Rashad Evans vs Thiago Silva promoted to UFC 108 main event following Antonio Nogueira illness
by Jesse Holland on Nov 16, 2009 12:14 PM EST
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Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort? Nope. "Spider" recovering from elbow surgery. Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin? Sorry, Brock has mono. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez? Almost. Then "Minotauro" was hospitalized with staph infection.
Ladies and gentlemen, your new UFC 108 main event is Rashad Evans (13-1-1) vs. Thiago Silva (14-1) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, 2010.
From UFC President Dana White:
"The bout between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva is a fight we always talked about as a main event, and now these guys have the chance to headline UFC 108 and kick off the new year in impressive fashion. At the same time, we wish Antonio Nogueira a speedy recovery and can't wait for his return."
Aside from their similar records, Evans and Silva share another common thread: Both lost their undefeated records after being systematically destroyed by the urine-powered karate of Lyoto Machida.
"Sugar" was the most recent victim of "The Dragon" in a shoop-worthy knockout that saw Evans go limp at UFC 98 back in May.
In fact, the talented wrestler was all set to inch his way back into the title picture at UFC 107 against opposing TUF coach Quinton Jackson; however; "Rampage" got bit by the acting bug and skipped town to drive a black van.
Like Evans, Silva was smashing his way through the ranks of light heavyweight and was one fight away from a title shot until Machida stiffened him at UFC 94 last January.
While the Brazilian holds a jiu-jitsu black belt, he's known for separating people from their consciousness, like he did in his technical knockout victory over Evans' friend and teammate, Keith Jardine, at UFC 102.
A judge's decision in this one is almost unthinkable.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on the still-evolving UFC 108 fight card as it becomes available.
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How did UFC 108 go from being the shiznit
To just shit? I love Shad, but him vs. Thiago Alves is not my idea of a stellar main event. With every passing moment I had Rampage more and more…
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
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Crap
My bad. I knew it was Silva and put Alves.
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
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STOP COMPLAINING!!!
I’m sick of hearing guys complaining about fights that apparently don’t qualify as main events. I’m a fight fan, I like to see exciting fights, and this will very definately be an exciting fight. Can people stop whining about how famous or high ranked the fighters are. Both of these guys are arguably top 5 lhw. Certainly not lower ranked at lhw than nog and cain are at hw. It’s going to be a great fight and it will have implications on the lhw division. I for one am looking forward to it!!
In the name of the Fedor, the Anderson and the GSP, Amen.
by Spinning Fat Kick on Nov 16, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
Oh man....
It’s not the UFC’s fault but 3/4 main events have been Randy vs Vera, Tito vs Forrest and now Rashad vs Sliva….with 2 full months ahead I can’t see how they can’t find another fight….Shogun vs Jardine or Franklin will do….don’t get me wrong Rashad vs Sliva is solid but it should be 1/3 super fights for the end of the yr show
worthy main event
This fight is totally worthy of being a Main Event. These guys are both just one loss (to the current champ) off of an undefeated tear. Winner of this fight would clearly be the number 1 contender if the Shogun/Machida fight had been settled properly..
forget "end of the year"
This is a solid card with an exciting main event between two top contenders with near unbeaten records. Why is it nobody was bitching about Rashad vs Rampage as a main event, even while claiming that Rampage was irrelevant and unworthy…blah blah blah, but now 14-1Thiago steps in and everyone’s saying it’s a lame card with no main event!
and since when
is January the “end of the year”. You guys must be using a Chinese calendar or some other goofy lunar calculations.
The "Main" Event
The UFC needs to SLOW the pace of the PPVs if this is the level of card they are putting out.
OR, they need to be FREE!
Seriously
I’m glad there’s so much free mma this month because I’m NOT paying to see Ortiz in the main event. Dude hasn’t fought in a year and a half.
And Rashad is coming off a loss. Just weak main events with all these injuries and diseases lol. Hopefully they can get someone good for Cain so he can still be co-main event or this card will suck.
by HappyLittleTreez on Nov 16, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
It’s funny how with Lesnar on the card at 106, it was stacked but now it isn’t? We have Forrest instead of Coleman, and Kos vs Johnson.
