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Dana White agrees that Rashad Evans won at UFC 161, but he goes on to say Evans needs to regain his killer instinct. White also seems skeptical of Henderson’s ability to remain competitive though he’s not ready to see Henderson retire.The post Dana White Critical of Rashad Evans’ Win Over Henderson appeared first on MMA Convert.

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As expected, the biggest movers in the latest UFC rankings following UFC 161 were Rashad Evans and Stipe Miocic. Evans vaulted into fourth at light heavyweight after defeating Dan Henderson, who fell from third to sixth. Also, Glover Teixeira moved to third overall behind Lyoto Machida and Alexander Gustafsson. Miocic, meanwhile, vaulted into the Top-10 [...]The post UFC Rankings Feature Movement By Rashad Evans, Stipe Miocic appeared first on MMA Convert.

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Last weekend’s lineup for UFC 161 produced some solid entertainment but, as always, it came at a cost. Fortunately, it appears the price wasn’t too high, as it looks like none of the fighters suffered any sort of serious injury based on a list of suspensions compiled by the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission. However, that’s not to say fans can expect the entire lot to be back in action without some time off to lick their wounds. According to the regulatory board, six of the evening’s athletes received indefinite suspensions. No specific afflictions were listed, but based on the competitors involved it seems superficial damage were the main culprit in terms of the sentences handed out. Specifically, Edwin Figueroa, Dustin Pague, Ryan Jimmo, Pat Barry, Sam Stout, and Rashad Evans will have to spend at least a few weeks on the sidelines. Meanwhile, every other fighter on the card got a mandatory two-week vacation for precautionary reasons. The post UFC 161 Medical Suspensions: Rashad Evans, five others out indefinitely appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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“There is and there isn’t (controversy),” UFC President Dana White said in an interview with MMAJunkie following UFC 161′s main event between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson in Winnipeg on Saturday. “The fight could’ve gone either way. If they said Dan won, I wouldn’t have been shocked, either. It’s just one of those fights that was so close it could’ve gone either way.” I’d wager most would agree. Go ahead, watch the fight, and give Evans vs. Henderson whatever judging criteria you like. Count all the effective strikes, subtract the blows received, give a little more credit for aggressiveness, divide by two, carry the one… go “old-school” and consider the ten kg. rule (okay, maybe not), use Shooto’s old “catch” call, allow for Pancrase rope breaks, eh, whatever. You’ve still got a “toss-up” of a fight. It wasn’t the most dramatic, but it was certainly a competitive main event. At the same time, it’s not too hard to see where the judges are coming from. Fight Metric, the official statistics provider of the UFC, offered a helpful graphic.  Evans out-struck Henderson by a total margin of 66 to 53. He was credited with 49 of 75 attempts at his jab to the head against Henderson’s 28 of 61. He landed more jabs than Henderson at an almost two-to-one clip in the critical second round. However, Henderson landed four power shots in that second round to Evans’ two. Henderson punctuated the performance with a nasty elbow to the head which ended the stanza. In addition, Evans attempted the only takedowns of the bout. He failed with all eight, and the bout was entirely contested in stand up – but it speaks to his aggressiveness, anyway. You’ve got a worthy victor in Evans, or at you can at least build an argument for him. But, more importantly, did you really have a fight worth buying? Well, not really. Sadly, you can use whatever criteria you like on that question, too. Look, I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat. MMA is everywhere now and I should be happy about it. But with UFC now showing its wares on more affordable venues like Fuel, FX, and Fox, this show was just not PPV-worthy. The sheer amount of shows these days is staggering and there’s just not enough of the “big fights” to go around. Evans and Henderson are quality wrestlers whose ability cancels out one another’s best attribute.  If you’re excited for standup fighting, HBO had a bout Saturday between Mikey Garcia and Juan Manuel Lopez – a rising young star against a former pound-for-pound entrant. The night prior, most with cable could watch World Series of Fighting and get a decent MMA fix. Heck, on the night of UFC 161, game two of the Stanley Cup Finals was vying for your attention, too. Take all this into account and maybe the decision from the judges probably isn’t the one White should be concerned about. I’ll agree that decision was reasonable. It’s really any fans decision to pay — or not pay — for this product which is questionable.  If the UFC can’t schedule a title bout each time they make a claim at your $60 (?), then they should offer several fights with major title implications. This had one bout – and it failed to impress. MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson took place this past Saturday night and it was the first time the UFC touched down in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Manitoba Combative Sports Commission has released the official medical suspensions from the event, and you can see the full list below. The commission suspended everyone who fought for two weeks, and handed out indefinite suspensions to 6 fighters including main event winner Rashad Evans. Courtesy of MMAWeekly: Suspended indefinitely: Rashad Evans, Ryan Jimmo, Pat Barry, Sam Stout, Dustin Pague, Edwin Figueroa, Suspended 14 days: Dan Henderson, Stipe Miocic, Roy Nelson, Igor Pokrajac, Alexis Davis, Rosi Sexton, Shawn Jordan, Jake Shields, Tyron Woodley, James Kruse, Sean Pierson, Kenny Robertson, Roland Delorme, Mitch Clarke, John Maguire, Yves Jabouin Photo Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Medical Suspensions appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was among those fighters receiving an indefinite medical suspension following UFC 161 on Saturday night in Winnipeg.

