By Brad Young
Posted 05/24/2009 at 02:33 AM

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida from the MGM's Grand Garden Arena drew 12,606 fans with a live gate of $3.26 million.  Fight of the Night was awarded to the Matt Hughes-Matt 'The Terror' Serra contest, while Submission of the Night was given to Brock Larson.  Lyoto 'The Dragon' Machida earned Knockout of the Night.  These fighters received an additional $60,000 for the awards.

The postfight press conference revealed that the UFC will return to Southern California October 24 at Staples Center.  UFC President Dana White also stated that Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson will get the first shot at new light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

Here are some select quotes from White.

"The next coaches for The Ultimate Fighter are set, but I'm not going to tell you who they are right now.  That question will be answered on June 2."

"Krzysztof Soszynski was going to get Knockout of the Night until Lyoto had to upstage him."

"I've been saying this for awhile now, guys that have been our biggest stars the past 10 years started out in just one discipline.  The kids today are training in mixed martial arts.  It's only going to get better and better."


Here are some key quotes from new UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida through translator Ed Soares.

"I knew in my heart that when I had him hurt is when I had to finish the fight."

"Now that I have become the champion, this is when the real work begins."

"I have a different strategy for every fighter."

"I would like to be a coach on TUF, but Dana White is the boss."

"As soon as I hit him with that final shot and I saw his leg bend like it did, I knew the fight was over."

"My family is my biggest supporter.  The only difference between us and the Gracie family is that we show it through karate when they did it through jiu-jitsu."


Here are some select quotes from Matt Hughes:

"I don't know what I'm going to do, but I still want to compete.  I'm not going anywhere."

"Serra stayed in really good position on his back, I thought I would be able to use my weight and strength a little bit better."

"I was in his half-guard hunting for that arm.  He never gave me that at all, I was trying the whole night to grab his wrist and throw some elbows, but he wouldn't allow it."

"I didn't know what hit me, if it was a punch or what that dazed me in the first round.  I just remember a quick blackout and then a scramble on the ground."


Here are some select quotes from Matt 'The Terror' Serra.

"I knew it was close, I know I won the first round and lost the second.  I thought I squeaked out and won the third round.  I wanted the W, but I felt it was a fun fight.  It got Fight of the Night, so it didn't suck."

"I tried to stay on him, but to his credit he hung in there.  A well-placed shot could of ended the fight, but he weathered the storm."