Canadian Hominick Returns With Rare Triangle-Armbar At WEC 46

As former TKO champion, longtime Canadian MMA stand-out, and current WEC featherweight Mark "The Machine" Hominick (17-8, 2-0 UFC, 1-2 WEC) said in his post-fight interview, you don't always get a second chance in life. Most people would probably agree, but, when Hominick got his chance at MMA redemption on the preliminary card at WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson, he knew exactly what to do with it: show the assembled fans something amazing.

Coming off a series of injuries and having gone almost a year-and-a-half without competing, the London, Ontario native was faced with a strong submissions fighter in Brian Caraway (14-4), who was riding a three-fight winning streak. Early in the match, Hominick was taken down with a slick double-leg. "The Machine" spent the rest of the fight flat on his back, but kept busy with threatening upkicks and a very active guard. Then, at 3:48 of the first round, Hominick locked in an impressive triangle-armbar, which earned the preliminary fight a coveted spot on the televised main card.

Yes, that's right-- it looks a lot like a triangle, but hurts just like and armbar-- it's a triangle-armbar. Actually, this was not the first time Hominick utilized the exotic move in a major fight. The last time was in Hominick's UFC debut against the very talented Yves Edwards (36-15-1) at UFC 58: USA vs. Canada on March 4th, 2006.

Unfortunately for Mark, who probably could have found a use for an extra $10,000 U.S., it was WEC superstar and former featherweight champion Urijah Faber (23-3) who won the "Submission of the Night" at WEC 46. Faber won, of course, for the rear-naked choke he slapped on Rafael Assuncao (14-2). That finish was certainly impressive, especially given Assuncao's BJJ chops, but it was not nearly as technical of a hold as Hominick's apparent new specialty. Oh well, maybe next time.

Speaking of next time, just what could be next for the Shawn Tompkins product Hominick, who, like his training partner Sam Stout (15-5-1), should now be looking at a big name fighter on a Zuffa main card showdown?

The answer to that for Hominick would seem to be Lithuainian Deividas Taurosevicius (12-3, 2-0 WEC) who was also victorious at WEC 46 where he used stellar positional grappling to outpoint Mackens Semerzier (5-1). The reason that Taurosevicius, who desperately requires a catchy cage name, is a no-brainer for Hominick's next opponent is that they were previously scheduled to fight each other on two separate occasions, once in the WEC and once in the now-defunct Affliction MMA promotion. In fact, Hominick was scheduled to face Taurosevicius at WEC 43 last October before being forced to pull out of the scrap with an undisclosed injury. If Hominick vs. Taurosevicius does go down it will surely set the winner up for a major contender at featherweight, which is arguably the WEC's deepest division.

No, we certainly do not always get second chances in life. Still, just in case you ever do happen to get one of your own, you need only look at Hominick's return performance at WEC 46 to see an example how to capitalize on it when you do.

Congratulations, Mark.

Ultimate Fight Night 20: Main Card Predictions

After going 7-3 (%70) and notching a main event win at UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva, my overall record now stands at 140-79 (%63.9) and 17-6 (%73.9) in main events. Anyone interested in a detailed prediction history can hit me up at bcmmafan@gmail.com with a request. Due to time constrains, I am only predicting the main card at Ultimate Fight Night 20, but unofficially I am taking British Columbia's Rory MacDonald over Mike Guymon by TKO in round two.

The fights air live on Spike TV at 6:00 PM/PST

Main event:

155 lbs.: Nate Diaz (+235) vs. Gray Maynard (-295)

Several Gray "The Bully" Maynard (8-0 1NC, 6-0 1NC UFC) vs. Nate Diaz (11-4, 6-2 UFC) II storylines have been so well publicized that it would be redundant to mention them in detail. For posterity's sake, here are the highlights: they fought once before on The Ultimate Fighter 5; Diaz won by submission; it was an exhibition, though, so it didn't count on their records; Maynard has not been undefeated since, while Diaz lost two times 2009; a Maynard win would likely be earn him a shot at BJ Penn's lightweight belt; yada-yada-yada.