The UFC seems to be cursed right now. I can’t see myself paying $54.99 (HD) for UFC 108
Had some of those this weekend
My GF was wondering why a herd of douchebags was filing out of the bar we were watching football in at about 10:30. I told her the UFC they were showing inside was over. she asked if UFC watchers are douchebags. Well, yes, lots of them are. Not my Mania blog nerd buddies, but a lot of them.
Watching the UFC at a bar is intolerable. The d-bags are squirming out of the woodwork, there’s often a cover charge just to get in, the place is packed and you have to arrive early, and you end up spending way more on six-dollar pints than you would splitting the event with a couple knowledgeable buddies.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Nov 16, 2009 11:25 PM EST up reply actions
Why in the hell havent they put together Velasquez vs Carwin for an Intermin if we truly know Brock is down for the count?
Good call, that’d be a worth replacement. They should have been fighting each other anyway to see who was number 1 contender.
by HappyLittleTreez on Nov 16, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
I'm sure they would have...
but Carwin just had knee surgery and is out until at least February.
What an unbelievable run of bad luck for the UFC and its fans. The HW division in particular has been decimated. Dana’s doucherey has clearly angered the MMA gods to the point that they have forced him to tell us with a straight face that Ortiz vs. Griffin 2 is a main event.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Nov 16, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
JUST SAW ON ESPN Bottom Line
That Brock is sicker than first thought, and there may be an interim title now. Nog is out. Carwin is getting surgery. Who is Cain to fight? Please, nobody say MIr…..
They’d have to cancel his appointment with Gonzaga at 108. I was looking forward to that fight.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Nov 16, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions
woops...forgot about that one...
JJ, what’s new man. Haven’t seen you around these parts for a while.
Yeah,
There’s a lot going on in JJville.
Don’t have much free time, but I still like to drop in and see my cyberpals. Hope all is well, brother.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Nov 16, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
I rather see JDS against Cain than Gonzaga though, if I had to choose.
I hate spinach, and I’m glad that I do
because if I didn’t I’d eat them, and I just hate them.
I’d rather see Cain vs Gonzaga, JDS has NO ground game
by PHISH NATION on Nov 16, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
How do you know?
The guy trains with the Nog brothers every day. I bet he has a ground game.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Nov 16, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
They can't
Carwin opted to have knee surgery. He was going to fight Lesnar without the surgery but after all the delay’s he went under the knife.
Cain vs Of Saints?
I hate spinach, and I’m glad that I do
because if I didn’t I’d eat them, and I just hate them.
Mayhem and Shields still going at it...
Mayhem via Twitter: “Jake, the worst damage you did was give me staph, u zit covered leg humper.”
lmfao
by ViolentMike on Nov 16, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
damn
forgot this was Mania :P
I hate spinach, and I’m glad that I do
because if I didn’t I’d eat them, and I just hate them.
I was going to wait for another Strikeforce thread, but that probably won’t be for weeks.
by ViolentMike on Nov 16, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Interim Title fights
are traditionally between the former champion and the current No 1 contender. We just saw that fight (Randy vs Nog). No way Carwin or Cain deserves a belt without beating anyone who was ever champ. UFC isn’t that desperate. Then again, the only point in having such a thing as an “interim title” is to generate publicity around fights and that would certainly add some imaginary legitimacy to the challenger when Brock returns to defend the real belt, which he wouldn’t have in the first place if he hadn’t cut in line and been allowed to skip ahead of the interim champ (Nog) and fight the returning Champ before the title could be “unified”
Randy-Chuck I was for the interim belt as they were the top contenders and Tito was “injured” yet neither man had held the LHW belt before. Cain-Carwin should be for the interim belt, as they are the top 2 available contenders because of Brock and Nog’s ill health, with JDS a close third and Mir and Kongo way way behind.
Great but...
This is the same crap they did for this Saturday at UFC 106. At least Evans/Silva is worthy of a main event. They never should have bumped up Forrest/Tito to that status.
Combined 105 and 106
As much as I like that there’s an mma event every weekend, it would have been better if the UFC had combined 105 and 106 to make one legit ppv card.
