UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on January 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.


Official Fight Card

Main Card

* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Rashad Evans vs. Brazil Thiago Silva
* Welterweight bout: United States Dustin Hazelett vs. United Kingdom Paul Daley
* Lightweight bout: United States Joe Lauzon vs. Canada Sam Stout
* Lightweight bout: United States Jim Miller vs. United States Duane Ludwig
* Heavyweight bout: Brazil Junior dos Santos vs. Netherlands Gilbert Yvel

Spike TV Card

* Welterweight bout: Denmark Martin Kampmann vs. United States Jacob Volkmann
* Lightweight bout: United States Cole Miller vs. United States Dan Lauzon

Preliminary Card

* Middleweight bout: United States Mark Munoz vs. United States Ryan Jensen
* Welterweight bout: United States Mike Pyle vs. United States Jake Ellenberger
* Lightweight bout: Brazil Rafaello Oliveira vs. United States John Gunderson

Other Announced Matchups

These matches have been reported as finalized by sources, but have not yet been added to the card on UFC.com

* Light Heavyweight bout: Belarus Vladimir Matyushenko vs. TBA


Background

The card has been plagued with numerous injuries - the most injuries per card in UFC history - with multiple potential fights being called off as a result.

A proposed main event featured UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva facing off against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort. However, it was announced by Silva's manager Ed Soares that the fight will not happen at UFC 108 because Silva will not be fully healed from elbow surgery.

A bout between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin for the UFC Heavyweight Championship was rescheduled from UFC 106 to UFC 108, but this fight will not take place due to a continuing illness of Lesnar.

The winner of a bout between Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez was to be guaranteed a title shot for the UFC Heavyweight Championship against the eventual winner of Lesnar vs. Carwin. The planned bout was later scrapped when Nogueira was forced to pull out of the fight due to a severe case of staph infection. A possible Velasquez vs. Carwin match for an interim belt has been ruled out as a new main event due to Carwin undergoing knee surgery, although the fight may take place at a later date.. The Nogueria/Velasquez bout is scheduled for February 21, 2010 at UFC 110.

Gabriel Gonzaga was forced to pull out of his bout with Junior dos Santos on November 25, due to illness. Gonzaga was replaced by Gilbert Yvel

Paul Daley was scheduled to face Carlos Condit but on December 9, it was announced that Condit had pulled out due to injury. Condit was replaced by Dustin Hazelett.

On December 11, Tyson Griffin pulled out of his bout with Jim Miller, citing an injury. Sean Sherk, who originally had a fight with Rafaello Oliveira, stepped as up as Griffin's replacement. However, on December 17, Sherk pulled out of the fight, Duane Ludwig replaced Sherk.

Martin Kampmann vs. Rory Markham was also called off days later after a knee injury. On December 14 it was announced that Jacob Volkmann would be replacing Markham. Volkmann is coming off short rest after last fighting at UFC 106.

On December 29, it was announced that Steve Cantwell had pulled out of his scheduled bout with Vladimir Matyushenko, the UFC was reported to be searching for a replacement.


[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiXpwQKucj4][/youtube]

Come on Semtex !!!

Update from sherdog

9 Matchups Official for UFC 108

Former World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion Carlos Condit will toe the line against feared British striker Paul Daley in one of the featured matchups at UFC 108 “Evans vs. Silva” on Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Nine bouts are now official for the promotion’s 2010 debut.

Condit has posted nine wins in 10 fights, a split decision loss to the world-ranked Martin Kampmann his only defeat since June 2006. The 25-year-old New Mexican last appeared in September, when he survived some harrowing moments against Jake Ellenberger and outpointed the International Fight League veteran at UFC Fight Night 19. A proven finisher, Condit has secured 23 of his 24 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

One of the sport’s premier stand-up practitioners, Daley dazzled in his Octagon debut when he smashed through Kampmann in 2:31 at UFC 103. The 26-year-old Team Rough House stalwart has finished three consecutive foes inside one round and holds notable victories over UFC veterans Xavier Foupa-Pokam, Duane Ludwig and John Alessio. Daley has proven vulnerable on the ground, however, as more than half (five) of his eight defeats have come by submission.

Kampmann, meanwhile, will get a chance to redeem himself when he takes on one-time IFL standout Rory Markham in preliminary action at UFC 108.

Anchored at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas, Kampmann has won 11 times in his past 13 outings. The 27-year-old well-rounded Dane was on a short list of potential welterweight championship contenders before Daley blasted him two months ago. Former middleweight title challenger Thales Leites, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 4 veteran Jorge Rivera and middleweight slugger Drew McFedries are among those who have fallen short against him.

Markham, known for his propensity to deliver high-octane firefights, has never gone the distance in 21 career bouts. Still only 27, he has not thrown leather since he was knocked out by Dan Hardy at UFC 95 in February. Ten of Markham’s 16 victories have come inside the first round.

A pivotal light heavyweight battle pairing former champion Rashad Evans with rugged Brazilian Thiago Silva will headline UFC 108. The event will also feature a lightweight tilt between fast-rising contenders Tyson Griffin and Jim Miller.

UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva
Saturday, Jan. 2
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas

Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
Tyson Griffin vs. Jim Miller
Paul Daley vs. Carlos Condit
Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout
Dan Lauzon vs. Cole Miller
Martin Kampmann vs. Rory Markham
Sean Sherk vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Mike Pyle vs. Jake Ellenberger
Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen

Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/9-Matc ... -108-21201

There's rumours of Gilbert Yvel having his debut against Junior Dos Santos, has anybody heard how official this might be???? I think he's a great addition to the UFC!

Velasquez was booked to face former Pride Heavyweight Champion and former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108.

Whatever happened to that match?

I think Nogueiras have injuries. One of them brothers has staff infection and other hurt his knee, but I dont remember where I read it now...