On to the topic at hand, which is handicapping a fight between the 2010 versions of Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz. Unfortunately for Diaz fans, this one does not bode well for the otherwise deservedly cocky young man from Stockton, CA.

Frankly, everything Nate does well is thoroughly neutralized either by Gray's solid wrestling skills or via his remarkable genetic advantages, which are also ideally suited to attack the weakest points of Nate's game.

For example, just like his older brother, Nate Diaz possesses excellent boxing. However, they rarely look for a finishing shot, preferring instead to let the accumulation of punishment take its toll. This strategy works perfectly against opponents who are either unadvisedly willing or logistically compelled to remain standing with the brothers Diaz for extended periods of time. However, Gray Maynard will not have to stand with Nate unless he wants to, which he won't unless he is getting the better of the striking anyway. Besides that, Maynard has a granite chin that has only ever been rocked inside the octagon when Gray slammed his own head into the canvas with the weight of two full-grown men behind it. Most likely, Gray will use his ever-improving strikes primarily to set up his trademark takedowns, which he should be able to land at will on Diaz who has never once demonstrated an effective sprawl.

Normally, being put on his back is a gift for Nate, whose triangle chokes are so tight that he frequently keeps his hands free to make obscene gestures while casually awaiting the inevitable tap. However, Diaz' go-to submission probably won't pay dividends here, the way a late guillotine did the first time around against Maynard. Many have tried to submit Maynard in the time since Diaz managed it on TUF 5, but all have failed. This is partly due to Gray's vastly improved BJJ defense, but it certainly helps that Gray is roughly as strong as a wild boar.

Nope, you just can't teach or hope to train for strength like Maynard's -- call it a simple matter of Gray's anatomy. Okay, that was a horrible joke. In any case, once he's underneath Maynard and realizes he is unable to set up his favourite chokes, Diaz will have little choice but to either take a prolonged beating or hand over his milk money to "The Bully." Perhaps his best hope is that Gray will become overly determined to score a finish and make a crucial error as a result. Unfortunately for Diaz, there are few fighters in MMA patient enough to stick to cautious, yet effective, game plans like Gray Maynard.

Nate Diaz is tough as nails, so a finish is not highly likely, but a Maynard win very much is, which should be good enough to secure a title shot, especially considering it would bring his UFC total to seven in a row. At these odds, a bet in either direction is not quite worth it, but I can understand the appeal of a either small value bet on Diaz or in using Maynard in a multi-fight parlay.

Maynard by Unanimous Decision


Main card (Televised):

155 lbs.: Evan Dunham (+210) vs. Efrain Escudero (-270)

In a classic example of name recognition adding value to a fighter's betting line, Efrain Escudero (12-0, 2-0 UFC) came as an unrealistically massive favourite against Evan Dunham (9-0, 2-0 UFC) who, in truth, is much closer to Efrain's level of both talent and ability than these odds suggest.

Of course, Escudero is the lightweight winner of TUF 8 and handily defeated Phillipe Nover in the finals, who was once compared to Anderson Silva by Dana White. Since then, Escudero also nearly put grizzled octagon vet Cole Miller into a coma with a single strike at UFC 103. However, the lesser-known Dunham has also had recent success in the octagon knocking off both Sweden's Per Eklund and Brazil's Marcus Aurelio in 2009.

Both fighters are undefeated, and with good reason. For one thing, they are both powerful wrestlers with very decent striking. Each also possess finisher's instincts, having ended a combined %81 of their fights inside the distance. Their striking is stylistically different, but equally effective, with Escudero throwing the wilder, more-powerful shots, while Dunham employs a more coy counter-striking approach.

