UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Roe Jogan
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008. December 27, 2008. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Three headlining fights. Three stoppages. Two titles changed. Rashad Evans defeated
Frank Mir stopped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by TKO at 1:54 of round two to win the Interim Heavyweight Championship — the first stoppage loss of Nogueira’s career. Quinton Jackson knocked out Wanderlei Silva in round one, winning their first UFC meeting after going 0-2 against Silva in PRIDE. Mir taunted Brock Lesnar ringside: “Be careful what you wish for!”
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: December 27, 2008
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Main Event: Forrest Griffin (c) vs. Rashad Evans — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Result: Rashad Evans def. Forrest Griffin — TKO (Punches) — R3, 2:46 — Evans wins LHW title
Co-Mains: Frank Mir def. Big Nog (TKO R2, Interim HW title); Rampage KOs Wanderlei (R1)
Notable: First TUF winner vs. TUF winner title fight; first Nog career stoppage; Rampage avenges 0-2 PRIDE record vs. Silva
The Build-Up
Rashad Evans's path to the title had been built on the KO of Chuck Liddell at UFC 88, two months before.
Frank Mir's career narrative carried genuine emotional weight: a motorcycle accident in 2004 that broke his leg in two places, a slow rebuild, the Frank Mir kneebar submission of Brock Lesnar at UFC 81. Now facing Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira — the PRIDE legend considered nearly impossible to finish.
Main Event
Forrest Griffin (c) vs. Rashad Evans — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Forrest Griffin controlled rounds one and two with leg kicks and body work. Evans had moments but was being outworked. The crowd chanted Griffin’s name. Round three: Evans caught a Griffin kick, took him down, and landed elbows. Griffin recovered. Evans postured up and landed a right hand that stunned Griffin — he followed with non-stop punches until the referee stopped it at 2:46.
Rashad Evans was now the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion at 18-0-1. He ended 2008 as Sherdog’s Fighter of the Year.
Co-Main Events
Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira — Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
Frank Mir outworked Nogueira in round one with strikes and a takedown, though Nogueira reversed and threatened submissions. In round two, Mir secured a takedown to side control, landed a left hook that dropped Nogueira, and a second left hook. Nogueira went down. Mir followed with ground strikes until the stoppage at 1:54. It was the first stoppage loss in Nogueira’s career.
Frank Mir won the Interim HW Championship and taunted Brock Lesnar ringside: “Be careful what you wish for!” The unification match at UFC 100 in July 2009 drew 1.6 million PPV buys.
Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva — Light Heavyweight (Rubber Match)
Jackson had lost to Silva in their first two meetings in PRIDE (2003, 2004). Their UFC meeting at UFC 92 was their first fight under the UFC banner. Jackson landed a left hook that dropped Silva; a follow-up barrage from the standing position ended the fight at 3:21. First win for Jackson in the trilogy.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Matt Hamill def. Reese Andy — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LHW
Yushin Okami def. Dean Lister — Decision — R3, 5:00 — MW
Patrick Barry def. Dan Evensen — TKO — R1 — HW
Main Card
Antoni Hardonk def. Mike Wessel — KO — R1 — HW
CB Dollaway def. Mike Massenzio — TKO — R1, 3:01 — MW
Cheick Kongo def. Mostapha Al Turk — TKO — R1 — HW
Quinton Jackson def. Wanderlei Silva — KO (Punches) — R1, 3:21 — LHW; Co-Main; KO of the Night ($65k to Jackson)
Frank Mir def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira — TKO (Punches) — R2, 1:54 — Interim HW Championship; first stoppage of Big Nog’s career
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship — Main Event
Rashad Evans def. Forrest Griffin — TKO (Punches) — R3, 2:46 — Evans wins LHW title; Fight of the Night ($65k each)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Rashad Evans vs. Forrest Griffin — $65,000 to each fighter.
KO of the Night: Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva — $65,000 to Jackson.
Records & Milestones
Rashad Evans wins LHW title — first TUF winner vs. TUF winner title fight in UFC history; Evans goes 18-0-1 overall.
Frank Mir becomes first fighter to stop Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira — the first stoppage loss of Big Nog’s professional career; Mir wins Interim HW Championship.
Jackson def. Silva in their UFC meeting — Jackson had gone 0-2 vs. Silva in PRIDE (2003, 2004); finally wins the series with a R1 KO.
Forrest Griffin loses LHW title — held the belt from UFC 86 (July) to UFC 92 (December 2008); five months as champion.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 92 is one of the best PPV finales in UFC history. Three co-main and main fights, three stoppages, two title changes. Rashad Evans — Fighter of the Year 2008 — going from near-defeat in two rounds to a R3 TKO title win.
The Mir vs. Lesnar rematch at UFC 100 in July 2009 went the other way — Lesnar TKO’d Mir in round two and retained the HW title. But the build-up, which began at UFC 92 with the ringside taunt, made UFC 100 one of the biggest events in the sport’s history.
FAQ
Why was UFC 92 called 'The Ultimate 2008'?
UFC 92 was the final PPV event of 2008 and was billed as the year's ultimate card, featuring two title fights and a high-profile rubber match all on the same show.
How did Rashad Evans win the LHW title at UFC 92?
Evans lost the first two rounds to Forrest Griffin. In round three, he caught a Griffin kick, took him down, and eventually landed a right hand that stunned Griffin. A follow-up of non-stop punches ended the fight via TKO at 2:46.
Was the Frank Mir stoppage of Big Nog historic?
Yes. It was the first stoppage loss in Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's professional MMA career. Nogueira had been submitted before but never stopped by strikes.
What was the Rampage Jackson vs Wanderlei Silva history?
Silva had beaten Jackson in both their PRIDE meetings — in 2003 and 2004. UFC 92 was their first UFC meeting and Jackson's first win over Silva, secured by a first-round knockout with a left hook.
What did Frank Mir say to Brock Lesnar at UFC 92?
After winning the Interim HW title, Mir pointed to Lesnar who was seated at ringside and said 'Be careful what you wish for!' — referencing their scheduled unification bout. They fought at UFC 100 in July 2009.
References
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