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Remember when you were a kid and you knew you weren’t going to get that one big Christmas present you wanted, yet you were still kinda bummed when it wasn’t under the tree on Christmas morning? Yeah, that’s probably how Zuffa feels about UFC 108’s pay-per-view buys. From Dave Meltzer via BE:

Current trending patterns for UFC 108 are at this point looking like 255,000 to 270,000 buys, which if those numbers end up accurate, would be the lowest for a North American show in several years. But most figured that would be the case given all the injuries changing the lineup and it was a patched up show. Just like it wasn’t wise to overreact to 107, which did so well, same here, because with all the injuries, it was a show that wasn’t going to do well and it was just a question as to where the actual bottom base is right now. I’m not sure how 109 will do. Whether the public buys the two Hall of Famers deal will tell the tale. The advertising for it so far has been good. Obviously Couture’s drawing power isn’t what it once was, but if they can do the same business Couture’s fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira did, then I’d consider it a success.

Yes, the numbers are horrible, but completely expected. UFC 108 turned out to be an entertaining night of fights, but the pay-per-view buying public doesn’t buy events based on a line-up that only has the potential to put on a good show. They buy events based off of star power in meaningful fights they care about. The good news is the UFC has plenty of those coming up starting in late February.

On this week’s edition of Fox Fight Game, Mike Straka and crew discuss UFC 108, who might be next for BJ Penn and talk to the people who attended the World MMA Awards.

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Jon Anik and crew recap UFC 108 and preview WEC 46 and UFC Fight Night 20.

Fanhouse brings us video of the UFC 108 Fight Club Q&A featuring special guest Wanderlei Silva.

Despite decisively losing the first two round to Rashad Evans at UFC 108, Thiago Silva found himself in position to finish the fight late in the third round. Except he didn’t. He just stopped causing fans everywhere to question what he was doing. In this interview with Tatame, Silva explains what happened.

On the third round you started to provoke him and almost knocked him out. On that moment, did you think you were winning the fight?

I knew I was losing. I wasn’t that good on the energy and I tried to provoke him to see if he comes over me, but he didn’t bought it. I knew I was losing, I lost the two rounds.

When you hit him, don’t you think that you needed to keep hitting him more?

To be tired make a difference, man… I started to provoke him because he was with the low energy, getting tired… Wanting or not, he has a heavy hand, there’s some time that we don’t know what’s going on anymore… I think the energy made the difference, I was pretty tired.

While not having the cardio to go a full three rounds at this level is typically inexcusable, we might want to give Thiago a pass on this one. Earlier this week, news surfaced that Silva had suffered a back injury while training for the Evans bout. Under normal circumstances he likely would have withdrawn from the card, but considering the extraordinary number of injuries that struck UFC 108, he opted to fight through it. That is what you call taking one for the team.

Image via Sherdog

No, sorry, this isn’t the post that finally clears up when Brock Lesnar will get back in the cage, but it should lay to rest any speculation that Lesnar’s leaky intestine was caused by any suspected steroid usage. MMA Junkie’s Dr. Johnny Benjamin has the word.

Fox Fight Game’s Mike Straka was on location in Vegas for UFC 108 to get reactions from the fighters and celebrities in attendance.

Cagewriter has video of Dana White talking to the press at UFC 108 about a variety of topics including when they’ll know when Brock Lesnar may return (this week), his thoughts on Shinya Aoki’s arm-breaking, bird-flipping incident from Dynamite!! 2009 (part of the fight game), who Takanori Gomi may fight (Kenny Florian possible) and more.

The NSAC has released the fighter payouts for UFC 108. Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional “locker room” bonuses, pay-per-view revenue sharing, or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees.