5. Matt Hamill struggles against high-level competition.

When Michael Bisping fought Matt Hamill, Bisping was a 13-0 fighter with his last three wins all coming by way of TKO. When Matt Hamill fought Rich Franklin, Franklin was a former UFC Middleweight Champion and had won three of his last four fights, two of which were by TKO. You can debate at how high of a level they were at when Hamill fought them, you can even debate that Hamill should have beaten Bisping, but let’s not debate that Matt Hamill has had two past chances to attain top-level status and failed both times. This is relevant for one simple reason: despite some ups and downs, “Rampage” is still very much a high-level opponent.

4. Matt Hamill has never fought someone like Quinton Jackson.

Quinton Jackson certainly has a lot going for him. He’s a very talented veteran. He has serious knockout power. He’s got good wrestling even though he doesn’t use it much nowadays. If you try to submit him, he simply lifts you up off the ground and tries to slam you into unconsciousness. Jackson may be famous for his fists, but it’s his versatility that has kept him relevant for so long. Quinton Jackson is surprisingly versatile, and as a whole, he represents a strong departure from Hamill’s normal competition. Facing someone you’re not accustomed to fighting is tough enough to begin with, when that someone is Quinton Jackson, you’re definitely in for a lot of trouble if you don’t show up at your absolute best.

3. Don’t sleep on Jackson’s power or else you really will be going to sleep.

Has Matt Hamill ever faced a true knockout artist like “Rampage”, someone that packs a massive amount of power behind each and every punch? Jon Jones certainly comes close, but even “Bones” doesn’t have Jackson’s level of strength. And let’s not forget that no chin is unbreakable no matter how long it holds up. It’s becoming increasingly evident that if you’re an MMA fighter that’s never been knocked out before… all you have to do is wait, because your time will come. Jackson’s heavy hands are widely perceived as the deadliest tools in his arsenal, and that’s a big problem for Matt Hamill.

2. With a big victory over Lyoto Machida and ring rust behind him, Jackson is relevant and fired up again.

When Jackson fought Rashad Evans, it was his first fight in over a year. He looked very rusty and lost. Six months later, he fought Lyoto Machida. He still looked just a bit rusty, but he won a hard-fought bout. When Jackson fights Hamill, it’ll be after approximately another six months. Basically, Jackson is back on schedule, is coming off a huge victory, and now has some serious momentum behind him. Jackson seems to have found that spark again, and a motivated Quinton Jackson is a very dangerous, very scary Quinton Jackson.

And the number one reason “Rampage” could end up defeating Matt Hamill is…

1. Because it’s Rampage.

There is only one “Rampage” Jackson. This is the man that started the downfall of Chuck Liddell. He unified the PRIDE Middleweight and UFC Light Heavyweight Championships. He’s got countless KO’s on his highlight reel. He’s an eleven-year, thirty-nine fight veteran. He’s even an action movie star. Jackson is a character, but he’s also a fighter, and he’s a champion in spirit and determination regardless of whether or not he’s got a title around his waist. The main reason Matt Hamill could beat Quinton Jackson is also the main reason Quinton Jackson could beat Matt Hamill: simply because he is who he is.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Jackson or Hamill: who wins it and why?

5. With top-division status on the line, Hamill will be at his most motivated when it comes time to fight.

“The Hammer” has fought eleven of his twelve professional MMA fights inside the Octagon. In that time, he’s had two clear shots at top-division status, but he lost both times, first to Michael Bisping (even though fans debate the outcome of that fight to this day) and then to Rich Franklin. But those losses lit a fire inside Hamill, and he hasn’t lost a fight in over two years. Hamill is more motivated than ever, and this will be one of his biggest tools to defeat “Rampage”.

4. Hamill is a good wrestler and Jackson falters against good wrestlers.

Inside the Octagon, Quinton Jackson has lost to two men: Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans. In the Evans fight especially, “Sugar” was able to thoroughly control Jackson on the ground and against the cage. Hamill is a highly-lauded wrestler, and his recent performance against Tito Ortiz proved that he can even dominate fighters who are or were known for their great wrestling.

