Helio Gracie: Father Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Helio Gracie–patriarch of the legendary Gracie MMA family–died earlier this year in Rio De Janeiro at age 95. His influence on martial arts, and even more so the sport that is known known as mixed martial arts, is staggering. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA and the UFC due to the accomplishments of Helio Gracie and his progeny.

Helio Gracie began training in judo early in life, and by the age of 16 had already begun to teach others in his native Brazil. He was bothered by judo’s reliance on ‘brute strength’, however, and along with his brother Carlos began to adapt many of its forms to a new fighting system more reliant on leverage than strength. This prompted the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), frequently called Gracie Jiu Jitsu in his honor.

Gracie also had a professional fighting career of his own, taking on champions from other fighting disciplines in an early version of modern MMA. These bouts were arduous, unregulated affairs with arbitrary rules and no time limits. By his own recollection, Gracie fought 15 times against the top opponents of his time. He began his career in’32 by submitting professional boxer Antonio Portugal in just 32 seconds. Later that year, he fought American catch wrestler Frank Ebert to a draw after the ringside doctor ordered the bout stopped after an ungodly fourteen ten minute rounds.

His most famous battle was against Japanese judo legend Masahiko Kimura, resulting in a rare loss for Gracie. Despite the setback, he fought bravely and may have actually enhanced his legend after refusing to submit to a reverse arm bar (the same modern MMA submission that now bears Kimuras name). Only after his arm was broken did his brother Carlos throw in the towel.

Gracies influence on the Brazilian sports scene, and later the nascent sport of mixed martial arts, would continue through his family. Married twice, he had seven sons (Rickson, Royler, Rolker, Royce, Relson, Robin and Rorion) and two daughters (Rerika and Ricci), many of whom went on to make their own mark on the fight sport world. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA. At the time of his death, Helio Gracie was a 6th Dan Judo black belt and the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Gracie died at age 95, after suffering stomach problems though the cause of his death was officially listed as ‘natural causes’. His last words are classic and highly fitting for a man who gave so much to martial arts and fighting sports:

“I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood.

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Lakers Retain Services Of Free Agent Lamar Odom

After a month long free agency soap opera, both Lamar Odom and the Los Angeles Lakers got what they really wanted all along. The Lakers retained the services of their valuable sixth man, and Odom will return to the team after an intense recruiting pitch from the Miami Heat. Odom officially signed his new contract with the NBA Champions and along with the addition of Ron Artest the Lakers may actually be stronger than last years title winning squad.

Terms of the deal were similar to the contract offer that was pulled in early July, starting the entire drama. After negotiations broke down due to some miscommunication between Odom’s agent and Lakers’ owner Dr. Jerry Buss it looked for awhile like Odom was headed elsewhere. While Odom worked to mend fences–including several personal phone calls to Dr. Buss–his agent was receiving interest from Miami, Portland and Dallas.

When it was all said and done, Odom didn’t want to leave Los Angeles At the official signing ceremony, he hinted that a dynasty could be in the making:

“I guess basketball-wise, I feel complete. I want to feel it again. It’s kind of an overwhelming feeling. I get goose bumps when I think about it, and as long as I continue to play professional basketball, I want to always feel that. The way I feel during the summer, I always want to feel that. If we can win six, seven, eight, nine, 10 championships in a row, I want to experience that.”

While talk of 10 straight championships may be mere hyperbole, theres no reason the Lakers cant run off a repeat or better with their current lineup. In fact, with the teams signing of Ron Artest the lineup may be better than a year ago. Artest brings not only his infamous swagger and intensity, but an element of toughness and versatility that Ariza lacked. Such was Odoms commitment to the Lakers is that even during his free agency, he helped recruit Artest to sign with the team:

“I spoke to Ron two days before he signed, and I told him how important I think it is for him to come here. Because I know how hard he works, he needs to experience basketball at its best, at the highest level, and he needs to become a Laker. Two days after that, he signed.”

