(Just after this photo was taken, Rashad respectfully grabbed his nuts and blew Lyoto a kiss. Props to Combat Lifestyle.)

It got Koscheck. It got Okami. It got Alexander and Irvin and Wilson. But by God, the UFC 98 curse will not rob us of seeing Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar fight to an inevitable decision, or Dan Miller submit Chael Sonnen in the first round, or Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida counter-counter-punch for the light-heavyweight title -- unless the arena collapses within the next few minutes, which is always a possibility. Live round-by-round updates from tonight's pay-per-view broadcast are after the jump; refresh the page regularly to see all the latest. Let's get ready to EVAAAAAAAAAAADE!!!

The camera pans to a group of eight-year-olds screaming in delight. See that, Germany? DEMOCRACY WORKS. And oh yeah, don't forget to check out the backstage feeds at ufc.com/bk.

Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar
Rogan suggests that Edgar could fight at 145 if he wanted to, but he's had success so far, so why bother. He's also got a five-inch reach advantage over Sean "Stubby" Sherk.
Round 1: Edgar throws a head kick right off the bell. Sherk returns with a right hook. Sherk slips a fast left. Edgar gets the straight right. They clinch, and Sherk shoves Edgar against the fence. Edgar escapes, resets, and fires a body kick. They trade punches. Big three-punch combo from Edgar. And another. His standup is looking tight tonight. Edgar shoots for the single leg, but Sherk stuffs. Left hook from Sherk. Edgar catches a kick and pushes Sherk to the ground. He grabs a headlock from the top and Sherk tries to get to his feet...and does. Edgar lands a 1-2. Solid leg kick from Edgar, and they trade hard punches to the bell. I'd give it to Edgar 10-9 for landing a little more and the brief time spent on top on the mat.

Round 2: Both guys slugging. Edgar lands a straight right. Edgar tries to clinch, then uppercuts and pushes off. Edgar shoots, Sherk stuffs and clinches, but Edgar fires a knee to Sherk's body that knocks him down. Sherk bounces back to his feet. Edgar whiffs a leg kick. Left hook Sherk. Body kick from Edgar. They trade hooks. Edgar charges forward with punches. Sherk tries to do the same with less success. Sherk missing more, and Edgar counters nicely with punches. Sherk gets kicked in the nuts and takes a 10 second break. Straight right from Edgar. Sherk lands a left hook at the bell. I've got Edgar up 2 rounds to none.

Round 3: Sherk stalking forward throwing leather. Edgar thinks about shooting, but Sherk brushes him off. Sherk scores a takedown to the delight of Joe Rogan, but Edgar gets up without absorbing any damage. Edgar tries the head kick, but misses. Some boxing exchanges, but no major impacts. Edgar shoots, gets stuffed, and eats a knee. Sherk shoots for the single leg but Edgar escapes. Edgar lands a nice right straight, but Sherk returns with a left hook. Another three-punch combo from Edgar. Sherk shoots, and Edgar stuffs and locks on a guillotine choke that might have ended the fight if the horn didn't sound immediately afterward.

Frankie Edgar def. Sean Sherk via unanimous decision. (30-27 x 3) Frankie says those Jersey boys know how to do it. He wants a shot at the title -- and he has to be right there in the conversation now. Great boxing from Edgar, and solid wrestling as always.

Chael Sonnen vs. Dan Miller
Miller comes out all smiles and excitement, slapping hands with spectators. He's another Jersey kid trying to make good, and he's going for his fourth straight UFC win tonight. Sonnen is that guy who gets submitted all the time. Yves Lavigne gets booed in the introductions due to fucking up the stoppage in the Nover/Bradley fight.

Round 1: Sonnen shoots after some sparring and Miller locks on an arm-in guillotine. Sonnen escapes after a scary moment and goes to some heavy ground-and-pound with Miller jammed up against the fence. Miller trying to push off with his legs, but Sonnen gets back on and drops punches. Miller scrambles for a leg lock, but Sonnen defends it and gets back on top in side control. Sonnen goes to half-guard and starts covering up Miller's mouth as he continues his attack. Sonnen postures up and lands a big shot. More elbows from Sonnen. And one more punch at the horn. Complete domination from Sonnen...maybe even a 10-8.