Velasquez vs Carwin - YAY!!!
No complaints whatsoever. These illnesses and injuries happens. Silva and Evans should be a great main events, hopefully it is competitive.
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silva going down
silva will be the one pressing the action, and makeing this fight good, just don’t think he has any thing to offer rashad, i see suga landing a good bomb, and finishing it with some ground and pound, much like the forrest fight. i like suga, but will be rooting for thiago.
Shitty main event
Seriously, with all thats happening, i wouldnt be the least bit surprised if Penn or Sanchez pulls out of the 107 show and leavs us without a real main event for months to come.
Weak.
by Lester The Pimp on Nov 16, 2009 11:19 AM EST reply actions
And now...
One or both of these guys will break a knee or get sick. BJ Penn, get ready to fight Maynard at 108.
are you prepared to change Chucks diapers for the rest of his life? He would get slaughtered in a stand-up with kimbo. The guy fights with his arms on his waste.
Did I really just read this?
You really believe Kimbo is a better striker than Chuck? Chuck can come into that fight injured and with his chin on a platter, and I’d still bet on Chuck. Kimbo would throw one wild punch, get countered and go to sleep dreaming about Seth Petruzell’s pink hair and smoothies.
by ViolentMike on Nov 16, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
are you kidding me? Chuck is the guy who leaves his chin wide open for the taking. Forget Seth. that never happened. Different guy now. Not saying he is great just saying Chucks chin is worse.
Where is the fight?
In the octagon I give the advantage to Chuck. If it’s behind Taco Bell then Kimbo has a chance. A small chance.
106 looking pretty good right now
I almost sold my 106 tix to go to 108, but I’m glad I held onto 106. Tito-Forrest interests me more than Rashad-Silva, plus the Kos-Johnson fight is going to be an all out war! If you look at 106 top to bottom, it’s stacked with good matchups—I don’t see a dog in the bunch. UFC is really hurting for “stars” right now with Chuck semi-retired, Rampage doing movies, and Hughes on the downhill slide—it’s time to bring the WEC into the UFC. 2 new weight classes would mean a title fight on almost every card (as it should be) and give the UFC some new stars in Faber, Torres, etc.
Agreed
It a great week to be a fight fan..
Thiago all the way
Pyle vs. Ellenberger
what does everyone think of this addition.http://xtremecouture.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/mike-pyle-vs-jake-ellenberger-added-to-ufc-108/
We think it was announced a long time ago.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Nov 17, 2009 1:13 AM EST up reply actions
QUIT BITCHING
How is this not “main event” quality? Two top 10 lightheavyweights with strong ground games and knockout power. Every card can’t have a belt on the line. Take a look at this lineup. This card is sick. In my opinion it’s up there with 94 and 100 on paper at least. Stop complaining. Just don’t buy it if you don’t like it.
Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
Junior Dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga*
Carlos Condit vs. Paul Daley*
Tyson Griffin vs. Jim Miller*
Martin Kampmann vs. Rory Markham*
Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout*
Rafaello Oliveira vs. Sean Sherk*
Dan Lauzon vs. Cole Miller*
Ryan Jensen vs. Mark Munoz*
Jake Ellenberger vs. Mike Pyle
Both got beat by Machida, neither are big draws and this was supposed to be the biggest show of the year, or at least right up there with 100, as the end of year show is traditionally the main UFC PPV with a stacked card e.g. 66, 79, 92. A non-title fight between the last 2 fighters KO’d by Machida is far from a main event quality fight, it’d be a good co-main event but shouldn’t be anything more than that.
BORING AS HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS CARD LICKS BALLS AND I LOVE MMA!!!!
by WestSideStrangler on Nov 17, 2009 1:24 AM EST reply actions
BOOO FOR A NEW YEARS CARD!
A NEW YEARS CARD SHOULD BE STACKED WITH BAD ASS FIGHTS THIS IS WEAK
I have no desire to look forward to this! Dana you suck and so does Joe Silva! wake up!!!
by WestSideStrangler on Nov 17, 2009 1:27 AM EST reply actions
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