I keep trying to process my thoughts about UFC 88: Breakthrough but keep dwelling on the wreckage of Chuck Liddell and shake myself from staring pensively into oblivion. Not from shock but from disappointment. The simple fact is: I hate seeing Chuck lose. I don't give a crap about the hype machine which follows him around but I do give a damn that Chuck is an inimitable character, a true fighter for the love of the game, win or lose, and he'll fight anyone, fearlessly. And that's what it's about, the raw emotion and energy exchanged to survive within the parameters of an open-ended sport, one with infinite possibilities.

Despite this, I thought Rashad had just as good a chance of finishing Chuck (albeit not in such spectacular fashion) than Chuck did of him. I think he's been underrated and still might even be—as some people are spouting rubbish that he didn't deserve to win because he was fighting almost Machida-esque and got a lucky punch. Nonsense. And for what it's worth, I am pro-Machida (although I'm inclined to believe that no one should be able to claim an undefeated record for too long, in the UFC in particular).

And just as Rashad had a good chance against Chuck, he's got a good chance against Forrest and it isn't so unlikely that Rashad will be holding up the Light Heavyweight belt. People laugh and think it's preposterous but he's that close. Personally, I'd prefer to see Forrest retain it but the beasts are beating at his door and they want what he's got so he might soon get ripped to shreds.

Fortunately, Forrest learns quickly and adapts well. Each time he gets better, more disciplined and less reckless. A fighter isn't better just because he's got knockout power over you; if you can change your game plan in recognition of that, to counter it, then it's probably best to change it to suit your strengths to obviate the chance of getting smashed to the canvas. So maybe Forrest can eke out another cautious decision win.

Some other noteworthy points on the night:

- Rich Franklin's defeat of Matt Hamill, although not a dominant one, was a smooth reentry to the Light Heavies. There's a multitude of matchups for Rich at 205; Rich vs. Keith Jardine, Rich vs. Wanderlei Silva, Rich vs. Mauricio Rua, Rich vs. Forrest Griffin . . . If the question is whether Rich can hold his own with the current line of LHW's, then it is no more or less a question to ask of Jardine or Jackson or whoever has lost in their career.

- Kampmann versus Marquardt was such a great matchup and I'm sure most of us were expecting an unremitting war. I would be excited to see the winner of Bisping and Leben take on Marquardt. And, as is the general consensus, Kampmann would perhaps be better suited to the Welterweight division.

- Hendo looked good against Palhares, who is no pushover -- the respect Hendo gave him, cautious and strategic throughout, is a testament to that. Not to get ahead of the Leben/Bisping battle, if Bisping gets past Leben, people should start handing out 'Hand Him to Hendo' T-shirts.