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was understandably elated at Odom’s return:

“Three or four months ago, I didn’t think it could be possible that we could basically bring this team back in whole. Lamar had a wonderful season that ended on the best possible note you could have, and Lamar had a lot of options. … Here it is, July 31, and we have brought back everybody that we wanted to bring back.”

Odom has spent most of his career in L.A., either with the Lakers or the Clippers, and he noted that the city is home to him and his family:

“I didn’t want my kids to have to change schools — just the little things. I’m comfortable here. I’ve been here since I was’ years old. I’m proud to be playing for what I think is the most popular brand in sports.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Getting The Most From SEO And Internet Marketing

As any small business owner will tell you, SEO and Internet marketing are almost interconnected when it comes to their business, these two concepts are often times able to provide a wide range of wonderful experience that will assist a person in getting the marketing for their company.

We by now have all seen the power that SEO can have. If you are not aware of this, then you need to spend a little more time online and simply look when you do searches. There is a lot of power that this can have on the amount of traffic that a person gets on a regular basis. There is no denying the fact that this can have a lot of influence on the amount of traffic that your site receives on a regular basis.

Then the concept of internet marketing another powerful concept that can lead a company to see the best results that is has in quite some time. This can often times lead to a company using this n order to attract more customers to their site. These two are powerful all by themself, when paired together this is an unstoppable duo that often times will be a powerhouse in getting a company measurable results.

Take these two concepts and combine them together, and you are dealing with a combination that will be difficult to overcome. These two concepts in many businesses owners minds are not able to be used in the same concept, that however is not the truth. The fact is that these two used together will lead a business to see massive growth and wealth.

There is however an other side to the equation. While the power of the SEO is great, there is something that overshadows it and makes it pale in comparison, internet marketing. This is a tool that can lead to a site seeing massive improvements when it comes to their site and getting all of the attention that the site deserves.

Internet marketing coupled with SEO is dreams come true. These two working I harmony is one thing that will lead a person to see a dramatic increase in the amount of new potential customers that head to your site.

This combination is also a very cost effective concept that is able to be used in your business ideas. There is a great amount of many that is able to be saved when these two are combined and a person uses these two in joint venture instead of separately.

SEO Montreal and Internet marketing is one of the best concepts that you are able to use when it comes to trying to get the biggest bang for your buck. Separately these two can do remarkable things, but together these can take a company that is on the verge of going under and can transform this company into something that will be a giant success with a little creative direction. The more that you look into this Search engine optimization Ottawa concept, then the more that you will be able to put these to work for you and have the business that you always dreamed of.

Canada’s leading SEO company offers services including Montreal SEO as well as Ottawa SEO, Toronto and across Canada.

Tropical Beach Vacation Ideas

Exotic beaches and spectacular island destinations are located within 23 1/2 degrees either north or south of the equator. They have warm weather conditions all year round with a lot of sun and warmth. Depending on exactly where you are going, there are many tropical locations all over the world including Hawaii, Fiji, the Caribbean and Bora Bora.

Hawaii

The Aloha State of Hawaii offers you several different islands as well as beach locations. Oahu Island is easily the most well-known, home to the famous Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, the state’s main city. Maui provides you with a number of luxurious accommodations, 16 golf courses, as well as a 10,023 foot volcano. Molokai and Lanai may both be accessed by ferry from Maui or you can just fly there from Honolulu.

Hawaii’s Big Island is the largest of all islands offering Volcanoes National Park with astonishing waterfalls and breathtaking beaches. Kauai is known for its exotic vegetation and has even been used for setting of numerous Hollywood films.

Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean Islands are made up of numerous different big and small islands, such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, the Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and Anguila, just to name a few.

The Caribbean Islands provide splendid beaches, clear water and warm weather conditions. The vacation things to do include diving, swimming, snorkeling, sailing as well as angling.

