DaytonDailyNews.com

LAS VEGAS — The Ultimate Fighting Championship traditionally ends the year with a bang, and tonight's Dec. 27 "UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008" event is no exception.

Boasting three main event-worthy bouts (including two major title fights), UFC 92 will likely secure a record year for revenue, pay-per-view buys, gate receipts and overall attendance for the world's top mixed martial arts promotion.

Taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and airing on pay-per-view, UFC 92 is headlined by UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) vs. Rashad Evans (12-0-1). It's the first time two winners from the "The Ultimate Fighter," the UFC's popular reality series, will fight for a title.

The victor could face the winner of another key UFC 92 main-card bout: Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) vs. Quinton Jackson (28-7). Should Griffin retain his belt, either Silva or Jackson provides an interesting story line. Griffin won his title by beating Jackson earlier this year, and a rematch could be a big seller. The same can be said for a Griffin vs. Silva matchup — especially considering the two fighters are also training partners.

The night's other title fight features UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) vs. former champ and major underdog Frank Mir (11-3). Nogueira won the interim title during Randy Couture's recent contract dispute with the UFC. Couture returned in November and lost his belt to Brock Lesnar. The titles will be unified when Lesnar meets the Nogueira vs. Mir winner in 2009.

Collegiate rivals

In his second fight since his second-place finish on "The Ultimate Fighter 7," former Ohio high school state wrestling champion C.B. Dollaway (7-1) takes on a former rival from his collegiate wrestling days: Mike Massenzio (11-2).

Dollaway, who won his state title at Northmor High School (Galion), wrestled the heavily favored Massenzio at the 2003 junior college national championships. Dollaway pulled off the victory, but they never met again.

"My (college) wrestling record was 142-10," Messenzio said. "Each one of those losses I was able to redeem except for the one to C.B. ... I want redemption (at UFC 92)."

Loveland's Hamill

Fan favorite and Loveland (a Cincinnati suburb) native Matt Hamill (4-2), the UFC's first-ever deaf fighter, looks to rebound from his September loss to UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin when he meets Reese Andy (7-2) in a UFC 92 preliminary bout.

"It was the worst performance of my life, and I was embarrassed," Hamill said of the Franklin loss. "It just wasn't my night."

Despite Hamill's popularity, this is probably a must-win fight for the three-time NCAA Division III national wrestling champion. With two losses in his past three fights, another one could earn Hamill his walking papers.

UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008

What: 10-fight UFC event

Main events: Light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans and interim heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir

Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

Time: 8 p.m. (prelims), 10 p.m. (main card)

TV: Pay-per-view ($44.95)

More info: www.ufc.com or www.mmajunkie.com