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ATLANTA — Matt Hamill has spent a lifetime proving people wrong, so when everyone said that former Ultimate Fighting Champion middleweight title-holder Rich Franklin was far too experienced and far too skilled of an opponent, a glimmer of hope remained.

That little bit of hope lasted far longer than most expected Saturday night, Sept. 6, during "UFC 88: Breakthrough" at Atlanta's Philips Arena. But it came to a painful crash early in the final round of the three-round, co-main event fight.

Hamill, a Loveland High School graduate and collegiate wrestling champion who was born deaf, survived the first two rounds of the bout relatively unscathed, but Franklin caught him with a crippling body kick early in the third and final frame. The liver kick dropped Hamill and forced a stoppage just 39 seconds into the round.

Franklin, a Harrison High School grad and former training partner of Hamill's, successfully avoided his opponent's wrestling prowess, implemented his own stick-and-move game plan, and set up and capitalized on his opportunity to strike.

Franklin (24-3), who fought as a light heavyweight for the first time in more than three years, was admittedly impressed by his opponent's resiliency. After all, he entered the fight with 20 more professional fights and six more years of MMA training than Hamill (4-2).

"(My) hat's off to Matt," Franklin said. "He fought a great fight."

Just like in UFC 88's pre-event press conference and official weigh-ins, the friends were all class after the fight. Franklin immediately checked on his downed opponent to assure Hamill had suffered no serious injuries.

The fighters embraced in a hug before leaving the cage.

Evans stuns Liddell in main event

Despite winning the third season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and putting together an undefeated professional record, Rashad Evans has been dogged for his lack of a signature victory.

He got it in UFC 88's main event.

Despite entering the fight close to a 3-to-1 underdog, Evans (12-0-1) shocked former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC superstar Chuck Liddell with a crushing second-round knockout. The big blow came with a looping, Liddell-like overhand right that caught the former champ square on the chin at the 1:51 mark.

The loss likely cost Liddell a Dec. 29 title shot with current champ Forrest Griffin. It wasn't immediately known if Evans could instead get the fight.

"Hopefully [this win] puts me right up there (in the title picture)," Evans said. "I'm just enjoying the ride."

Patt, Brown fall short

The judges declared him the loser via close split decision, but a near-sold-old crowd at Atlanta's Philips Arena clearly tapped Xenia native Matt Brown a winner in his bout with Dong Hyun Kim.

Brown, who parlayed a solid appearance on a recent season of the UFC's reality series into a multi-fight contract, was in trouble early. Kim took his opponent's back early and continually forced Brown to defend rear-naked choke attempts.

Brown survived – and spent a considerable amount of energy in the process – but he was the clear aggressor in the final two rounds and continually pushed the pace. However, it wasn't enough to convince the judges, who awarded Kim (11-0-1) the split-decision win over Brown (8-2) via scores of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.

"I don't fight for the judges," said Brown, who was the clear crowd favorite. "I fight for finishes, and I fight for the fans."

The Brown-Kim fight was the first on the night's televised card.

In other action, Beavercreek resident Mike Patt received a rude welcome to MMA's premier organization while competing on the night's preliminary card.

Patt, a veteran fighter who received an invitation to the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a late replacement for an injured James Lee, was no match for the hard-hitting Tim Boetsch.

Patt, 33, stood and traded with his opponent early, but Boetsch capitalized on his opponent's lazy low kick to pop Patt with a stiff right punch. The well-placed strike sent Patt (12-3) to his back, and when Boetsch (8-2) followed up with a dizzying barrage of follow-up punches, referee Herb Dean was forced to step in and halt the bout at 2:03 of the first round.

With the lopsided loss, which was just his second in his past 10 fight, Patt may find that his first fight in the UFC was his last.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Main card

• Rashad Evans def. Chuck Liddell via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:51

• Rich Franklin def. Matt Hamill via (liver kick) – Round 3, 0:39

• Dan Henderson def. Rousimar Palhares via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) • Nate Marquardt def. Martin Kampmann via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:22

• Def. Matt Brown via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Preliminary card

• Kurt Pellegrino def. Thiago Tavares via unanimous decision

• Tim Boetsch def. Mike Patt via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:03

• Jason MacDonald def. Jason Lambert via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:20

• Ryo Chonan def. Roan Carneiro via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)