Fiji

The island of Fiji is comprised of numerous exotic islands which are popular for their blue waters and sandy beach locations. There are numerous resorts that you can select from including the Fiji Islands Resort and the Yasawa Island Resort.

Bora Bora

Bora Bora is one of the most astounding island destinations in Tahiti which is located south of the equator – in the same time zone as Hawaii. Beaches here are guarded by coral reef. The exotic island of Bora Bora is home to several hotels and breathtaking scenery.

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Often known as the perfect beach town, Cocoa Beach is an hour drive east of Orlando on Florida’s astonishing Space Coast. The drive here’s pretty much as stunning as the beach – promising you endless ways to take pleasure in your leisure time and entertainment.

Regardless of whether you are planning on a family beach getaway, recreational travel, business travel, or just a day at the seaside, you are going to find exactly what you’ve been searching for in Cocoa Beach as well as the Space Coast region to ensure your visit one you will never forget.

Laguna Beach

Wonderfully situated halfway in between Los Angeles and San Diego in southern Orange County, Laguna Beach is a popular holiday weekend vacation in Southern California. Offering 7 miles of coastline with sandy beaches and palm trees, Laguna Beach is the perfect beach getaway.

There are 30 beaches as well as coves that guests could check out either by walking or by means of kayak. The things to do here involve wind-surfing, bird watching, beach volleyball, surfing as well as scuba diving.

The Laguna Beach likewise has warm weather year round with an average high of 69 degrees in January and 77 degrees in July. Popular activities for the outdoors here include intimate picnics, trekking, cycling, tennis, golf and even botanical garden tours.

Searching for a travel agency LA metropolitan area? A competent and very affordable Los Angeles travel agency is sure to provide the best services for you to see the splendor of the city.

Chicago Blackhawks’ Great Stan Mikita

Professional hockey players from the former Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia are now ubiquitous, but Stan Mikita was something of a pioneer. The Chicago Blackhawks legend was sometimes relegated to secondary status behind more telegenetic stars like teammate Bobby Hull, but you can make a very good case that Mikita was the best NHL forward of the’60′s. He was born in Sokolce, in what is now known as Slovakia. In the conflict torn years prior to WW II, he was sent to Canada and adopted by an aunt and uncle. Like most young Canadian boys, he started playing hockey and quickly exhibited significant talent at the country’s national sport.

As a teenager, Mikita starred for the St. Catherine Teepees of the junior league Ontario Hockey Association. In’59, he made the jump to the NHL for good joining the Chicago Blackhawks. He played sparingly in his first partial season in the NHL, but quickly became an important part of the Chicago offense in his first and second full seasons as a pro. In’61, he led the team in playoff scoring as they won the Stanley Cup”his only championship during his career and the last time the franchise would win the NHLs highest team honor.

During the early and mid’60′s, Mikita’s Blackhawks were the most feared offensive team in the NHL. Mikita centered the Scooter Line with Ken Wharram on the right wing and Ab McDonald or Doug Mohns on the left wing, and earned a reputation as one of the most complete offensive players in the game.

Mikitas influence wasnt limited to offensive output”he was a feared defensive player and considered one of the best faceoff men in the game. He also brought about one of the most significant innovations in NHL history, being the first to play with a curved stick blade. This was a very radical modification at the time, but was quickly copied throughout the league to the point where today a player that *doesnt* play with a curved stick is considered something of an anachronism.

Early in his career, Mikita played a tough, rugged style of hockey that made him one of the most penalized players in the game. In the mid’60s, however, he began to play a much cleaner and more sportsmanlike style that would earn him the Lady Byng Trophy for most gentlemanly player twice. The story goes that he had a change of heart when his young daughter asked why he spent so much time sitting in the box on televised games.

In addition to his Stanley Cup victory, Mikitas career accomplishments are among the most impressive in NHL history. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHLs leading scorer four times (1964,’65,’67,’68), the Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player twice (1967 and’68) and the Lady Byng Trophy in’67 and’68.