3. What decision? Matt Hamill can knock you out.

While it’s true that Matt Hamill’s last two fights have both gone to a decision, this does not mean that he’s unable to finish a fight. In fact, Hamill has twice as many stoppage victories as he does decision victories. He’s even got a High Kick KO on his record. Hamill has surprising power in his hands and has stopped plenty of fighters before, and this will be one of the keys to defeating an opponent like Jackson, who may come in underestimating Hamill’s standup skills.

2. Hamill is on the biggest win-streak of his career.

I’m honestly baffled at the people who say that Hamill doesn’t deserve a shot at “Rampage”. The man is on a five-fight win-streak that includes two (T)KO victories. A lot of people still give Hamill grief for his DQ win over Jon Jones, but Hamill rebounded from that (as much as you can rebound from a win, anyway) with two strong showings over Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz. If it wasn’t Jackson, it would’ve been some other top-division Light Heavyweight. Hamill has proven that he’s ready for them.

And the number one reason Matt Hamill could end up defeating Quinton Jackson is…

1. Because it’s Matt Hamill.

It’s really as simple as that. Matt Hamill is the type of person that triumphs over adversity. He’s had some tough defeats along the way, but each and every time he’s come back a better, stronger fighter. “Rampage” may have stronger fists, but no one has Matt Hamill’s heart and determination. The simple fact that Matt Hamill is who he is definitely makes it possible that he can beat “Rampage”.

That’s it for now, but stay tuned for part two, featuring five reasons why Quinton Jackson could beat Matt Hamill. And what do you think fans and friends? How much of a shot does “The Hammer” have against “Rampage”?

But first, here’s a snippet of the interview he gave on MMA Junkie to explain why he chose not to fight for the championship. This is the part of the interview that I feel makes my point for me, the part I find myself most agreeing with. In his interview, Jackson recently said, “I fought right before the holidays, and I went on vacation to see my family and took my kids to see their family in Japan. I’ve been living my life, so I gained a lot of weight. I’m a natural fighter. I don’t do any drugs, and I don’t know any high-performance drugs, so I have a natural body. My body gains weight when I don’t train and I don’t eat like I’m in camp.”

There’s one simple reason why I think this statement makes my case for me: Jackson’s complete and total honesty in regards to why he declined the fight. Some cynics see this as a weakness on Jackson’s part: he “let himself go” over the holidays, he was lax in his training despite the fact that anything can happen in MMA.

But not only am I pulling the “LEAVE HIM ALONE” card, I’m even pulling the “who are we to judge?” card.

Because honestly, think about that for a second. Jackson could have hid behind any number of excuses, he could have chose to word his statement in such a way that he cast blame off of himself and onto other parties. Instead, Jackson chose to be honest and admit that he made his family a priority rather than his fighting career over the holidays, and as such, he enjoyed the holidays to their fullest and, like many of us, may have went a little overboard when it came to good food with good friends.

Let’s not be hypocritical, people. Yes, Jackson should maintain a steady diet even when not training, if only to remain a healthy human being. But it’s not like the man became seriously overweight. The UFC is the home of the monster weight cut to begin with, Jackson probably cuts at least ten to twenty pounds for any given fight. It’s really not fair to hold him to such a high standard, Jackson has a life outside of MMA and we should all respect that. It’s true that some fighters do train night and day to be the best. But Quinton Jackson has been doing this for so long, and he’s proved so much both in his time inside the Octagon and inside the legendary PRIDE FC ring, that he’s earned a little leeway.

So hate if you must, but “Rampage” gets a pass from me. I even applaud him for his honesty and his ability to make the difficult decisions as he approaches the later years of his career. And what about you, fans and friends? Do you think Jackson made the right decision?

Next for Karo Parisyan: I’m not unsympathetic to Karo Parisyan, I’m just very skeptical. And his one-sided loss at UFC 123 pretty much proved me right. Parisyan was a shadow of a shadow of his former self, and I don’t think Karo Parisyan belongs in the UFC. He’ll be back to fighting overseas or in mid-tier promotions in the US before he inevitably calls it a career and closes the book on one of the most interesting “what could have been” stories in Mixed Martial Arts.