When neither young fighter has, as they say, "learned how to lose" it is always difficult to predict who will solve that riddle out first. That said, I am taking Escudero to win based on the fact that he has a bit more experience and really not that much else. Two things are certain in this fight: 1) it will be one heck of a scrap, and, 2) at these screwy odds, the only cash bet that makes any sense is on Dunham to score the alleged "massive upset."

Escudero by Split-Decision


185 lbs.: Tom Lawlor (+250) vs. Aaron Simpson (-325)

Why is it that the once barely-audible buzz surrounding talented wrestler and all-around smashing machine Aaron Simpson (6-0, 2-0 UFC) suddenly sounds more like a chainsaw than a pager. Seemingly from nowhere, comparisons between the thirty-five-year-old Simpson and another MMA latecomer, some guy by the name of Randy Couture, have become the order of the day. Meanwhile, most predictions for this fight contain words like "decapitate" and "steamroll" to describe what "The A-Train" will do to Tom "The Filthy Mauler" Lawler (6-1, 2-0 UFC).

Many, it seems, currently view Lawler as little more than marginally-talented. Plus, after a series of mildly amusing shenanigans that have included "Filthy" being led to the cage at UFC 100 wearing a collar and choke-chain, he is often treated as if he should just switch over now to his budding second-career as a prop comic. It is seemingly far too easy to forget that Lawler is also a fierce competitor with very decent submissions and an indomitable never-quit attitude. Not only that, but Lawler is also essentially undefeated with his sole recorded loss coming as a result of an illegal knee strike in early 2008.

Did you think I was about to pick Lawler? Not so fast. Sure, he has the skills to turn this into a decent scrap and could theoretically catch "The A-Train" in a submission, but Simpson really is a uniquely gifted athlete, which is one area in which Lawlor is lacking. Simpson brings just too much to the table and should, at the very least, be able to easily utilize his wrestling advantage to dictate where the fight goes. More likely, he'll score late TKO via ground'n'pound.

A bet on Simpson at these odds would probably just be a waste of time, unless you are prepared to dig deep and bet the house, in which case it is both wasteful and risky. Anything more than a small value bet on Lawlor is not advisable either.

Aaron Simpson by TKO, Rd. 3

170 lbs.: Amir Sadollah (-160) vs. Brad Blackburn (+130)

Longtime followers of my picks will remember that I was so underwhelmed by Amir Sodollah (2-1, 2-1 UFC) following his Cinderella run on TUF 7 and subsequent TKO loss to Johnny Hendricks that I actually picked a washed up Phil Baroni to beat him at UFC 106. In hindsight, I shouldn't have given Baroni enough credit to assume he would actually train properly for the fight of his life. That was my bad. However, I still wasn't overly impressed with Sodollah. On the contrary, I was shocked that he was not able to finish Baroni despite being allowed to pretty much pick his shots for the majority of all three rounds.

That questionable striking power will not serve Amir's Muay Thai well against a lights-out boxer like "Bad" Brad Blackburn (15-9-1, 3-0 UFC). The holder of eight (T)KO victories, Blackburn will be looking to end Amir's night early and often. On top of being by far the more devastating striker, Blackburn is also physically stronger, a better wrestler, and much more experienced. Granted, Blackburn also has a reputation for gassing out, but he usually does so after two rounds as opposed to Baroni's customary two minutes.

If Blackburn can't finish Sodollah within the first two rounds he should at least dominate those opening frames. Meanwhile, Amir's dearth of power and the fact that Blackburn has only been submitted once in his career will make a third round comeback unlikely for Sodollah.

If, however, the plucky TUF 7 winner somehow proves me wrong again, I will finally start to give him some more credit. Until then, I feel I have every reason to remain suspicious about the large amount of hype behind a guy with only three pro fights and two wins.

A money bet either way can probably be justified, but I would stick with the underdog here.

