Why is CB Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio on the UFC 92 main card while Dean Lister vs. Yushin Okami is on the undercard?

Kelly-I know this is still a long way off, but the UFC announced a finalized card for UFC 92 that included CB Dollaway vs Mike Massenzio on the main card while proven performers are on the undercard. What gives, Chalifoux? Did you have anything to do with this? Not likely so I’m guessing Joe Silva was high on a Rockstar rush and couldn’t think clearly when he signed this fight. Equally as perplexing are the Matt Hammill vs. Reese Andy and Ryo Chonan vs. Brad Blackburn fights on the undercard. Given my rant in our last debate about Chris Lytle not deserving main card status and then turning in a fight of the night performance, maybe I should shut my cakehole about who fights on what card and go back to huffing glue, but this fight doesn’t deserve to be televised on the UFC’s biggest night of the year. I’m perplexed.

Mark- Kelly, I believe that was a clerical error. There is no universe where CB Dollaway deserves to be fighting on the main card while Matt Hammill and Yushin Okami are on the undercard. Listen, I would be alright with this if it was an attempt to increase PPV buys. A guy like Okami, who fans aren’t as familiar with, is occasionally bumped to the undercard in favor of a more popular fighter. But this is UFC 92…it’s already the biggest PPV of the year (in my opinion, although the Couture-Lesnar will do more buys). No one is buying this PPV because of CB Dollaway so the UFC should be using the rest of the card to showcase the higher-caliber fighters like Hamill and Okami. This is the one card you can get away with showcasing high-caliber fighters with low appeal because of the triple main event.

Is Gegard Mousasi for real or did he just get lucky in the DREAM tournament?

Kelly-Gegard Mousasi is not Houston Alexander. A more appropriate comparison is to Ralph Nader because before 2008 he had modest wins and a small contingent of believers. Six fights later he’s got Santos, Kang, Manhoef, and Souza in his win column. He can strike and he can submit guys stronger than himself, as evidenced in the Dream middleweight tournament. Of his 24 wins, only one is by decision, a monumental feat in today’s MMA and has only two losses overall (both by armbar) in his five year career. Mousasi is no fluke and should be considered among the world’s top 10 middleweights. Unfortunately he has no plans to remain there. He’s stated his desire to fight at 205 pounds in MMA and like KJ Noons he wants to pursue a separate boxing career (let’s hope he has better management). You can’t blame the guy for seeking greener pastures since Dream has no one left to challenge him at 185 pounds and precious few prospects at 205. He’d be an exciting addition to the UFC middleweight division if Dana White could lure him over, but that seems unlikely. It remains to be seen where and when he’ll fight next, but the fact remains that Mousasi is definitely legit.