Next for George Sotiropolous: I know this next statement is going to come off as incredibly bold, but, hey, I’m in the mood to be incredibly bold. So here it is: I’m predicting that George Sotiropolous will be the UFC Lightweight Champion before the end of 2011. Everything he’s done up to this point leads me in that direction. His victory over Joe Lauzon was yet another example of how well-rounded he is, how he’s able to remain cool under pressure, and how he has the killer instinct necessary to become a champion. Big, big, big things are in store for George Sotiropolous.

Next for Maiquel Falcao: Something tells me that the UFC is going to do whatever they can to get rid of Maiquel Falcao. For one, he ruined the hotstreak of Gerald Harris, and the UFC had been building him up as the next big monster athlete. Secondly, Falcao earned himself no fans when he coasted in the third round and basically stopped fighting once he realized that he had won the first two rounds and didn’t really have to do anything if he didn’t want to. Falcao is going to be facing some incredibly stiff competition in the coming months, and if he loses more than once I think the UFC will wash their hands of him.

Next for Matt Hughes: What a trip it’s been for Matt Hughes. And no matter what anyone else says, I personally don’t think the trip is over. Hughes is going to come back, he’s certainly not going to end his career on perhaps the biggest loss he’s ever had to endure. He’ll face a lower level of competition when he returns, but he will return. There aren’t many steps left on the comeback trail for Matt Hughes, but this loss to Penn is a temporary roadblock and not a permanent impasse. Sooner rather than later we’ll see Hughes back in the Octagon and winning again.

Next for BJ Penn: It’s been announced that Penn will face Jon Fitch at UFC 127 in Australia, and I for one can’t wait to see that fight. I’ll have more to say about this in the coming days, but for now, I’ll say this: love him or hate him, I think Jon Fitch is the perfect fighter to beat BJ Penn. Stay tuned.

Next for Quinton Jackson: With a big (albeit controversial) win over a great opponent, the UFC will officially begin building “Rampage” back up towards a title shot. Jackson will be facing some big threats very soon, look for him to remain on a steady diet of top-level competition. Before 2011 is through I think we’ll see another major rematch for Rampage, whether it be against Rashad Evans or Mauricio Rua.

Next for Lyoto Machida: The man who once won sixteen straight fights has now lost two straight. It’s a tough time to be Lyoto Machida. I personally think Machida may be the next man to test out Jon Jones, or possibly Ryan Bader. As much as it pains me to admit it, I think the UFC will soon be testing out Machida as a gatekeeper and seeing how he does. But if it happens, I also predict that Machida will blast the competition and firmly put himself back “into the mix”. It’s always darkest before the dawn, and Lyoto Machida isn’t going anywhere.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of UFC 123?

Quinton Jackson defeats Lyoto Machida via Split Decision. BJ Penn defeats Matt Hughes via KO (strikes) at 0:21 of Round 1. Maiquel Falcao defeats Gerald Harris via Unanimous Decision. Phil Davis defeats Tim Boetsch via Submission (Kimura) at 2:55 of Round 2. George Sotiropoulos defeats Joe Lauzon via Submission (Kimura) at 2:43 of Round 2. Brian Foster defeats Matt Brown via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:11 of Round 2. Mark Munoz defeats Aaron Simpson via Unanimous Decision. Dennis Hallman defeats Karo Parisyan via TKO (strikes) at 1:47 in Round 1. Edson Barboza defeats Mike Lullo via TKO at 0:26 of Round 3. Paul Kelly defeats T.J. O’Brien via TKO (strikes) at 3:16 of Round 2. Nik Lentz defeats Tyson Griffin via split decision.

I have very, very mixed feelings in regards to the main event. I consider myself a fan of both men, but a bigger Machida fan. I think this is a fight that’s going to be debated at length for the next several weeks, at the very least. I think it was a very close fight with the third round unquestionably going to Machida. However, with or without controversy this match managed to live up to most of its potential. I’m excited for a rematch, and I think we’re going to get one sooner rather than later.