Blackburn by TKO, Rd. 2

Under card (May not be broadcast):

185 lbs.: Chris Leben (-170) vs. Jay Silva (+140)
170 lbs.: Jesse Lennox (+205) vs. Rick Story (-265)
170 lbs.: Mike Guymon (+160) vs. Rory MacDonald (-200)
155 lbs.: Nik Lentz (+180) vs. Thiago Tavares (-220)
155 lbs.: Kyle Bradley (+275) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (-350)
185 lbs.: Gerald Harris (-290) vs. John Salter (+230)
185 lbs.: Nick Catone (-200) vs. Jesse Forbes (+160)

WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson-- Main Card Preview

There is some great news for Canadian MMA fans this weekend. "The Score," a cable sports channel available in most homes, will air WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson live tonight (Sunday, January 10th) at 6:00 PM PST. This is a welcomed change because TSN, who previously owned the North-of-49 distribution rights, used to show WEC action on tape-delay-- often several days after the action had taken place.

None of this would matter, of course, if the quality of fights wasn't there at WEC 46, but it is in a big way.

Main Event: Jamie Varner -145 vs. Ben Henderson +115

WEC 46 is set to be headlined by a lightweight (LW--155lb.) title unification match featuring the two-time-defending WEC champion Jamie "C-4" Varner (16-2). He hasn't competed in nearly a year since quitting early against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at WEC 38, but still winning a controversial split-decision. Oddly enough, Varner's opponent tonight, interim title holder Benson "Smooth" Henderson (10-1) also defeated Cerrone by decision in his own last fight. What's more, oddsmakers just might favor Cerrone in a rematch against either Varner or Henderson, but I digress. Both these champs are fairly well-rounded, but Varner has the more polished grappling as well as slightly superior striking technique due to the fact he was both a Div. I college wrestler and an NCBA boxing champion. That said, Henderson is known to have a near-limitless gas tank and is extremely difficult to finish. "Smooth" also has excellent training partners, including BJ Penn, and has a few tricks of his own both standing-up and on the mat.

All that should make for a pretty thrilling potential five-rounder, especially considering that Varner, who already has somewhat of a reputation for gassing out, will likely have some cobwebs to work out in his game early on. Meaning that, by the time Varner gets rolling, it may already be to late for him to keep up with Henderson.

Co-Main Event: Urijah Faber -550 vs. Raphael Assuncao +375

The night's penultimate fight features far-and-away the biggest star in WEC history, Urijah "The California Kid" Faber (22-3). Currently ranked third in the world at featherweight (FW--145lbs.), the one-time pound-for-pound standout, Faber, has fallen on somewhat hard times of late. He has lost two of his last three fights, but his impressive resume and unquestioned stature in the sport dictate that, with a win at WEC 46, Faber will surely receive a title shot at the newly crowned champ Jose Aldo. To get there, though, he'll first have to get by FW world #6 Raphael Assuncao (14-1). It's tough to handicap the fight because their strengths on the ground are so different. It will be a match-up of Faber's ground'n'pound against Assuncao's BJJ submissions. Actually, top control may not be the safest place from which to operate for Faber given Raphael's penchant for slapping on fight-ending armbars. Likely being the superior wrestler means that Faber will have more say in where the fight goes. Should he elect to stand, though, the fight won't get much easier. While Urijah Faber's stand-up is impressively creative, that feature of his game has also gotten him into trouble in the past. Assuncao's striking may be less flashy, but his cold, rational approach may be just what is needed to neutralize Faber's erratic style.

It is tempting to see this as a set-up fight designed to get Faber another title shot, and he is the rightful favourite here, but if "The California Kid" is careless he could easily find himself tapped-out, punched-out, or out-pointed tonight en route to accomplishing little more than building up a new star to take his place.

Main Card

Faber vs. Assuncao might only look like a squash match, but this next webfooted, quacker really is a duck. There is simply no good reason to believe that world #2 FW Mike Thomas Brown (22-5) will lose to Anthony "Cheesesteak" Morrison (15-7). If he does, it will be the biggest upset MMA fans have witnessed in years. Really, though, it's understandable that former champion Brown, who holds two consecutive wins over Urijah Faber, would be given a build-up fight after getting outclassed and (T)KO'ed in his most recent fight with current FW king Jose Aldo. Regardless of that performance, Brown is still a powerful, powerful man for any size and possibly one of the hardest pound-for-pound punchers in the game today. That's not even mentioning Brown's underrated submissions, which account for more than half of his victories.

