Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will meet Brazilian legend
Wanderlei Silva for the third time, and
Forrest Griffin will defend his light heavyweight crown against unbeaten
Rashad Evans in two featured bouts at UFC 92 on Dec. 27 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Yahoo! Sports reported the matchups on Thursday.
Jackson (28-7) has not competed since he surrendered the light heavyweight title to Griffin in a unanimous decision loss at UFC 86. He was arrested 10 days later in Costa Mesa, Calif., after he allegedly took authorities on a vehicular chase through the streets and sidewalks of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The 30-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native still faces two felony charges and four misdemeanors that could put him behind bars for three years.
The charismatic Jackson lost to Silva twice in less than a year -- by technical knockout at Pride “Final Conflict 2003” and by knockout at Pride 28 -- in Japan, but the two superstars have never met inside a cage. Jackson’s surprising loss to Griffin three months ago snapped a six-fight winning streak that included victories against 2000 Olympic silver medalist
Matt Lindland, one-time UFC light heavyweight champion
Chuck Liddell and two-time Olympian
Dan Henderson.
Silva (32-8-1), meanwhile, has electrified UFC crowds with his unique brand of violence since he returned to the promotion in December 2007. The 32-year-old Brazilian once went more than four years without tasting defeat. He last appeared at UFC 84 in May, when he annihilated the highly regarded
Keith Jardine in just 36 seconds. One of the sport’s premier finishers, he has secured 26 of his 32 wins by KO, TKO or submission.
The UFC’s year-end show will feature another main event-worthy showdown in the 205-pound division, as Griffin (16-4) defends his belt for the first-time against the fast-rising Evans.
Arguably the promotion’s most-popular fighter, Griffin’s stock skyrocketed after back-to-back victories against Jackson and
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Based out of Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas, he has won nine of his last 11 bouts, including three straight.
Evans (12-0-1), meanwhile, announced his arrival as an elite light heavyweight in September, when he scored a devastating second-round KO against Liddell at UFC 88 in Atlanta. Once criticized for his plodding style and inability to finish, Evans has delivered three of his last four wins by knockout. A draw with former champion
Tito Ortiz in July 2007 remains the only blemish on his resume.
An interim heavyweight championship match pairing current titleholder
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with
Frank Mir will anchor UFC 92. The two men serve as coaches on the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series.
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