I guess this is what I get for doubting BJ Penn. It’s unquestionable and undeniable: BJ Penn is back on the comeback trail and perhaps better than ever. He looked amazing against Matt Hughes, who I and many other people thought had more than a passing shot at beating “Baby Jay”. BJ needed a big and dominant win in about the worst way possible, and he got just that at UFC 123. No matter what the future holds for BJ Penn in either the Welterweight or the Lightweight division, one important question was answered at UFC 123: BJ Penn is not done. Not by a long shot.

I also noticed that the “UFC 123 Prelims Live” special delivered a solid hour of action to lead into the official Pay-Per-View telecast. Mark Munoz and Aaron Simpson gave us three good action-packed rounds, while Brian Foster and Matt Brown fought to a very entertaining submission finish. Add in a showing of the Parisyan/Hallman fight that took place earlier in the evening, and you had ample reason to tune in and watch some free MMA on TV.

Overall, UFC 123 was a very strong event with several noteworthy fights. I think we’ll be feeling the repercussions of this event for quite some time, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for some of the night’s big winners and losers.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of UFC 123?

George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon: This could end up being a great fight…depending on which George Sotiropolous shows up. But I don’t think there’s any doubt that George will win this one. At least, I’d be incredibly surprised if Lauzon pulled out the victory. For all intents and purposes, Sotiropolous is being groomed as the next big threat at Lightweight while living up to that mantle. Look for him to take the submission win during Round 2.

Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch: I have to admit, I’m not too familiar with either fighter. To me, it seems as if Boetsch has more experience in the UFC while Davis has more potential as a young and undefeated UFC newcomer. We might just have a very entertaining war on our hands. Based on his undefeated track record and his penchant for toughing it out, I’m thinking that Phil Davis takes a hard-earned Unanimous Decision at the end of three good rounds of action.

Gerald Harris vs. Maiquel Falcao: There seems to be no stopping Gerald Harris. The man is on a ten-fight win-streak, a five-fight TKO streak, and has stopped each and every single one of his opponents since August 2008, when he last recorded a Decision win. But Maiquel Falcao is also on a very high win-streak (seven) with a huge amount of finishes. This fight doesn’t just have sneaky “Fight of the Night” potential, it may be good enough to land on some people’s “Fight of the Year” lists. Look for Gerald Harris to win by KO in Round 2 after an amazing Round 1.

Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn: If you had asked me about this match back when Penn still had the UFC Lightweight Championship, I would have answered without a moment’s delay: this is BJ’s fight to win. Now I’m honestly not so sure. I look at where Penn is right now compared to where Hughes is, and I’ve got to say: Hughes seems to have the better mentality going into this fight. Now that Hughes is fighting just for the fun of it, he’s able to take a lot of risks that end up paying off more often than not. I hate to pick against someone I’ve been such a big fan of for such a long while, but both my heart and my head tell me that Matt Hughes is going to fight his way towards a Unanimous Decision win.

Lyoto Machida vs. Quinton Jackson: I’ve said a whole lot about this fight in the days and weeks leading up to it, so I’ll keep my predictions short and sweet. We’re going to witness the rebirth of “The Dragon”. He’s going to come on strong and finish stronger. “Rampage” will put forth a solid effort, but he’ll crumble underneath a resurgent and resurrected Machida. Lyoto Machida KO’s Rampage Jackson by Round 2 at the very latest.

So that’s what I think is going to go down, fans and friends. What about you? What does your inner Nostradamus have to say regarding the big match-ups at UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”?

Here’s what “The Dragon” had to say in a new interview with MMA Weekly: “Everyone has their own opinion. But my style made me a champion… I knew one day I could lose like everyone else. Now, I feel like I’ve learned a lot from that loss and it’s taken a lot of pressure off my back… Part of this game is that you win some and you lose some.”

I’ve said it before, but it does bear repeating since so many fans have hopped off the Machida bandwagon and gone right back to criticizing him: I’ve been a supporter since day one. The first time I ever saw Lyoto Machida, I knew big things were in store for “The Dragon”. People would try to strike him, to hurt him, and he simply wouldn’t be there by the time they had completed their strike. I wholeheartedly believe that a true sign of dominance is to inflict maximum damage on your opponent while taking minimum damage to yourself. I can appreciate a wild brawl where both guys land big and swing for the fences, many fights like that even end up on my “Fight of the Year” lists. But when I look at Lyoto Machida, I see one of the smartest Octagon generals ever.