Meanwhile, "Cheesesteak" has a fairly mediocre record, but solid wins over the likes of Alvin Robinson and Micah Miller. Anything can happen, of course, but taking on Brown is quite a lot to ask from a guy making his Zuffa debut.

Mackens Semerzier -140 vs. Deividas Taurosevicius +110

This match features the return of Mackens Semerzier (5-0) whose triangle submission victory over legit 145lb. contender Wagney Fabiano qualifies as the biggest gambling upset of 2009. This bout against a solid career journeyman and stutterer's nightmare Devidas Taurosevicius (11-3) should tell us whether Semerizier's now-legendary win was only a flash in the pan or a sign of bigger things to come.

Dave Jansen -200 vs. Kamal Shalorus +160

These two may be less well-known than some of the fighters on the card, but both have put in the hard miles to get where they are right now and neither wants to squander this opportunity to make a positive impression with MMA fans on live television. Dave Jansen (14-0), the more experienced of the two, will look to use his strong wrestling base to dictate the fight's location, but he'll be in tough against Kamal "Prince of Persia" Shalorous (5-0-1) who can unleash devastating strikes from anywhere at anytime.

No Surprise: Rory MacDonald Hopes To Fight at UFC 115 In Vancouver

The subject of this site's very first post, Kelowna B.C. Native and former King of The Cage World Champion Rory MacDonald (9-0)will make his UFC debut on the preliminary card of Monday's Ultimate Fight Night 20.

His Opponent, fellow King Of The Cage alumni Mike "The Joker" Guymon (11-2), comes into the bout with more years of experience, but odds makers are still favoring MacDonald. With good reason, too. Rory MacDonald is undefeated and has beaten every fighter put in front of him by either (T)KO or submission. There is really no telling where the ceiling is for him, but this fight should reveal a good deal about his chances as a future contender because Guymon is by far his most dangerous and well-rounded opponent to date. Perhaps the biggest difference between them is that the thirty-five-year-old Guymon is a full fifteen years older than MacDonald who is one of the youngest competitors ever to step into the octagon.

Unsurprisingly, MacDonald has already expressed interest in fighting on the UFC 115 card in Vancouver. With an impressive win at UFN 20, MacDonald could even be looking at a main card slot at GM Place in June.

The following is an excerpt from an interview MacDonald recently gave with MMAMania.com, which can be accessed HERE or clicking on the words below:

Nate Lawson (MMAmania.com): You are set to make your UFC debut against Mike Guymon at UFN 20. What do you know about your opponent and what have you done specifically to prepare for this kind of fighter?

Rory MacDonald: I know he’s a strong guy. He’s older. He’s like 35. He’s like 15 years older than me. So he’s gonna be a big strong guy. Besides that, I don’t think technically he is going to be too much of a surprise for me. How I prepared for him is pretty much how I prepare for every other fight. Just train.

... ...

Nate Lawson (MMAmania.com): Well you are fighting this Monday night. Where do you see yourself after this fight with a win?

Rory MacDonald: If I win, I want to fight in Vancouver. That’s close to my hometown and, yeah, I’d love to fight there.

Programming Reminder: WEC This Sunday On "The Score"; UFC's UFN 20 This Monday On "Spike TV"

If you've been meaning to get into the WEC, or, more to the point, if you haven't done so yet due to the lameness of TSN's tape-delayed WEC coverage, then this Sunday night is the opportunity you've been waiting for. The main card of WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson will air live, for free, and in its entirety starting at 6:00 PM/ PST on "The Score." They only recently acquired the Canadian distribution rights and are clearly committed to handling Zuffa's lighter-weight showcase with the respect it deserves.

