Police escort fighter into ’09

With his next scheduled fight about a month away, Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Josh Neer rang in 2009 behind bars after being arrested in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, early on New Year's Day.

Neer was charged with second-offense operating while intoxicated and felony eluding after leading police officers on a chase that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph just after midnight Jan. 1.

The chase began after Neer's car allegedly struck another vehicle that was stopped at a light. That car then rolled forward into a police car that also was stopped at the light.

Neer is scheduled to fight Las Vegan Mac Danzig in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 7.

That fight is still scheduled to take place. A possible precedent was set last year when Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was arrested after eluding officers in California. Charges are still pending in that case, but Jackson fought Wanderlei Silva in December. Jackson was not fined or suspended by the UFC.

The obvious difference between the cases was that Jackson was not accused of being intoxicated at the time.

The Neer bout against Danzig is part of the Spike TV card headlined by a lightweight clash between Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca.

• LESNAR STARTS TREND? -- The success Brock Lesnar has experienced transitioning from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts might be inspiring others to make the move.

Bobby Lashley, who starred in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling, needed 41 seconds to stop Joshua Franklin in his MMA debut in Miami in December.

Lashley has signed with Palace Fighting Championships and will appear on the promotion's Feb. 6 card at Lemoore, Calif.

• KAMPMANN RETURNS -- Welterweight Martin Kampmann of Las Vegas will attempt to get back on a winning track when he faces Alexandre Barros on the undercard of the UFC pay-per-view card Jan. 17 at Dublin, Ireland.

Kampmann had won nine consecutive fights, including his first four UFC appearances, before being knocked out by Nate Marquardt in the first round in September.

The main event in Dublin features a light heavyweight clash between Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson.

The winner will serve as the opposing coach against Michael Bisping on the upcoming ninth season of "The Ultimate Fighter."

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.