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In the main event bout of UFC 161, Rashad Evans (18-3-1, 13-3-1 UFC) and Dan Henderson (29-10, 6-4 UFC) engaged in a close three-round affair. In the end though, Evans was given a split decision win by the judges. Henderson was able to drop Rashad with a stiff jab late in the first but seemed to fade a bit after that. Evans couldn't get him to the floor, but he used crisp striking and movement to eke out the final two rounds. One judge had it 29-28 for Hendo, but the other two saw it 29-28 for Evans. The win means that Evans will undoubtedly be staying at light heavyweight, and puts him back on track to maybe get another shot at the title down the road. For Hendo, the loss was a massive setback that all but ended his title hopes. What was the high point of the fight? The jab that knocked Evans down. He was clearly wobbly for a little while and Henderson did his best to put him away, but Rashad stood his ground and made it through. Where do they go from here? The light heavyweight division is pretty booked up right now, but there looks to be one clear opponent for Evans regardless of all that - Glover Teixeira. A bout between them is a perfect PPV co-main and offers opportunities for both men to jump into the title picture. A win would clearly be more beneficial for Teixiera than Evans, but Rashad needs these types of wins if he hopes to ever face Jon Jones again. Henderson said that he'd be taking the summer off and would like to fight again before the end of the year. He'll be 43 by then and while he's showing no signs of slowing down, it has to happen sooner or later. A possible opponent for Hendo is really hard to guess at for the moment though. Once the dust has settled on a bunch of top-tier LHW fights over the summer, the picture might become a little clearer. Watch now, later, or never? Later. It was a main event of a PPV and all, but it wasn't exactly non-stop action. Good but not great is how I'd label it. If good is enough for you to watch, have at it. But it wasn't must-see TV, that's for sure.

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Over the fall of 2012 and leading up to his fight at UFC 156, there was a lot talk about Rashad Evans moving down to Middleweight to face Anderson Silva for the title. In fact, UFC president Dana White held off announcing Silva's next challenger until after Rashad's fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Of course, all that talk died when Evans lost a lackluster decision. Saturday night at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Canada, Rashad finally got back into the win column with a split decision victory over Dan Henderson. With the win at Light Heavyweight, it seems he's abandoning any thoughts of the 185 lb. division. Evans said at the post-fight press conference: The thing is, 205 is my home. If an opportunity comes at me at 185 and it's a good opportunity ... but for the most part, I feel good at 205 and it's hard for me to leave the 205 weight class. I'd love to get a shot at Jon Jones again. I'd love to get back to where I was and where I can be as far as going out there and being spectacular every single fight. But it's pretty tough. You have a lot of guys here who are very talented – it's a different landscape. I've got to make some adjustments to my game if I'm going to be dominant. For now, his rematch with Jon Jones is at least a couple fights away and much of the upper end of the division is already tied up. BE's own Tim Burke suggested Glover Teixeira for Evans' next opponent. While the fight doesn't hold a lot of upside for Rashad, it does make a lot sense considering the rankings and availability. Latest From Our Partners Greatest Underdog Stories (BR) Looking Back at TUF 1 Cast (BR) New Nicknames for UFC's Top Stars (BR) Weirdest Moments in MMA History (BR) Fighters on Downside of Career (BR) Best Additions to UFC Roster (BR) Bold MMA Predictions for June (BR)

