via www.theboxingclub.net

In a post on the Underground Forum, UFC Middleweight Dean Lister, who requested a release from his UFC contract and was granted it, apologizes to his fans and bashes his haters.

I would almost like to make this an "I apologize from Dean Lister" thread...
But that would be way way too lame. Listen I had a very poor performance my last fight. Truth is that I let my team and my gym, my friends and definitely myself down for this fight. Its not only that I lost but I really showed a poor performance. I had a much better showing against Arona (even though that was only primarily a grappling fight that I lost) even in Pride who is a better fighter than Okami for sure. Things just didnt come together for me this fight. I trained so, so hard, I really trained hard but it didnt work out.

Lister then went on to threaten deleting his Underground account if there are too many "mean" responses.

I expect a few weak and mean tempered responses to my thread here, that is OK, I expect this thing from young whack offs who have no (zero) life experience. If there is a damn, huge amount then I will as a pro fighter completely and 100% stop ever posting here on MMA.tv. I do apologize for things and how they turned out, especially to my fans and my friends and my team, (none of you deserve this, it's no one's fault but my own). Things in life are strange. All I can say is in late 90s I was mediocre at best in BJJ, but with some patience, I became world champion in ADCC Absolute WORLD CHAMP IN MOTHA FUCKIN BRAZIL!!!!!!!!!

But for the real haters, Lister simply challenges them and offers them a beer afterwards.

For those who really, really, really hate me and have the balls to come tell me to my face, I am very curious to meet you and to compare your superior style, technique and work ethic, even though I had a piss poor performance in UFC, i'm still in good shape. let me know if you want to "teach me a few MMA moves" cause I can really need the help and i'm an eager student. Only problems is you would have to come and see me in person. 3666 Midway Dr. San Diego CA, 921101, Im there everyday at 4:30. For anyone with the correct instruction, I await your appearance, come by and later after training I'll buy you a guinness (I won't be drinking it by the way, but I should still offer ya know??), only if you are old enough to drink (remember I'm not in the business of contributing to minors OK).

MMA Weekly reports that Lister is already in talks with DREAM and Affliction.

Tatame is reporting that the youngest of the Rua brothers, Marcos, will make his MMA debut soon. 

Marcos Rua, little brother of the former Pride fighters, is getting ready to make his first MMA fight. "He’s well, training tough and much focused. He would fight at The Glory, that would happen at January, but was delayed to March, but we want to see him fighting before", said Shogun

Click here for the full article.  Additionally MMAFighting.com reports that Marcos is bigger than both his brothers and will fight as a heavyweight.

via farm2.static.flickr.com

In an interview with Tatame.com former EliteXC standout Murilo "Ninja" Rua talked about his current situation.

"I'm focused now on Mauricio’s (Shogun) fight and I have nothing planned for my situation yet. I'm still connected to EliteXC and have to wait. I see it (possibility to EliteXC’s back) as very good news, I would be very happy and if the rumors confirm... It’s wait to see"

I would love to see Ninja in the UFC, only because in almost every single one of his fights he is either KO'd brutally or vice versa.  He always brings it and that's what Dana White loves, but of course he has to wiggle out of the EXC contract somehow.

Not exactly an earth-shattering revelation, but damn I can't wait for this fight!

The rest of the weigh-ins are also in this video from ESPN.

My prediction:

The REAL main event in my opinion. If you're Quinton Jackson you have the wrestling, the punching power and brute strength to win this fight, but do you have the mental toughness? Do you have the ability to block out the only 2 times you've been knocked out in your career? Have you mentally recovered from all the stuff that's happen to you lately? All questions that will be answered in this fight. Wanderlei has the upper hand in my opinion and he will use Jackson's tentativeness against him. For Wanderlei its about constantly keeping up the pressure on Rampage, which he certainly has the aggression and cardio to do.
Wanderlei Silva by another brutal KO

A little somethimg I put together for MMA Scraps, I thought everyone here might enjoy.

In a year that saw a lot of serious issues in our beloved sport, there were still plenty of moments to smile at.

