the Bucking Bronco

Mirroring an episode of ER or MASH, the UFC 108 card looked like a disaster on paper after one fighter after another dropped off the card due to injuries.

But even though the big names on the card disappeared, after all the dust settled UFC 108 was pretty entertaining.  

Knockouts, near submissions and escapes is a good recipe for exciting mixed martial arts action and UFC 108 had all the ingredients.   The main event was particularly exciting as Rashad Evans barely survived a third round onslaught from Thiago Silva to maintain top contention for the UFC 205lb belt.

Evans was clearly dominating Silva for the first two rounds leveraging his superior wrestling to take Silva down uncontested repeatedly.  But Silva, although visibly frustrated was able to stand back up and keep the fight standing.

In the third round, his mockery of Evan's head bobbing movement was able to distract Evans momentarily to land a hard left hook that would of turned the lights out for most people.

With chicken legs and a terrible headache, Evans was able to survive for the next 40 seconds and earn a decision victory.  

Wow, did the UFC just exhale big time.  A loss by Evans would of taken alot of steam away from a potential Rashad Evans vs. Rampage Jackson showdown that will surely pocket a few PPV buys.

In other action, Paul Daley really is starting to show why his nickname is "Semtex" (referring to the plastic explosive).  His brutal knockout of Dustin Hazlett was brutal and shows that even the best ground fighters are at a very big disadvantage over somewhat well rounded strikers with power.

UFC 108 could of been great before the injuries but ultimately the UFC organizes the fights but the fighters have to deliver the goods.

Lets hope 109 loses the injury bug and delivers as well.