light Heavyweight Division was quiet in the month of August, so the rankings haven't really changed. This month is a bit more active and things will get interesting as this division tends to be more active toward the end of the year.

The Explanation for the Power Rankings Guidelines can be found
here

Light Heavyweight Division – 205 Lbs

Overview:
This division seems very clear and relatively muddy all at the same time. If Liddell wins, he’s the next challenger it is really quite simple. If Liddell loses, who knows?

Fought This Month:

• Jon Jones (NR) Def. Andre Guzmao (NR) - UFC 87

August was a quiet month, it starts to get busy again now.

Fights Next Month:

• Chuck Liddell (#1) Vs. Rashad Evans (#3) – UFC 88
• Matt Hamill (#9) Vs. Rich Franklin (NR) – UFC 88
• Tim Boetsch (NR) Vs. Michael Patt (NR) – UFC 88
• Houston Alexander (NR) Vs. Eric Schafer (NR) – Fight Night 15
• Jason Brilz (NR) Vs. Brad Morris (NR) – Fight Night 15

Realistically, only Rich Franklin can crack the top 10 with a victory this month.

Right on the Verge:

• Jon Jones

Wins over Andre Guzmao in a fight he took on short notice and has developed a small buzz for himself as a result.

Taking the Plunge:

• Andre Guzmao

The plunge wasn't really a steep one but he's the only candidate.

New on the Scene:

• Michael Patt
• Jason Brilz

Brad Morris will also be dropping from heavyweight with Eric Schafer returning to the UFC and Rich Franklin returning to Light Heavyweight from Middleweight.

For past editions of the power rankings see the
Power Rankings archive.

UFC 88 Live Play-By-Play Results

Dana White, has in the past, been critical of a tournament format. yet it is the potential contained in a pseudo tournament involving 4 heavyweights that has injected some new life in to the UFC's Heavyweight division.

We're kicking off the month by looking at the division with the most movement in the rankings and the one that has made the most headlines.

The Explanation for the Power Rankings Guidelines can be found
here

Heavyweight Division – 265 Lbs

Overview:
What a difference a month, or the return of a legend can make. The return of Randy Couture and the fight against Brock Lesnar has created renewed interest in the division. The fact the fight will be part of a larger tournament also increases interest in Nogueira Vs. Mir and ensures a big fight for the title in the early part of 2009. Plus, whomever faces the winner of the tournament in his first defense will have their profile raised as well.

Fought This Month:

• Brock Lesnar (#3) Def. Heath Herring (#8) – UFC 87
• Cheick Kongo (#5) Def. Dan Evensen (NR) – UFC 87

Who knows how different things would be if Herring had beaten Lesnar? The only thing I know for sure is they’d be very, very, very different.

Fights Next Month:

• None

This is the calm before the storm.

Right on the Verge:

• None

I could’ve gone with Velasquez again this month but the fact is that everything freezes a bit for the mini-tournament.

Taking the Plunge

• Heath Herring

Is he the division’s gatekeeper?

New on the Scene:

• None

No fights in the division means no debuts.

For past editions of the power rankings see the
Power Rankings archive.

For this event and most UFC events, I travel a bit heavier with a monopod and a f2.8 300mm, as they are needed for the weigh-in's...On a personal note, I spent some time at the Mall of America, man that place is huge and alot of fun to visit.

Ironic scene of the trip: Upon walking into the mall, I heard lots of people screaming and such, turns out it was the grand opening of the Best Buy at the Mall of America. The mayhem was being caused the the New Kids on the Block signing autographs. Now for the irony, the scene was much the same as when they were first popular, however instead of little screaming teenagers, there were now a bunch of late 20 to 30-something moms holding their children and screaming. Pretty funny scene to see...

 I absolutely love the sport of mixed martial arts and hope to one day get my ass in shape and train in a discipline.  Till then, I watch and support the sport.  My worst habit is buying autographed posters from events.  I also get them on ebay, or from the UFC store.  Well, I have quite a collection going and I am finding it hard to stop.  These posters are going to be worth some serious dollars as the sport grows in popularity.  

I have more that you can't see in those pictures.  I will actually take a bunch of good photos of them sometime soon.  I am also getting in the habit of selling the posters on ebay.  I try to find them at a good price, and then I sell them at a much higher price- making $$$.  My girlfriend won't let me decorate the walls outside of this room so I am limited with space.  Well, I will write about my love for the UFC another time.  I have too much to say about that and its late- and I'm tired.  Till tomorrow!

Good night!