I get that Mauricio Rua gave Machida a lot of trouble and caused him plenty of setbacks. But all great champions lose. It’s the ones that come back from defeat, better and deadlier than ever, that are the true champions. And Machida has done quite a lot to make me firmly believe that he’ll fully be able to live up to that higher standard. Machida was gracious in defeat, honest in admitting his mistakes, and seems to be incredibly focused on becoming the best fighter possible. That’s a champion with or without a belt, and that’s the chief reason why I think Machida will take it to Quinton Jackson and ultimately knock him out.

But I’ve said this several times as well: Machida is going to have his hands full. I think “Rampage” will play into Machida’s counter-striking style and ultimately get KO’d for his efforts, but there’s always a possibility that Rampage could score a big punch. Even while gassed out and dealing with a huge amount of ring rust, Jackson still found a way to put Rashad Evans in a heap of trouble at one point in their recent, much-hyped encounter. “Sugar” could even be criticized of playing it safe and grinding out a decision in order to avoid Rampage’s strikes.  No matter what problems he has going into a fight, you can never fully count out Quinton Jackson.

But we all know where my allegiance lies, fans and friends. Lyoto Machida isn’t boring, he’s elusive. He fights smart, he hits hard, and he’s an incredibly humble fighter that’s fully dedicated to proving that he’s the best fighter in the world. “The Dragon” isn’t done yet, not by a long shot. And I can’t wait to see him return to form.

And what about you, fans and friends? As we get closer and closer to the pivotal showdown, which former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion are you siding with and why?

The Event: UFC 123 “Rampage vs. Machida”, which airs live on Pay-Per-View Saturday, November 20 from the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Why You Should Care: The main event features two former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions, both of whom are very popular and have very powerful strikes. The co-main event also features two former UFC Welterweight Champions that are widely regarded as two of the best Mixed Martial Artists of all time, and they’ll be fighting each other for a third time.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Quinton Jackson is known for his street-tough personality that bleeds into his fighting style. The man known as “Rampage” is heavy on the brawling and the striking, so he very rarely has a boring fight. Lyoto Machida is also a very versatile and cunning fighter, with very good counter-punching and sneaky one-hit KO power. If this becomes a brawl, look for someone to get viciously KO’d and for both men to add several moments to their highlight reel during the course of this bout.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Matt Hughes and BJ Penn have a long and historic rivalry. BJ Penn put an end to the long championship reign of Matt Hughes in their first fight, and in their second fight Hughes became the first man to ever finish BJ Penn (Hughes won by TKO, until that point Penn had only ever lost by decision). Both men are at a crossroads in their career: Hughes is fighting for a legacy while Penn is fighting to recapture his relevancy. These two always bring out the best in each other, and since they’re so good to begin with, this has all the makings of an incredible fight.

Why to Buy This Card: The main event and co-main event puts most other MMA cards to shame. Hughes/Penn 3 could headline its own card, having it as the co-main only sweetens the pot. Rampage vs. Machida is better than most championship matches.

Why Not to Buy This Card: Besides the co-main and main event, the rest of the card seems decidedly average, maybe even a bit underwhelming. Anything is possible when the Octagon closes, but on paper, the top two matches clearly anchor this show and everything else feels a little flat.

Closing Thoughts: Having two great fights doesn’t make your card a “super-card”, but it does make your event well worth watching. If you go in expecting greatness from Rampage/Machida and Hughes/Penn 3, I sincerely doubt you’ll be disappointed. If you go in expecting greatness from the start of the show until the show’s end, you may be a little bit disappointed. But, all in all, the strength of the two marquee matches easily propel this card into “definitely buy it” territory.

And that’s it, fans and friends! Look for more “Crash Courses” in the near future. Until then, please let me know: what do you think of this new series? What areas did you like or dislike, what would you add or subtract? Comments and opinions are welcome. Also, what’s your take on “Rampage vs. Machida”?