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UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson was the UFC’s first trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and the UFC shattered attendance and gate records at the MTS Centre. In the main event it was Rashad Evans who edged out Dan Henderson by split decision, and in the co main event it was Stipe Miocic who derailed the Roy Nelson hype train by outclassing him for three rounds. Check out a few snap shots of the night’s bigger moments. Rashad Evans Takes Down Dan Henderson ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 6 Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Slideshow appeared first on Fighters.com.

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next previous 1/18 Dustin Pague Attempts to Slice Up Yves Jabouin with an Elbow It wasn’t a night filled with finishes or all-out wars but UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson still produced a number of memorable moments. From the bloody bout between Sam Stout-James Krause to Shawn Jordan’s 59-second knockout of Pat Barry to an entertaining effort featuring two of the organization’s newest female bantamweights to the main event between Hall of Famers Rashad Evans-Dan Henderson, the card is one that folks will be talking about for awhile…or at least a few weeks until UFC 162 rolls around. Though many fans watched the show on a flat screen, or even from a seat in the arena, few if any had a chance to sit ringside to get a close-up perspective of the pairings. Thanks to the fine folks at USA Today Sports, readers can take a look back as the festivities from just that locale with a series of shots pulled from their catalog of images. All photos were taken by Bruce Fedyck. The post UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson Scrap Book appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans promised he’d gotten some of his “swagger” back leading up to last night’s headlining bout with Dan Henderson and UFC 161, delivering on the statement with a hard-fought decision win over the iconic “Hendo”. Now, it looks like Evans is interested in taking on another one of the division’s toughest draws – Glover Teixeira (21-2). “I heard Glover Teixeira wanted the winner. I’m not turning anyone down,” said Evans during an interview with Fuel TV after the fight. However, UFC President Dana White was asked about the possible pairing and pointed to Texieira already having something lined up but wasn’t able to reveal the specifics. Check out the full conversation with Evans: SOURCE: Fuel TV PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports The post Rashad Evans Down for Tilt with Glover Teixeira appeared first on Fighters.com.