***Update*** Thanks to EKC in the Comments-Never Seen That Before!
11.Hilarious Greg Jackson


10. MMA + Arm Wrestling = Epic Fail


9. The Full Bas Rutten vs Daryn Jones Saga







8. Dana White Detroys Tito Ortiz Fan


7. Quinton Rampage Jackson Shows Off Some Dance Moves


6. Dana White: "That's Fucking Illegal"


Go Here for the Top 5

Sorry, I didn't have time to do this yesterday.

10.  Kendall Grove vs Jorge Rivera- UFC 80

Nick Thomas: Rivera by KO - Upset of the night

9. Wanderlei Silva vs Keith Jardine- UFC 84

Brent Brookhouse: I like Silva here. Jardine looks good against guys who rely on counter-punching, but he seems thrown off when someone is putting a lot of pressure in his face. He was able to pick apart Liddell with leg kicks because Chuck waits back for an opening rather than getting in your face and forcing one. Silva is coming straight ahead though and I don't think Jardine has a ton of explosive power in his strikes to where he'll be able to make Wanderlei hesitate. It'll be a small setback for Keith, and possibly Wanderlei's last marquee win. Silva by TKO.

8. Georges St. Pierre vs Matt Serra 2- UFC 83

Brent Brookhouse: I like Serra, so I hate to sound like I'm giving him no chance to win the fight. But I'm giving him next to no chance to win the rematch. Georges is going to bust Serra up on the feet this time around and if it goes to the ground it'll be Serra on bottom where I don't think he will be successful working submissions. I'm going to go ahead and take GSP by TKO in the second round.

7. Rich Franklin vs Travis Lutter- UFC 83

Luke Thomas: Early on I give the edge to Lutter. As the fight wears on, I give the edge to Franklin. Franklin's very competent on the ground, but he's not Lutter. The difference in my mind will be cardio. As Franklin works hard to prevent the fight from hitting the floor and damages Lutter on the feet, he'll eventually wear him down. Assuming Franklin can avoid the submission - no small feat - he'll be in a great position to takeover come round 3. At that point Franklin scores the TKO against the fence from a Lutter unable to defend himself. Franklin, TKO, round 3.

6. Rich Clementi vs Gray Maynard- UFC 90

Michael Rome:   Clementi is on a bit of a resurgence, but I think Maynard's wrestling will be too much.  Maynard via decision.

5. Fabricio Werdum vs Brandon Vera- UFC 85

Nick Thomas: My pick for Fight of the Night. I'm still trying to process Werdum TKO'ing Gabriel Gonzaga. I didn't see that one coming. Because of that, I see the bigger Werdum handling Vera like Sylvia did. Upset # 3: Werdum by TKO.

4.  Tim Sylvia vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira- UFC 81

Michael Rome: I don't see Sylvia stopping Nogueira, so this is basically a game of seeing if Nogueira can submit him over the course of 5 rounds. My guess is he can, and I think this will be the first major Pride win since the acquisition. I see Sylvia winning the first few rounds on points until Nogueira is able to get him down and submit him. Nogueira by armbar, fourth round.

3. Tim Boetsch vs David Heath- UFC 81

Kid Nate: I'm flying blind here since I haven't seen Boetsch fight enough to make an accurate judgement. But based on his surviving three rounds against Vladimir Matyushenko. I'm picking Boetsch to end Heath's UFC career.

2. Mike Swick vs Jonathen Goulet- Fight For the Troops

Luke Thomas: Goulet has the worst chin in all of professional MMA and Mike Swick throws quick, explosive combinations. Gee, I wonder how this ends? Oh yeah, Swick by TKO, round 1

.1. Fabricio Werdum vs Junior Dos Santos- UFC 90

Chris Nelson: I've been questioning the UFC's decision to ink "Cigano" since the day this was announced. His fights in Brazil never impressed me much, but the recent glimpses of his training certainly have. (He's in noticably better shape, and has been working with Amaury Bitetti on his BJJ.) Werdum has some of the worst luck in MMA, and now that he's been all but promised a title shot if he gets past the virtually unknown Dos Santos, I'm fully expecting Junior to pull out the upset. Dos Santos via TKO, Round 1.