Round 2: They trade leg kicks. Sonnen clinches and slams Miller on his back. Miller again tries the guillotine and Sonnen escapes. Sonnen returns to the grinding GnP, and lands a big left. Sonnen dragging his fingers a little too close to Miller's eyes. Hey, if you ain't cheating you ain't trying. Miller plays possum then goes for the armbar, but Sonnen escapes. Sonnen with a big elbow from the top. The crowd starts to boo the slow pace on the ground. Sonnen responds by standing up and firing down another big shot. That's the round. 10-9 Sonnen.

Round 3: Miller lands a straight right, then rattles Sonnen with a punch combo. Sonnen returns to his bread and butter, slamming Miller to the ground after a clinch. Sonnen with more punches from the top, and a hard right elbow. Rogan shouts out Tito Ortiz's skill at inflicting damage from the guard, which means his pay will probably be docked. More boos from the crowd as Sonnen just keeps punching and laying and punching and laying. Rogan and Goldberg entertain each other by talking about TUF. And that's the fight.

Chael Sonnen def. Dan Miller via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Sonnen doesn't get a post-fight interview. With two straight decisions, and maybe a couple more to come, the show's gotta keep moving.

Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs. Drew McFedries
XFP comes out groovin' to some French rap music, with TUF 9 assistant coach Cyrille Diabate at his back. Drew trumps that frog-eating bullshit with "Nothin' But a G Thang." Lavigne gets booed again.
Round 1: McFedries rocks XFP with haymakers, sending him to the mat. XFP scrambles to his feet and McFedries smashes him to the ground again. Lavigne jumps in to stop it, but XFP tries for a single-leg. Lavigne pulls him off and XFP protests, not knowing that his life just got saved. Nasty.
Drew McFedries def. Xavier Foupa-Pokam via TKO, 0:37 of round 1. A great display of power from Drew. I believe this will be the last we'll see of Xavier in the UFC.

They replay the K-Sos/Gusmao fight from the undercard. A leg kick drops K-Sos, and Gusmao chases him with a head kick after K-Sos gets to his feet. Gusmao gets kicked in the nards, but they're back fighting after a few seconds. K-Sos attacks with punches, Gusmao lands a leg kick. And another. K-Sos rocks Gusmao with a 1-2, then lands another big right, and ends Gusmao's night with a brutal right hook on the chin that crumples him. K-Sos gets in a couple more shots on the ground before Herb Dean pulls him off. Dude's now 3-0 in the UFC after his stint on TUF. "The boy hits hard, but I hit harder" he says. And hey, Mike Tyson's in the house!

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
They show a hate-highlight reel of Serra calling Hughes a dick a bunch of times, and Hughes calling Serra a terrible ambassador for the sport. Serra comes out to the Rocky theme, obviously. He's psyched to be there. (Get ready for the downer of "Country Boy Can Survive.") Serra smooches Longo, Pete Sell, and his brother before getting Vaselined and entering the cage. The lights darken for Hughes, and the boos compete with the cheers. Damarques Johnson and Robbie Lawler are Hughes's wingmen. Well, he's got the tougher corner tonight, that's for sure. Mazzagatti is the third man in this one. He says "hook 'em up," and they refuse.
Round 1: Hughes in the southpaw stance, feeling Serra out with some right jabs. Serra lands a punch that drops Hughes. Hughes gets up, but Serra is tenacious with punches, sending Hughes down again. Hughes desperately grabs Serra's leg and works his way up to a clinch, stopping the abuse. Hughes presses Serra against the cage. Hughes drives in a knee, and they separate. Serra flashes a big smile, then a leg kick. Hughes throws a body kick. They clinch, and Hughes scores a slick takedown into side control. Serra rolls to escape and Hughes latches onto his back, working for the choke. Serra twists out and gets to his feet. Serra throws some kick to close out the round. Tough to call. Maybe 10-9 Serra for clearly wobbling Hughes in the beginning of the round.

