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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 28, 2008

Evans gets 'Ultimate' victory over Griffin

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rashad Evans, right, trades punches with Forrest Griffin during their UFC 92 light heavyweight mixed martial arts championship match in Las Vegas. Evans won by TKO in the third round.

ERIC JAMISON | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rashad Evans

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LAS VEGAS — Rashad Evans stopped Forrest Griffin to win the light heavyweight championship last night in UFC 92.

Griffin, the winner of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality television show, and Evans, a second season winner, became the first two winners from the show to face off for a championship.

After two rounds of exchanging punches and kicks, Evans dropped Griffin to the mat in the third.

Evans landed multiple shots and a flailing Griffin was unable to defend himself. Evans landed a hard right that dazed Griffin then continued to connect with punches and the fight was stopped at 2:46 of the third round.

"It sounds good," said Evans, asked how it sounded to be called the champ.

"It was a great fight," he said. "Forrest gave me all I could handle the first two rounds."

Evans remains undefeated and now becomes the second winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" to capture a title.

In the co-main event, former champion Frank Mir stopped Antonio Nogueira at 1:54 of the second round, earning a title shot against newly crowned heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

Both Mir and Nogueira were coaches on the latest season of "The Ultimate Fighter."

"I've never been more afraid in my life than when I walked into the ring," said a relieved Mir. "I didn't even think I could beat Nogueira."

On the undercard, former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson knocked out Wanderlei Silva in the first round.

Silva had knocked out Jackson in both the two previous meetings. Jackson got his revenge, rocking Silva with a left hook and the fight was called at 3:21 of the first.

In other bouts, Cheick Kongo used a devastating ground and pound, stopping Mostapha Al Turk by TKO at 4:37 of the first round and C.B. Dollaway stopped Mike Massenzio by TKO at 3:01 of the first round.