Gray Maynard Vs. Frank Edgar
Despite a full season of TUF exposure, Gray Maynard was somewhat of an enigma for many fans. A dominant grappler, Maynard often seemed to struggle putting it all together. Last night against a rising star in Edgar, Maynard finally proved his worth. Although it was fairly close in the first two rounds, Maynard held control for most of the third and put himself on an upward path with Dana White.

James Irvin Vs. Houston Alexander
Not sure many MMA experts would ever have predicted the outcome in this matchup. Alexander was rocketing to a potential title shot before his loss to Thiago Silva last November. Despite that defeat, Alexander had to be considered a heavy favorite over James Irvin, who fought only twice in 2007 and has never lived up to his potential. For the Sandman to put The Assassin to sleep with a fist in eight seconds is mindboggling. It also does wonders for keeping Irvin in the big show.

Kurt Pellegrino Vs. Nate Diaz
I definitely came away from this fight impressed with both fighters. Pellegrino pretty much dominated the first round, trapping Diaz' arm and pounding away on his face for what seemed like an eternity. For Diaz to have the poise and stamina to come back in the second to eventually tap out his opponent was again an example of his warrior mentality. You also couldn't help be amused by his two-finger salute after sinking in his triangle for the victory. I can't remember many guys throwing their hands up in victory BEFORE the match was over. What was also surprising was the class showed by Nate's brother Nick, who entered the cage immediately after the fight and walked right over to help up Pellegrino and congratulate him on the fight.

Matt Hamill Vs. Tim Boetsch
I wonder what Hamill's lip looks like today? That was the nastiest ripped lip I've seen in a long time. Kudos to Boetsch for battling Hamill in the high altitude on such short notice.

Thiago Alves Vs. Karo Parisyan
Both these guys should deserve attention for a title shot in the near future. It's a huge disappointment to not see three rounds of Parisyan as he's one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. However, it's very easy to get dropped with a punch in MMA (see Houston Alexander), especially when it's coming from a ball of muscle like Alves.

Kenny Florian Vs. Joe Lauzon
For some reason, I've never been a big Florian fan. However, it's hard not to respect his tanacity and skills. He has a tremendous ability to weather a storm and then come back with unbridled fury. Lauzon also looked sharp, probably benefitting from his training in Hilo with BJ Penn. Both of these guys should be around for awhile.