UFC 92 The Ultimate 2008, is taking place on Dec 27th 2008 at 7pm PT / 10pm ET at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Nevada. It’s the ultimate event of the year with the original Ultimate Fighter®, Forrest Griffin defending his title against “Sugar” Rashad Evans. Then the Ultimate Fighter® coaches face off as Interim World Heavyweight Champion, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira takes on former heavyweight champion, Frank Mir. Plus, two of the hardest hitting light heavyweights go toe-to-toe when Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva battles former light heavyweight champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

These are the atlanticmma.com staff’s predictions.

LHW Champ Forrest Griffin vs. Challenger Rashad Evans
Mike Crowley: Forrest Griffin is an awesome fighter and a guy you want to admire, so I’ll be rooting for him, but Rashad has what it takes to take him out. Rashad is going to be too elusive for Forrest. Rashad by TKO in the fourth round Round. If they make it past the third round it will be because Griffin is hanging by the skin of his teeth. Rashad is too hungry to quit.
Scott Macovi: This is a tough fight to call, I feel that if it goes the distance in will be Griffin retaining the title, but if this fight finishes early, it’s Rashad knocking Forrest out. I’m going to go with my gut on this one and say Forrest by Split decision.
Matt Scott: Rashad has the better wrestling, but I believe that Griffin’s standup is slightly better, he has a more powerful clinch, and better Jui-Jitsu. If Rashad gets close enough to trade punches with Forrest, Forrest will get him in the clinch and feed him knees. And if Rashad takes him down, Forrest could slip in a submission or reverse it. I see no way for Rashad to win other than a lucky punch. I’m taking Forrest Griffin via Round 3 submission.

HW Champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Challenger Frank Mir
Mike Crowley: Another couple of fighters I respect, but I don’t think Mir is going to beat Nogueira. Nogueira wins by TKO late 3rd Round early 4th. Look for Mir to get gassed and sloppy, that will be Nogueria’s opportunity.
Scott Macovi: Since the return of Frank Mir in 2006, he is 3 – 2 in the UFC. He was destroyed by Brendan Vera and also TKO’d by Marcio Cruz, and won a sloppy decision over Dan Christianson. Big Nog on the other hand is 6 –1 since 2006, and in my opinion is just an all round better fighter in every aspect of the fight game. I’m calling a 2nd round TKO for Nogueira.
Matt Scott: Frank Mir has little confidence in himself, so why should I? He’s done plenty of interviews recently complaining about the fight being 5 rounds, and how Nogueira is better than him in every aspect of the game. Well, he’s right. Nog has better standup, wrestling, and Jui-Jitsu. The only way I could potentially see Mir win is via decision, because he won’t knock out or submit Nogueira. And even if he finds a way to pick at Nogueira, he doesn’t have the cardio to keep it up. Nogueira via round 4 TKO.

C.B. Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio
Mike Crowley: Jackson vs. Silva is a bigger fight than this, ‘nuf said about that. Both fighters are evenly matched without KO or Tapout strengths. I suspect the UFC has some money tied up in Dollaway and they’re trying to get their value out of him. Dollaway by decision.
Scott Macovi: Both fighters are fond of submissions and great wrestlers in this match, thus making for an interesting ground battle. CB should have the better wrestling and will most likely try to G&P his way to victory. I think this may go the distance, with CB taking the Unanimous decision.
Matt Scott: Frankly, it’s tough to judge a fighter’s success comping out of TUF. That being said, I’ve seen some of Dollaway’s old fights, and the kid seems like he’s the real deal. I don’t really know enough about Mike Massenzio, but I will be picking Dollaway based purely on the fact that the UFC wants Dollaway to become a star, and they likely picked a matchup to help him towards that.

Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva
Mike Crowley: I’m going to go out on a limb, but this fight isn’t going to go the distance. This fight is bigger than any of the others. Either fighter can TKO at any time if the other has a sloppy moment. But, mistakes or not, one of them will get the TKO by the end of the third round and I’m going with Rampage.
Scott Macovi: How can anyone bet on Jackson after the way the first 2 encounters went? In my opinion Chuck Liddell has Tito Ortiz’s number, Rampage has Chuck Liddell’s number, and Wanderlei Silva has Rampage’s number. Silva 2nd round TKO.
Matt Scott: Toughest fight to call. On one hand, there’s Quinton Jackson. Jackson has considerably improved from the last Silva fight, whereas it looks as if Silva has gone in the opposite direction. On the other hand, Silva has become a cardio machine, showed off his chin against Liddell, and is coming off a devastating knockout against Keith Jardine. And Rampage is still deeply immersed in legal issues, and surprisingly isn’t in a mental health institution. And he recently departed with his old coach Juanito, whom he had a very close relationship with. All that being said, I’ll take Rampage. He needs this win, and although I think Wanderlei is the best Light Heavyweight in the division, and probably the greatest of all time, Rampage wins this fight via Round 2 TKO

Mustafa Al-Turk vs. Cheick Kongo
Mike Crowley: Al-Turk has the power to knock Kongo out, if Kongo gives him the chance. The excitement is going to be waiting for Al-Turk to get loose and land enough punches to TKO Kongo. Chances are Kongo won’t give him the chance and wins by TKO before the last bell.
Scott Macovi: I look for Cheick to make a statement in this fight. Leaving Juanito and the rest of the Big Bear crew for the Wolf’s lair in England is definitely going to prove beneficial. Cheick Kongo 1st round TKO.
Matt Scott: As heavily as Kongo is the favorite, he never seems to impress me. He never seems to be able to finish quality opponents, something that I believe Al-Turk is. Al-Turk is primed for the upset, and with heavy hands, I predict an Al-Turk victory via Round 2 TKO.

Dean Lister vs. Yushin Okami
Mike Crowley: Okami’s going to dominate this one and wrap it up in the first round.
Matt Scott: Not only will Okami win, but this will be Dean Lister’s last fight in the UFC. Okami should’ve been fighting Silva, and got stuck with this plug. Okami via decision.

Antoni Hardonk vs. Mike Wessel
Mike Crowley: This one’s going to go the distance with Hardonk by decision.
Matt Scott: I just don’t see a way that Wessel can win this fight. Hardonk is too good, and too experienced. Hardonk via Round 2 sumbission.

Reese Andy vs. Matt Hamill
Mike Crowley: I like Hamill a lot. Andy Reese is no slouch but against Hamill, expect it to be over in the second round.
Matt Scott: As this is a battle of the wrestlers, one would expect a boring fight. I predict a standup war, with Hamill edging out a decision.

Brad Blackburn vs. Ryo Chonan
Mike Crowley: Hmmm, tough call, I wouldn’t bet on this one, but Blackburn by decision.
Matt Scott: After seeing Chonan vs. Silva, I have never yet bet against Chonan. he’s 3-1 in his last 4, with that loss coming to Karo Parisyan. I just don’t think Blackburn has the tools to stop Chonan. Chonan wins in round 2 via submission.

Patrick Barry vs. Dan Evensen
Mike Crowley: Barry’s going to take the win in the first round.
Matt Scott: For some reason, I really don’t like Dan Evensen. I just don’t think he has all the tools required to be sucessful in the UFC. I’ll take Pat Barry via decision.