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To paraphrase the line that will follow former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green to his grave, Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson are what we thought they were. The light heavyweight showdown at UFC 161, originally scheduled to be the co-feature bout, was bumped up to the main event at Winnipeg's MTS Centre when headliner of Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland fell out. If the fight had remained a co-feature, the result, with Evans rallying past a slow first round to claim a split decision, would have seemed reasonable enough. But moving the bout up to main-event status increased the hype on the fight and framed it as a battle of two former champions who were looking to stay in the hunt for a bout against Jon Jones. Since the bout went about as expected -- a coin flip of a fight going in which led to a coin flip of a decision -- it's going to be hard for the winner to be sold as a title contender again any time soon. Particularly since Evans isn't really inclined to explore opportunities elsewhere. "The thing is, 205 is my home," Evans said. "If an opportunity comes at me at 185 and it's a good opportunity [he'd take it], but for the most part, I feel good at 205 and it's hard for me to leave the 205 weight class." UFC president Dana White, naturally, was looking on the bright side of Evans' performance, as he shook off a two-fight losing streak. "Tonight was a good night for Rashad because Rashad needed to get his head back in the game," said UFC president Dana White. "Obviously he looked good physically - he's in the best shape I've ever seen him in. He came out and fought a tough guy in Dan Henderson who can turn a fight in one punch. Rashad got hurt with a jab by Dan Henderson. That's how hard he hits. ... Tonight was a good confidence-booster for him, hopefully. The old Rashad used to let his hands go, throw kicks, and hopefully tonight was a step in the right direction for him." And besides, White added in the post-news conference scrum, he's not sure Evans could drop to 205 if he wanted. "I don't know if Rashad can make '85, you know what I mean? Rashad looked, he was pretty lean for this fight. He was 206 today and he was ripped. He was in the best shape I've seen him in a long time. He'd still have to cut weight to get down to '85. Then Dan, I don't know what Dan wants to do." Ah yes, Henderson. He's also in a tough spot. Since returning from knee surgery, Hendo has come a single round away on one judges' scorecard from scoring consecutive wins over former UFC light heavyweight champions. Instead, he's got a pair of split-decision losses on his record. That razor-thin margin of error has him going back to the drawing board. "There's nobody to blame but myself," the former Pride and Strikeforce champ said. "That third round I slowed down, I should have got a little bit more active. ... I thought I hurt him in the first and second rounds, I thought I had those rounds." As for Evans, he wants a shot at Jones, but he's also a realist about how the division has shifted. "I'd love to get a shot at Jon Jones again," he said. "I'd love to get back to where I was and where I can be as far as going out there and being spectacular every single fight. But it's pretty tough. You have a lot of guys here who are very talented - it's a different landscape. I've got to make some adjustments to my game if I'm going to be dominant." UFC 161 quotes "Did you ever watch a Burger King commercial? It's all handsome guys, skinny, and good-looking girls. Do you think Burger King wants people to think that that's what you look like if you eat Burger King? That's the last thing Burger King wants: "If you eat Burger King, you'll look like f---- this guy with the mullet and the gut. Not even Burger King wants that. stamp." -- Dana White, on Roy Nelson's sponsor aspirations. "I'm so tired I can barely speak. The adrenaline dump I got when Bruce Buffer said my name was awesome. I wanted to finish the fight in the first round. I landed some big elbows standing, but she's tough and so hard to finish on the ground."-- Alexis Davis summarizes her UFC debut experience. "It sucked. S---- fight. Sucked all the life out of that place, I almost went home." -- White, making his opinion clear on Jake Shields' split-decision win over Tyron Woodley. Good call To Herb Dean, who once again proved why he's the referee best in the business during the Alexis Davis-Rosi Sexton fight. Toward the end of the second round, Davis rained down uncontested punches on Sexton, who was lying face down and covering up. Dean warned Sexton in the closing seconds that he was going to stop the fight if she didn't show something. But he also knew that Sexton is a durable, tough-to-finish veteran. So he let Sexton finish the round, and she went the distance before losing a decision. Bad call Like a leaky faucet, UFC 161 featured a steady drip of little bad calls here and there. Starting with the opening match of the night, where Dustin Pague was ripped off of a victory against Yves Jabouin. It almost seemed like the Quebec commission was flown into Manitoba just to give Montreal's Jabouin the nod, the second time in his past three wins he's gotten a questionable split decision in Canada. Hopefully the UFC gives Pague, who has two split-decision losses on his current three-fight losing streak, another chance. Then there was Yves Lavigne, who had an itchy trigger finger in the first round of the Ryan Jimmo-Igor Pokrajac fight, ordering frequent restarts in the first round, which kept the light heavyweight division. There was more over the course of the night, but you get the point. Stock up: James Krause The cries were predictable when James Krause was signed to a UFC deal: Why should this guy get signed when so many fighters are being cut? But Krause, who was eliminated in the fight-in round of "TUF: Live," went out and proved why Zuffa will make exceptions and sign the right fighters when such signings make sense, even in an era of cuts. Krause's impressive submission win over the super-tough Sam Stout put an emphatic stamp on the UFC's decision to bring him on board. The bout marked the first time Stout, a bonus-producing machine of a fighter, had been finished since Kenny Florian stopped him in 2006. It was Krause's eighth consecutive victory and earned him both Submission and Fight of the Night. Still questioning the decision to sign him? Stock down: Roy Nelson "Big Country" gambled when he accepted a short-notice fight with Stipe Miocic in the last bout of his contract. He had three straight first-round knockouts and gambled that with four straight impressive victories, he'd have leverage during a time Bellator is demonstrating it will selectively pay big bucks for fighters who can produce television ratings. Instead, Nelson looked like an out-of-shape fighter in his loss to Stipe Miocic. Nelson absorbed 437 significant strikes, a record for a heavyweight UFC fight that didn't result in a knockout. While he demonstrated yet again that he's nearly impossible to stop, the fight also shattered the illusion he's a potential title contender, and with that illusion went a lot of money. Fight I'd like to see next: Evans vs. Glover Teixeira With Jon Jones slated to fight Alexander Gustaffson, the pickings are slims for Evans in terms of a light heavyweight bout which makes sense. Hypothetically, they could market the rematch that never happened with Machida. But a more consequential bout would be Evans vs. Teixeira. The latter is in need of a big-name opponent top put himself over the top, after he's mowed through all the lesser competition. Evans, for his part, needs to prove himself worthy of a rematch with Jones that few are pining to see at the moment. He could no better state his case than by taking out the guy most consider the next in line after Gustafsson.