When asked to comment on how he sees the fight going down, Rampage responded with the following: “Hell if I know, I’m not psychic. Who knows? The thing is, I come to fight. Some people don’t always show up to fight, they want to be ‘tricky’ and do angles. I come to fight. You guys can figure out how that fight’s going to go. I come to fight… I don’t even worry about MMA Math.”

At that point, Jackson cut the interview short and simply walked away. For those unfamiliar with the term, “MMA Math” looks to a fighter’s past accomplishments to predict future successes or failures. Generally, it’s expressed as the following: “If Fighter X beat Fighter Y, and Fighter Z lost to Fighter Y, Fighter X beats Fighter Z every time.” For Jackson, this applies to Rashad Evans beating him while Evans was famously KO’d by Lyoto Machida. Due to this, many are thinking that Machida will make quick work of his opponent in this clash of former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions.

To be honest, I’ve never bought into the whole “MMA Math” train of thought. Every fight is different, and every fighter has the potential to reinvent himself again and again. It sure sounds like a sound judgment call in theory, but there are simply far too many examples to list of this principal failing in practice. Just like I believe there is no such thing as luck in MMA, I also believe that “MMA Math” fails just as often as it’s proven correct, if not more.

What we should really be focusing on is Rampage Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida, not Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans when compared to Rashad Evans vs. Rampage Jackson. Now that he’s got a budding movie career, now that his relationship with the UFC continues to be on shaky ground, it remains to be seen whether or not Jackson’s loss to Evans was due to the sizable amount of ring rust he had to deal with heading into that fight…or if Jackson simply doesn’t have his heart in it anymore. A primed and ready Quinton Jackson has an excellent shot of beating Lyoto Machida. But Quinton Jackson hasn’t looked primed and ready since his last win in March 2009.

Overall, I think this will be a great match between two very talented performers. I’m still picking Machida to win, not just because I’m a Machida fan but because I think he’ll come back better and deadlier than ever when he steps into the Octagon against Jackson. But unlike some, I’m not going to quickly criticize or even ostracize Jackson simply because he’s made a few mistakes in the past. Quinton Jackson can still be a major force to be reckoned with in the UFC, but quite a lot hinges on how he performs against Machida. However, I’ll reserve judgment until then and wish him all the best as he heads into what will probably be one of the most important fights of his career.

And what do you think, fans and friends? As we get closer and closer to this key Light Heavyweight showdown, who are you picking to win and why?

Here’s what Jackson had to say via UFC.com: “I started this camp very early. I stayed in shape from the last fight and the weight hasn’t been an issue this time. Every single minute of this camp will be focused on technique, not getting back in shape or shaking the ring rust after a long time off. If Machida decides to fight me, it will be an exciting fight for one round before he goes to sleep. I am expecting him to run from me, though. He’d wear sneakers into the Octagon if he could! But don’t worry, I will hunt him down and get him anyway.”

I think Rampage still has a lot of ground left to cover if he plans to back up what he says. He showed a significant amount of ring rust against Rashad Evans, and it remains to be seen if Rampage really is back to his old self. Even Rampage’s famous KO power was called into question in the fight with “Sugar”, since a Hail Mary flurry that could have ended the fight ultimately resulted in Evans recuperating and some would say surviving long enough to get the decision nod.

I also think that Jackson is painting Machida with a very broad brush. Saying that all Machida does is run away would be like saying that all Jackson does is look for the KO. There’s an incredible amount of nuance involved that’s regrettably lost on a lot of people. Machida’s confusing, elusive style has worked wonders for him in the past, and even if the loss to Mauricio Rua put a significant dent in his armor, I honestly think Rampage will have to overcome more obstacles in this match than “The Dragon”.

But if anyone can make Machida 0 for his last 2, it’s Rampage. Rampage is a brawler with good KO power and very solid wrestling. He’ll probably leave himself wide open for Machida’s dreaded counter-punching several times throughout the fight, but there’s always the chance that he could land that one big bomb that puts Machida down and out.

