Sports

UFC 92 Results

Evans, Mir and Jackson score victories at UFC 92. By GEORGE WILLIS

Forrest Griffin’s reign as the UFC light heavyweight champion didn’t last very long. He was dethroned in his first defense, losing by TKO to Rashad Evans at 2:46 of the third round at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Griffin, who won the title from Rampage Jackson last July, controlled the first two rounds with kicks and an occasional right hand that found Evans’ chin. But Evans hurt Griffin early in the third round when he caught a leg kick from Griffin and landed several hard punches as both hit the canvas.

Evans tried for a ground and pound, but Griffin weathered that out-burst. But Evans eventually broke through Griffin’s guard, catching him with a big right hand. Evans then let loose with several hard right hands before standing up and finishing Griffin with repeated left hooks, forcing the referee to stop the bout.

“It was a great fight,” said Evans (18-0-1). “Forrest gave me everything I could handle the first two rounds. It took me a while to warm up. But I got there.”

Griffin (16-5) made no excuses. “I’m fine. I’ll be back,” he said. “I don’t remember being hurt. I remember waking up.”

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MIR SCORES SECOND ROUND KO OVER NOGUEIRA

Frank Mir became the first man to stop Minotauro Nogueira when he scored a knock out at 1:54 of the second round. Mir, a former UFC heavyweight champion, became the interim heavyweight champ with the victory, and will challenge Brock Lesnar for the heavyweight title in the near future.

Mir (12-3) looked great against Nogueira, scored two knockdowns in the first round with upper cuts and straight lefts doing most of the damage. Though both are known as ground fighters, they stood toe-to-toe for most of the bout with Mir scoring the cleaner blows.

After dropping him Nogueira twice in the first round, Mir sent the Brazilian (31-5-1) to the canvas again in the third round with double left hooks. Mir pounced on him and finished him with a swift ground and pound. “Nogueira is a phenomenal fighter,” Mir said. “If this was a short fight I figured I’d be on the losing end of it.”

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JACKSON WINS FIRST ROUND KO OVER SILVA

Wanderlei Silva had beaten Quinton “Rampage” Jackson twice by knockout in two previous meetings when they were both with PRIDE. But Jackson vowed things would be different this time. After losing his UFC light heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin last July, he spent six months training in England, changed his management team and hired a nutritionist. It all paid off as Jackson scored a stunning one-punch knock out of Silva at 3:21 of the first round.

Silva was in the midst of throwing a series of hooks when Jackson ducked under the blows and landed a full-throttle left hook to the chin. Silva was out before he hit the canvas.

“This is really sweet,” Jackson (29-7) said. “I came to England to get my wolf on. Now it’s right. Rampage is back.”

Jackson is hoping to get his UFC title back, but seems in no rush. “I’ve got to get my stuff together and get my mind right,” Jackson said. “God is on my side.”

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