The very next night, also beginning live at 6:00 PM/PST, "Spike TV" will air Ultimate Fight Night 20, which culminates with a bout between lightweights Gray "The Bully" Maynard and Nate Diaz. The two met once before in the semi-finals of The Ultimate Fighter 5 series with Diaz scoring a submission victory . Many believe that, should "The Bully" secure the victory, he would be rewarded with the next shot at BJ Penn's lightweight belt, probably in the spring. Monday's show also features British Columbia's own Rory MacDonald in a preliminary bout that is, unfortunately, not guaranteed to be broadcast.

This has been a transitional week for B.C. MMA Fan and coverage has suffered somewhat as a result, but rest assured we'll be all over Sunday's WEC 46 and Monday's Ultimate Fight Night 20.

Enjoy the fights!

Liddell vs. Ortiz III Rumoured For UFC 115 In Vancouver

According to MMACanada.net, Vancouver's "News1130 Radio" is reporting that a match between former UFC light heavyweight champions Chuck Liddell (21-7) and Tito Ortiz (15-7-1) may take place in Vancouver's GM Place at UFC 115 on June 12th.

The story has yet to be corroborated by anyone close to the dealings, but the timing makes sense given that the eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter, which begins airing on March 3st on Spike TV, will just have ended around that time. The two legends, who have both coached previously on the show, will square of once their duties as coaches have been fulfilled.

They have met twice previously, at UFC 46 and UFC 66, with Liddell taking the TKO victory in both contests. Chances are there are thousands of B.C. MMA fans, who would love to see Chuck and Tito fight live, but given their recent results and the fact that this isn't even a true rubber match, many also likely hope that another major fight serves as the main event.

Trailer Released For "The A-Team" Featuring "Rampage" Jackson; Looks Pretty Weak

If you already figured "The A-Team" would be painfully cheesy and guessed that "Rampage's" natural charm does not necessarily make him a talented comedic actor, I can tell you now, after having watched the above preview, that you were right.

Anytime the "preview-voice" guy has to explain in great detail the set-up of a movie that's supposedly based on a beloved franchise, you already start thinking you're in trouble. When the dialogue in that same preview consists exclusively of uninspired cliches, it's time to write the whole thing off. Nonetheless, I encourage you to behold the train wreck for yourself. After all, at least you weren't personally involved in the carnage.

GSP Talks Dan Hardy

It's always nice to hear from Canada's MMA stand-out and all-around good guy, Georges St-Pierre (19-2). In this video from MMAFanhouse he candidly discusses his approach to fighting and what he thinks of Dan Hardy's chances of taking his belt. Personally, I would say it is not very likely.

Canadian Press Confirms UFC 115 in Vancouver's GM Place, June 12th

According to the Canadian Press, the Ultimate Fighting Championships recently settled on a June 12th, 2010 date for their British Columbia debut and have officially determined that GM Place will host the event. Of course, this announcement comes hot on the heels of Vancouver City Council's December 2009 decision to sanction MMA in the Lower-Mainland on a two-year trial basis.

No fighters have been linked to the card at this time, but announcements in that regard can be expected in the coming weeks. There is also no word as yet on when tickets will be available, but it's safe to assume the venue will sell out almost instantly.

The card will be held a mere two weeks after UFC 114, which takes place on U.S. Memorial Day, May 29th. It will also occur just over a month after UFC 113, which is slated for May 1st and will mark the organization's third trip to Montreal. Late spring of this year offers a solid run of UFC shows for MMA fans, especially Canadians, capped off by an absolute dream come true for all those in attendance at GM Place on June, 12th.

Partial Line-Up Announced For AFC 2 in Victoria

TopMMANews.com has released a tentative line-up for Armageddon Fighting Championships (AFC)'s sophomore event, which is set to take place on March, 6th at Collwood's Bear Mountain Arena.