But in the end, I’m still giving this fight to Machida. Rampage has simply had too much on his plate for the last several years, whether it’s the infamous “Rampage’s Rampage” scandal or his brief excursion to pursue a film career. Meanwhile, Machida’s focus has never wavered, he’s never lost sight of his ultimate goal. It will likely be a very close, very heated fight, but I honestly believe that Machida is hungrier and more determined to win this fight. In most of his recent interviews I get the feeling that Quinton Jackson could take or leave the UFC nowadays, and that’s a terrible mindset to have when you’re going up against the best competition in the world, which Machida undoubtedly is.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Who’s winning the war of words so far, and who do you see winning the fight once the octagon door closes?

There was much hype leading up to this fight from as far back as UFC 96. We sat and watched them throw verbal jabs at one another on “The Ultimate Fighter” as opposing coaches. We then had to wait until Jackson had finished with the “A-Team” movie for the fight to finally take place. There was even a war of words on Twitter between the two men leading up to the event.

I think everyone knew this fight would end one of two ways, Rashad by decision or Rampage by knock out. The end result was Rashad Evans with a unanimous decision victory in what was more or less a grappling and position battle.

Rashad caught Rampage at the opening bell with a shot that seemed to rock him. From that point on it was Rashad uses the clinch to push Jackson against the cage and effectively neutralize the striking of Rampage. It is an effective tactic when you have a wrestler going against a striker.

This tactic is not something one can really complain about since the sport is mixed martial arts (MMA) and wrestling is a part of that. However that does not mean someone has to like watching a fighter that uses this tactic. Rashad seems to have become a fighter many fans love to hate and the tactics he used Saturday night did nothing but help to cement his status as a one of the more hated fighters in the UFC. I think Jackson was hurt less by the loss than Rashad was by the type of win he pulled off.

I come from a wrestling background so I enjoy that aspect of the sport but I would much prefer to see a wrestler use his skills to not just control where the fight takes place but to finish fights. I believe many of the fighters with a wrestling background game-plan fights with strikers to become a decision victory. They want to use the cage to clinch, put try to wear their opponent down and grind out a win. In today’s sport of MMA we no longer are supposed to be watching style versus style. Now MMA fighters are touted as well rounded athletes that mix all the styles together and this simply is not true.

There are some out there that do it well and there are wrestlers that use their control to work on submissions or striking from a dominant position. Rashad did neither of these things as he seemed content to coast to a win.

Of course we can also lay blame to Jackson for not being more effective in the clinch and the takedown defense department. After all it is his job to know he is facing a wrestler and to be prepared to counter such a tactic. I have even heard some go so far as to say we should blame UFC matchmaker Joe Silva for always giving us striker versus wrestler match-ups. These fights tend to lead to upset fans but there is no way he can only have striker versus striker or wrestler versus wrestler. It is just not a viable solution.

Regardless, Rashad survived yet another third round disaster as he was put down by Rampage. Rashad fought through it to survive and Jackson is now taking some heat for not being more aggressive in going for the kill after the knock down.

In the end Rashad comes out on top and gets the title shot against current UFC light heavyweight champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-4). It is another grappler versus striker fight but the difference here is Rua’s underrated jiu jitsu skills. Not his ability to submit guys per say but more his sweeps and ability to get back to his feet.

As a fight fan what did you think of the main event at UFC 114?

UFC President Dana White has publicly pleaded for Liddell to retire. Liddell had barely woken up from his last knockout before the UFC put all Chuck Liddell merchandise on sale. But, is losing four out of five, three by knockout, a fitting end to a storied career? Does Liddell have one more big win in him so he can retire with dignity?

Evans and fourth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) have been pegged to coach The Ultimate Fighter 10 and meet in the Octagon in December.

Third-ranked Forrest Griffin (16-5) has drawn the honor of finding out whether Fighters.com’s Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (24-4) is ready for the big time at 205 next month in Philadelphia at UFC 101.

Tenth-ranked “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (14-5-1) and former top ten Thiago Silva (14-1) will battle for a place at the bottom of the rankings at UFC 102 in Portland next month.

Sixth-ranked “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1), seventh-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (24-7), and ninth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) are all without named or rumored opponents.