Round 2: Left straight from Hughes. Body punch Serra, then a left hook. Hughes lands a kick to the body, then shoots in and drags Serra to the ground. Hughes throwing some punches to Serra's ribs. Serra doing his best to control Hughes's posture. More rib shots. Serra's stuck on the bottom. Hughes slugs Serra in the face, then back to a stalemate. Mazzagatti stands them up with 15 seconds to go. Serra swings at air and the round ends. It's all Hughes. "This mothafucka's content just to lay on you!' Longo groans.

Round 3: Serra's face is lumped up. Hughes lands a 1-2 and rushes forward to shoot. Serra tries to defend the takedown, but Hughes eventually gets it. Serra works some rubber guard, locking up Hughes's arm. Serra tries for a triangle but loses it. Hughes lands an elbow. Mazzagatti stands them up. Hughes lands a right. Serra misses a head kick. Hughes clinches and tries for the takedown, but Serra reverses it and gets on top, throwing down blows where he can. Serra works for the kimura as the last horn sounds. Was it enough to steal the round?

Matt Hughes def. Matt Serra via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3). Hughes gets his 16th win in the Octagon, tying Chuck Liddell for the all-time record. Matt Hughes says he's still motivated to continue competing. Not only that, but he says he's a free-agent now...though he wouldn't want to fight anywhere else but the UFC. Serra is clearly bummed, trying to fight back tears. ("I just really wanted this win...I'm a little upset right now.)

Interesting update from CageWriter: Sean Sherk has left the building without taking his post-fight piss test. Not a good move for someone who already has one steroid suspension under his belt.

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida
Machida has never been knocked down. He hasn't taken a power-punch since his fight against BJ Penn in March 2005, nine fights ago. Rashad dances his way to the cage, and slaps himself a few times as he makes a couple laps before the introductions. Referee Mario Yamasaki holding it down. Buffer's intro of Machida is so passionate that the Dragon can't help but scream "YEEAAAAH!" Rashad steps to the center of the cage when it's his turn.
Round 1: Rashad comes out bouncing on the outside, faking some jabs from a distance. Boos already. Rashad misses a leg kick. Two minutes in and Machida hasn't thrown one punch. Lyoto springs forward with a head kick and Rashad jumps backwards. Lyoto with a hard body kick. Rashad returns a kick, and Lyoto tries for the sweep but Rashad dodges it. Lyoto lands a body kick and a punch that drops Rashad! Machida pours on the abuse from the top but Rashad gets up. Low kick/high kick from Machida. Rashad coming forward with feints as the round ends. 10-9 Machida.

Round 2: Front kick Machida, then a leg kick. The crowd is chanting "Machida." Never thought I'd hear that.  Machida clinches and tries for a takedown, but Evans bounces against the cage and shrugs out. Leg kick Machida. Big punches from Machida, but Rashad counters even harder. Leg kick/leg straight combo from Machida. Nice body kick from Evans. Machida rocks Evans with an uppercut, sending him to the mat!. Evans gets up, but is SWARMED with punches and kicks until he takes one that turns his lights out. Rogan: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Machida era." The replay shows it was two right hooks and a left hook that knocked Evans into a temporary death. Lyoto Machida def. Rashad Evans via KO, 3:57 of round 2. Lyoto vows to keep his belt for a long time, and the crowd applauds. Finally, Machida is getting some respect. Lyoto is overcome on the microphone: "KARATE'S BACK!...IF YOU HAVE A DREAM IN YOUR LIFE, GO 'HEAD! IT'S POSSIBLE!"

Some technical difficulties on my end...but they showed the Larson/Pyle fight from the undercard, which was a fast-paced grappling exhibition, ending in an arm-triangle choke by Larson. Then it's Barry/Hague, which ended kind of unexpectedly. Barry was landing some nice kicks and punches that rocked Hague. But then Hague took Barry down, grabbed his neck in a scramble, and rolled into a guillotine choke that made Barry tap. Hague starts bawling with joy. In the post-fight interview, the very-Canadian Tim Hague says "you can turn my face into mashed potatoes, and I'll just keep coming...he smashed my nose, but it's all good. I'm ready to have some beers."

Submission of the Night went to Larson. Rogan and Goldberg wonder if Rampage will have anything different for Machida. They bump mics and Goldberg says "powerful." Damn right. Now where's my old karate gi? It's time to get serious around here...