Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88

Former TUF winner stops Iceman in second round; Franlin beats Hamill

By Neil Davidson | The Associated Press

2:00 AM EDT, September 7, 2008

ATLANTA - Rashad Evans knocked out former light-heavyweight champion Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell in devastating fashion Saturday night at UFC 88.

The crunching punch to the chin seemed to come out of nowhere and left the 38-year-old Liddell, who was attempting to throw a looping right of his own, crumpled on the ground. Liddell (21-6) suffered the same fate in losing his mixed martial arts title to Quinton (Rampage) Jackson in May 2007.

"I'm fine," a stony-faced Liddell told the post-fight news conference. "I got caught, man. What do you want me to say?"

The smaller Evans, who won Season 2 of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality TV show, moved and danced in the first round in an attempt to disrupt Liddell's rhythm. It worked mostly but allowed for little Evans offense although Liddell was left with an abrasion under his right eye. All three judges gave the round to Liddell.

The two exchanged more blows in the second but it was anything but a barnburner. Then the 28-year-old Evans (17-0-1) ended it with one punch at 1:51 of the second round.

Light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin watched from ringside as Evans moved up the 205-pound ladder with a bang.

"Hopefully it puts me up there but I'm a patient man and I'm going to enjoy the ride," said Evans, who had promised before the fight he was going to "host Chuck Liddell's retirement party."

UFC president Dana White said Evans' next fight will be for the title. Liddell, meanwhile, said he would ponder his future.

Evans won a $60,000 bonus for KO of the night.

Former champions Rich (Ace) Franklin and Dan Henderson also won on the night, as did Canadian middleweight Jason (The Athlete) MacDonald.

Franklin, moving up to light heavyweight from middleweight where he once was king, stopped Matt Hamill 39 seconds in the third round of the co-main event before 14,736 at the Philips Arena card, the UFC's first in Georgia -- with a gate of $2.6 million.

Hamill, an accomplished wrestler, elected to stand and strike with Franklin. The strategy produced some dividends in the first round as he cut Franklin around the right eye, staggered him with an uppercut and then took him down with a minute remaining. He could not take advantage, however, and Franklin landed more blows in the round.

Franklin, whose cut was looking ugly, gave the crowd a thumbs up as he prepared to start the second. The doctor was called in to look at Franklin's cut but let the fight continue. Hamill (6-2) absorbed a big kick but didn't seem fazed until he got another -- in the groin. But his offense was limited and Franklin (26-3 with one no contest) kept kicking and throwing.

A kick to the body ended it in the third as Hamill tumbled, clutching his side.

"Hats off to Matt, he fought a great fight," said Franklin, who counts the deaf fighter as a friend.

All three judges had given the first two rounds to Franklin.

Former Pride champion Henderson (23-7) survived a prickly opponent in middleweight Rousimar Palhares (17-2), winning a unanimous decision.

The stocky Palhares is a slick jiu-jitsu fighter and Henderson, a two-time wrestling Olympian who at 38 is 10 years older than the Brazilian, wanted no part of him on the ground. Henderson, who had a five-inch height advantage, defended the takedown and connected a few times with the right in the first round but Palhares survived.

Palhares slammed Henderson in the second, sending the American crashing to the canvas with a thud but could not finish off a leg submission attempt. Henderson's takedown defense was up to the challenge in the third and he punctuated the end of the fight by banging the downed Brazilian with a big punch.

"Nobody knows who he is but he's damn dangerous," said Henderson, who looked happy to have seen the last of the persistent Palhares.

E-mail

Single page

Reprint

Get home delivery of The Sun and save over 50% off the newsstand price

Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88

Former TUF winner stops Iceman in second round; Franlin beats Hamill

Online resources

Going deep

Going deep Sun sports special reports and in-depth coverage
	> 1983 O's > Football: The tie that binds > Orioles > Baltimore Colts > Going deep: Other sports

Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88

Former TUF winner stops Iceman in second round; Franlin beats Hamill

Related links

MMA Stomping Grounds: Thoughts on UFC 88

UFC 88 fighters Photos

MMA Stomping Grounds: Q&A with UFC fighter Rich Franklin

Mixed martial arts photo galleries Multimedia

Related topic galleries: Road Accidents, Injuries, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Wrestling, Light Heavyweight Boxing, Middleweight Boxing, Lightweight Boxing

Popular stories: Sports

Online resources

Going deep