Mikita suffered from chronic back ailments later in his career, and finally retired in’80 having played his entire career for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in’83, but became known to a younger generation in a more unusual way. In the movie Waynes World, Wayne and Garth frequently hang out at a donut shop based on the Canadian Tim Hortons chain. The name of the shop is Stan Mikitas Donuts.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Are You Paid For Your Ideas

There are a great number of individuals who are finding themselves without a job due to the difficult economic climate, and staying ahead of their bills is a challenge for them.

There are always ways to earn more money to get by a little better, whether or not you are receiving unemployment benefits, if these benefits have recently ended, or if you’re just not taking in enough cash to survive.

Online paid surveys offer you an excellent opportunity to utilize your free time to earn additional cash. Who doesn’t like to have others listen to their opinion? Now you can actually make money for sharing what you think!

It’s worth considering. Think of the number of times that you have expressed your opinion on a service or a product to your friends or family without being paid to do so?

Most people do this without even realizing it. Businesses are looking for feedback from their target audience and you can earn money by doing just that.

Businesses will pay you to know what you think about their product just so they are able to remain competitive in their market. They need to determine whether their products and services are meeting the needs and expectations of the consumer in order to operate profitably.

Your opinion is very important, and you can take surveys pertaining to electronics, fashion, sports equipment, or almost anything you can think of! The surveys are designed to allow you to get paid for your opinion on any service or product that you may have purchased in the past year or so.

Of course, you probably are not going to get rich by doing surveys for cash. But, you can expect to earn a sufficient amount of extra income to catch up on overdue debts, as well as fund that trip that you have been thinking about taking your family on. Join today and you can make money for sharing your opinion!

Focus Group Recruiting Opinion Outpost is one of the most well-known and legitimate paid surveys sites out there. Is an easy and fun way to make some extra cash. If you are new to online surveys and earning money doing online surveys, here is how the whole.

Blue Jackets Blow Lead, Lose To Penguins In Shootout

The Columbus Blue Jackets learned a valuable lesson about NHL hockey on Friday night-it’s dangerous to ‘sit on a lead’ and particularly against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Down 3-1, Pittsburgh tied the game late in the third period as Ruslan Fedotenko and Alex Goligoski each lit the lamp with less than three minutes remaining. After a scoreless overtime period, Sidney Crosby scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Penguins an improbable 4-3 victory. It was the 9th win in ten games for Pittsburgh, who are a perfect 6-0-0 on the road. Columbus lost for the fifth time in six games.

NHL hockey betting enthusiasts cashed wagers on the road underdog Penguins, but on the moneyline at +117 and the puckline. Pittsburgh has gotten off to a great start this year, going 11-2-0 in the first month of the season. Columbus is struggling to stay above .500 at 6-5-1. The 7 combined goals scored went OVER the posted total of 5′. The Blue Jackets have gone OVER in 7 of 12 games this season.

Crosby’s game winning score in overtime wasn’t exactly the stuff of highlight reels, with the puck barely trickling over the line:

“It was kind of a fluky. The puck kept going. I don’t know if he lost it or he didn’t know where it was or whatever. I just tried a quick shot. I thought he had the save there. It just trickled in.”

Jackets’ goalie Steve Mason gave this version of Crosby’s shot:

“It hit my stick and I didn’t get it settled until it was over the line. It just trickled over and I was too late on it.”

Penguins’ left winger Chris Kunitz scored a shorthanded goal and praised the leadership abilities of team captain Crosby:

“It shows a lot of character from our captain. He goes out and he’s never quitting on anything. Sometimes a team goes packing, down by two with 3 minutes left. But he goes out, he’s on the bench, he’s saying, ‘Let’s get the next one.’ So we go out there and he finds himself the puck and he gets it to Goligoski, he gets a great shot and puts it in the net to get us to overtime.”