Chris Nelson calls the Dos Santos upset!

Sorry guys, I couldn't resist.  Keep in mind that a prediction is just an opinion and a couple are certainly upsets.  I admit that I am horrible at predictions, its just funny how some of these fights ended up going down the way they did.

10.  Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida- Fight for the Troops

Nick Thomas: Yoshida has a win over Dan Hardy just last year and that means a tough fight for Koscheck especially after his war against Alves. I'm betting Koscheck comes in with his I'm a striker now game plan, giving the opportunity to Yoshida to take this to ground and win by submission.

9. Anderson Silva vs Patrick Cote- UFC 90

Nick Thomas: On the ground - Cote loses. Standing up - it doesn't look good for Cote either. But I just can't pick against my fellow canuck. I'm praying that Cote is super aggressive in the first minute of the first round and catches Silva with a big shot. Cote by lucky punch.  - I had to throw in one of Nick Thomas' "fellow canuck" picks. (Honorable mention for his pick of Johnathen Goulet over Mike Swick.)

8. Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans- UFC 88

Michael Rome: I'm always concerned now when Chuck fights, but I think he'll win here.  Every time they hype Rashad we hear we're going to see a new, aggressive striker.  It never happens.  Rashad isn't that hard to hit, he got hit by Bisping and Tito.  Chuck via TKO, round 1.

7. Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta- UFC 87

Mike Rome: Well, this is my first real upset pick, because I don't think Herring should really be an underdog.  I happen to be among those that think Kenny Florian is incredibly overrated.  I don't think any of his wins are all that impressive, and I don't think it will be easy for him to take down Huerta, who has spent months training with GSP and Rashad Evans.  On the feet, I think this is a lot closer, and I think Huerta can win if he turns it into a wild fight, which is what he normally does.  Roger Huerta via decision

6. Rob Emerson vs. Manny Gamburyan- UFC 87

Brent Brookhouse: This is a showcase fight for Gamburyan.  As long as he takes the fight seriously he should have a reasonably easy night.  Gamburyan by submission round 1.

5. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia- Affliction Banned

Brent Brookhouse: This is a hard fight to call.  Generally we know what we're going to get out of Sylvia but what do you get from Fedor in 2008 against a top 10 heavyweight?  I'll tell you one thing, I don't buy this idea that the fight goes clinch, takedown, sub early in round 1.  It took Fedor 2 minutes to sub Hong Man Choi and I think that Sylvia is a bit more of a challenge.  I'm going to follow my gut rather than my brain and take Sylvia by TKO (cut stoppage) Round 3.

4. Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine- UFC 84

Luke Thomas: For me, I cannot allow my love and appreciation of Silva as a fan simply will me into picking him here. There are considerable match-up problems for Silva and to ignore them because Silva needs a win is foolish. Aside from the difficulties Jardine presents in reach and outside kickboxing, Jardine also has a respectable ground game with sufficient takedowns. Most importantly, though, is that Silva's style of trapping people and firing a barrage of punches either moving forward or with planted feet doesn't work as well in the open space of the Octagon. Jardine was able to avoid Liddell's incredible reach which is for sure longer than Silva's. Provided Jardine stays on his horse and doesn't get pressured in close range as he did against Liddell, this is his fight to lose. Jardine, by decision. - Shame on Luke for picking against the Axe Murderer!

3.  Brian Stann vs Steve Cantwell- WEC 35

Michael Rome: Seriously?  Stann via KO, round 1.

2. Tim Boetsch vs David Heath- UFC 81

Nick Thomas: Tim Boetsch? *shrugs*. David Heath by... um yeah.

1. BJ Penn vs Joe Stevenson- UFC 80

Nick Thomas: Penn by decision - I actually think Stevenson has a good chance of winning this; I just want BJ to win more.

And the first place prize goes to Nick Thomas,not because the pick, it was right.  But for actually thinking Joe Daddy had a chance!

Honorable mention goes to Efrain Escudero, getting no love in the predictions for the finale.  The BE staff will redeem themselves tommorow when I dig up their best picks of 2008.