The Weekly Wrap: Dec. 26 - Jan. 1

UFC 108 Run-Up

The UFC mustered a go-home push this week for what has to go down as the most injury-riddled card in its history. UFC 108 happens this Saturday in Las Vegas, the year-end card that has traditionally been one of the year's most stacked and lucrative.

A bout cancellation on event week seemed apropos for a card that saw no less than a half dozen fighters withdraw. The UFC called off a Steve Cantwell-Vladimir Matyushenko light heavyweight fight this week. The reason was unclear, though it appeared related to a medical issue that UFC President Dana White hinted could jeopardize Cantwell's career. Cantwell’s representatives told Sherdog.com in a statement that there is a matter that needs to be cleared with the athletic commission, and that Cantwell will be able to compete again.

All told, the following fighters were at one point planned for UFC 108 bouts but withdrew, mostly due to injury: Cantwell, Anderson Silva, Gabriel Gonzaga, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Carlos Condit, Tyson Griffin, Rory Markham and Sean Sherk. Two title fights -- Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin -- were also eyed for the card at one point, but medical complications with Lesnar and Machida scratched those plans. Still, the UFC hype machine plowed forward. A "Countdown" special on Spike TV focused on the Rashad Evans-Thiago Silva and Paul Daley-Dustin Hazelett fights.

Evans was framed as being on a quest back to the light heavyweight title in search of a long-term reign in the vein of Chuck Liddell or Matt Hughes. Evans said he "felt like he'd been violated to the utmost" in his resounding loss to Lyoto Machida, but the May loss showed holes his camp can study. Thiago Silva was shown working with Howard Davis Jr. at American Top Team, and much was made of Silva's patience in timing and countering Keith Jardine's left uppercut with a knockout left hook at UFC 102 in August.

The sharp-tongued Paul Daley got significant camera time, as his boasts were contrasted with Hazelett's soft-spoken demeanor. The bout was framed as a clash between a fighter who is "British, powerful and full of bluster" and one who is "Midwestern, crafty and mild-mannered." Daley came in a pound overweight at the New Year's Day weigh-in, and Hazelett agreed to a 172-pound catch weight. Daley will be fined 10 percent of his purse.

All other UFC 108 fighters made weight Friday.

Saturday's card will be preceded by one of ten preliminary fight Spike TV specials scheduled for 2010, featuring Martin Kampmann vs. Jacob Volkmann and Dan Lauzon vs. Cole Miller.