Columbus’ Rick Nash suggested that his team is having trouble ‘closing out’ games:

“We’re not closing games. We got the lead in a lot of the games already and just can’t seem to close it out. They are the defending Stanley Cup champions. You can tell why they’re such a good team. We are a team that needs to learn how to play with the lead.”

Pittsburgh will host Minnesota on Saturday night before heading to southern California next week for games against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Columbus will play at Washington on Sunday before hosting the San Jose Sharks next Wednesday.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Indianapolis Shreds St. Louis To Remain Undefeated

Peyton Manning was unable to tie a NFL record with his sixth straight 300 yard game , but the Indianapolis Colts remained undefeated by ripping the lowly St. Louis Rams 42-6 at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday. Manning amassed 235 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions as the Colts made short work of the winless Rams. St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger continued to struggle, with–0 yards passing, two interceptions and no touchdowns.

NFL betting devotees who backed Indy as -14 road favorites easily won their bets as the Colts improved to 5-1 against the spread. After dropping their first game of the year to the number, Indy has run off five straight pointspread covers. The Chiefs dropped to 2-5 against the spread with the setback.

After the game, Colts’ coach Jim Caldwell praised his quarterback:

“He functions pretty well within the system. He does a great job leading our team and being a field general. I don’t think he reached 300 yards, but nevertheless he was very effective.”

As has become his form, Manning deflected the praise onto his offensive line:

“I really appreciate the protection I’ve been getting. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”

Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark gave kudos to the Indy fans that made the trip to St. Louis to support the team:

“We had a great following today. It was outstanding. When we were introduced it felt like a home game.”

Rams’ running back Steven Jackson sounded like a man out of answers:

“We have to learn to put four good quarters together. We don’t know how to win a game right now.”

The Colts will return home next Sunday to face a potentially tricky game against the San Francisco 49ers. Indianapolis has been installed as -11 point home favorites and the total set at 45. They’ll remain at home for the following two games, hosting the Houston Texans the following week and the New England Patriots on November 15th. St. Louis will take on another one of the NFL’s bottom feeders next Sunday, playing on the road against the Detroit Lions. The Rams will have a much needed bye week after that before returning to action on November 15th as they host the New Orleans Saints.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and highly respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Miami Tops Tampa Bay In NFL Preseason Florida Battle

Success in the NFL mandates that even when teams aren’t playing their best they need to find a way to win. After spotting the Bucs a 6-0 lead, Miami used a late first half field goal and scored the only touchdown of the second half to comeback for the 10-6 win. The victory improved Miamis preseason NFL record to a perfect 3-0 while Tampa Bay dropped to 1-2.

A starting QB battle in Tampa was the biggest storyline of the game and veteran Byron Leftwich appears to have gained the edge over Luke McCown. Bucs coach Raheem Morris has indicated that hell be making a decision soon, though he refused to show his cards in postgame media comments:

“Obviously you want somebody to jump up and take it. We’ll find out when we go back, look at the tape and evaluate this thing.”

McCown had a rough night, with two sacks and no points scored. He gave a verbose no comment on his status as starter:

“It’s not for me to say. … My part in it is preparing every day, being the best I can be and getting better from my mistakes. As long as I feel like I’m doing that, then I’m OK.”

Leftwich, meanwhile, was 9 of 17 for 100 yards and came up big on several third down completions. He had very little to say about the ‘QB controversy’ and instead focused on his performance:

“Hopefully, I’m the guy. I felt good. I missed a few, but I hit a few also. Luckily for me on the ones I missed, I made plays on the following play to get those first downs.”

Bucs running back Cadillac Williams returned to action after major knee surgery seven months ago. Hes been limited in the last three seasons due to injuries, but looked solid in picking up 54 yards on eight carries. Afterwards, he said the knee problems are not an issue:

“The knee is not an issue to me. … I feel great. I’m just loving what I do.”