The event, dubbed AFC 2, will take place on the outskirts of British Columbia's capital of Victoria, at least partly due to the fact that MMA remains unsanctioned within the city limits. The show will be headlined by middleweight Dan MacIver (6-0) who impressed Island MMA fans in the co-main event of AFC 1 with a first round TKO victory. No opponent for MacIver has been named at this time.

A featured bout at AFC 2 will see the return to action of UFC 4 veteran, B.C. resident, and soon-to-be Burnaby-based gym operator, Jason "Bonecracker" Fairn (3-4). TopMMANews caught up with Jason Fairn to get his reactions to this announcement and his thoughts on returning to the ring. That article can be found HERE. Fairn will reportedly face Xtreme Couture's Phil Friedman (1-2) in a heavyweight tilt.

This partial line-up announcement is great news and will likely be followed by a more detailed press release from AFC in the coming weeks.

Dana White Video Round-Up

If you want to know about the UFC there are few better place to get new information than straight from the horse's mouth. Dana White has come to embody the organization to the point that is has become difficult to think of one apart from the other. To some, that's a problem given Dana's history of brash comments and behavior, but a great number UFC fans wouldn't take him any other way.

With that said, let the video round-up begin.

Dana White and Dan Henderson share a laugh at MMA Awards from Ariel Helwani on Vimeo.

Here Dana was caught chumming around with former employee Dan Henderson who will now ply his trade as a member of the Strikeforce roster.




Here he explains his respect and admiration for outspoken WWE front man and CEO Vince McMahon. Dana also reaffirms that, while he respects all that McMahon has achieved, he doesn't view him as direct competition, nor does he expect to win a head-to-head ratings match up against Raw this Monday night when UFN 20 airs on Spike TV.



In this video we see Dana embrace his multicultural side as he discusses Japanese fighting sensations Shiya Aoki and Takanori Gomi, the latter of whom recently signed a UFC contract and will soon begin competing at lightweight.



Finally, we find Mr. White in "closed door" negotiations with champion heavyweight boxer James Toney about the possibility of his fighting in the UFC. Toney has had some success in his career, but fizzled in recent fights. It was Toney who approached Dana about the possibility of making his MMA debut in the big show, but it's something the UFC must approach carefully. After all, Dana White has been a leading critic of freak-show fights in the past.

UFC 108: Pay Outs

These payout numbers were given to Sherdog.com by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and do not reflect any of the "Locker room Bonuses" that the UFC often pays fighters for having a good performance. Before bonuses, the total fighter payout was $843, 000 USD. Of that, %44.5 went to Rashad Evans. Not a bad night to be "Suga."

UFC 108 Payouts

Rashad Evans -- $375,000 (including $175,000 win bonus)
def.
Thiago Silva -- $55,000

Paul Daley -- $84,200 (including $18,000 win bonus, $50,000 knockout bonus)
def.
Dustin Hazelett -- $19,800*

Sam Stout -- $74,000 (including $12,000 win bonus, $50,000 FOTN bonus)
def.
Joe Lauzon -- $62,000 (including $50,000 FOTN bonus)

Jim Miller -- $30,000 (including $15,000 win bonus)
def.
Duane Ludwig -- $12,000

Junior dos Santos -- $60,000 (including $30,000 win bonus)
def.
Gilbert Yvel -- $30,000

Martin Kampmann -- $46,000 (including $23,000 win bonus)
def.
Jacob Volkmann -- $6,000

Cole Miller -- $74,000 (including $12,000 win bonus, $50,000 submission bonus)
def.
Dan Lauzon -- $15,000

Mark Munoz -- $32,000 (including $16,000 win bonus)
def.
Ryan Jensen -- $6,000

Jake Ellenberger -- $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus)
def.
Mike Pyle -- $17,000

Rafaello Oliveira -- $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus)
def.
John Gunderson -- $5,000

*Daley forfeited 10 percent of his show purse to Hazelett for failing to make weight.