The game had several delays due to rain and lightening, the longest a 45 minute stoppage Dolphins QB Chad Pennington said that its hard to evaluate his team’s performance due to the strange starts and stops:

“It was a very odd game for us, as far as the rain delay, a lot of stoppages of play and things like that We were able to come out get a score before halftime and get a score after the half. We’ll build on that. We’ll be critical of ourselves and make sure we don’t let a win overshadow what we need to do to get better.”

Miami will get the NFL regular season underway against the Atlanta Falcons at The Georgia Dome on Sunday, September 13. Tampa Bay will welcome the Dallas Cowboys to The Cigar City on the same day to kick off their 2009 campaign.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

UFC 92 Flashback: Mir, Evans And Rampage Prevail

Two titles changed hands at UFC 92, with Rashad Evans defeating Forrest Griffin by TKO to win the light heavyweight title and Frank Mir knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to claim the UFC interim heavyweight title.

While nominally taking subordinate status to the Evans/Griffin main event the most shocking result by far was Frank Mir’s second round TKO stoppage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Nogueira was the overwhelming favorite coming into the fight and had never been stopped inside the distance during a career where hed faced the best of the best: Fedor Emelianenko (three times), Josh Barnett (twice), Semmy Schilt and Mirko Cro Cop among many others. In the matchup to fill the Interim UFC title vacated by Randy Couture, Nogueira had absorbed a punching barrage from Tim Sylvia before gaining a submission victory.

Mir, meanwhile, had been on the verge of a full time move to the broadcast booth before his victory over WWE superstar turned MMA fighter Brock Lesnar. The conventional wisdom concerning Mir was that hed never fully recovered from a serious motorcycle accident in 2004. He eventually returned to the octagon, and after two TKO losses in his first three comeback fights began to consider the possibility that he just didnt have it any more.

When the fight against Brock Lesnar was signed, the perception among most fans was that Mir was a high profile setup for the former WWE champ. The expectation was that after a one-sided loss to Lesnar that Mir would transition into the next phase of his career as a broadcaster.

For the first minute of the fight, it looked like the above scenario was going to play out”Lesnar manhandled Mir from the opening horn, taking him down and landing punishing hammer fists on the ground. That was rendered irrelevant, however, when Lesnar made a rookie mistake and dangled his leg in easy reach of the BJJ blackbelt. Mir locked in a deep knee bar and Lesnar was forced to tap.

There would be no such reprieve against Nogueira, according to many pundits, as he was too experienced and too good of a BJJ player in his own right to give Mir any such opportunities for a fluke submission. Mir entered the UFC 92 fight as a +305 wagering underdog, meaning that oddsmakers and the betting public agreed that he had little chance to prevail in this matchup against a highly experienced veteran that had never been stopped inside the distance.

The fight was certainly one-sided, but it was Mir who was in control throughout. From the opening horn he demonstrated surprisingly sharp striking skills, and knocked Nogueira down twice in the first round. Not expecting a solid standup offense, Nogueira looked downright lost in the later stages of the first round as Mir doubled and tripled up his jab and threw impressive punching combinations to go with low kicks and occasional takedown attempts.

Though Mir appeared in full control of the fight as the second round began, the end would come with startling suddenness and brutality. After a low kick attempt by Nogueira, Mirs counter tagged his opponent and he followed up with a big right hook that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas.

In the light heavyweight championship match, Forrest Griffin got off to a good start in his title defense by using his superior height and reach and an impressive array of kicks to keep Rashad Evans just out of range for two full rounds. That changed dramatically in the third, as Evans ended the fight with a punishing punching attack.

The most highly anticipated match on the undercard also featured a lopsided TKO finish as Quinton Rampage Jackson dominated Wanderlei Silva in the third fight between the two men. It was Jacksons first fight since his well publicized hit and run incident in Orange County, California and he looked very sharp throughout before bringing the contest to a close with a perfectly placed left hook to the cheekbone.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.