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He was literally pulling punches and wincing after he threw his overhand rights later on in the fight, and his shoulder blade kept getting redder and redder. Hendo did a ton more damage when Evans went in the clinch with elbows, and it really looked like he was hesitant to throw the hbomb. Just sayin it would've been valuable info for Evans. submitted by ohsheeshyall [link] [8 comments]

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is looking to get back to the top of the mountain, and Saturday night’s victory over Dan Henderson at UFC 161 was a push in that direction. Evans, riding the first two-fight losing skid of his career, scored a split decision victory over Henderson. While he didn’t get [...]The post UFC 161 Rashad Evans ‘Happy With Win’ Over Dan Henderson appeared first on MMA Convert.

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Rashad Evans said prior to UFC 161 that he was looking to get his swagger back, and although it wasn't the most convincing win of his career, he took a big step forward in accomplishing that goal by defeating mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Dan Henderson. In front of a very pro-Henderson crowd at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, "Suga" narrowly earned a split decision victory over "Hendo" after three hard-fought rounds. Evans escaped the dreaded three-fight losing streak by defeating the former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion and despite his underwhelming performance against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira earlier this year, still has to be considered among the elite of the light heavyweight division. Now that he is back on the winning track, there are several options that open up for the former 205-pound king, and the most intriguing of them all may be a cut down to middleweight. Evans has teased for a while now that he was considering a move down to 185 pounds (and said he was open to the idea at the UFC 161 post-fight press conference), but he didn't want to take off from the division he once ruled on a two-fight losing streak. With a notable victory over Henderson now under his belt, now would seem like as good a time as any to test the waters down a weight class. What Evans has also said recently, though, is that he desperately wants another crack at reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who he lost to in convincing fashion at UFC 145 in April 2012. If that's the case, Evans is going to have to win at least one or two more fights before the possibility of a second fight with "Bones" is even considered by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brass. While stranger things have happened in the past, there is no chance of Evans skipping to the front of the line with Alexander Gustafsson slated to get the next crack at Jones at UFC 165 in September and Lyoto Machida likely on deck if he gets past Phil Davis at UFC 163 this summer. If Evans hopes to get another chance to mix it up with the champ, he'll need to get his hand raised against at least one more top contender, and if you go by the official UFC rankings, there is only available fighter between Evans and the champion. Glover Teixeira. Teixeira, the world's No. 4 ranked contender, actually called for a fight with the Evans-Henderson winner following his first-round submission of James Te Huna at UFC 160 last month. With a 4-0 record inside the Octagon, the 33-year-old has proven worthy of a shot against another top contender in the division and it doesn't get much bigger than one of the most accomplished fighters out there in Evans. Stylistically, both guys match up well as they pack a tremendous punch and have strong grappling abilities to boot. It would be an unpredictable match up and the winner would certainly have a valid claim as being deserving of a championship fight. Outside of Teixeira, the division is thin on worthwhile opponents for Evans, so unless he's planning to drop down to middleweight, it seems relatively clear Teixeira is the next fight to make for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 2 winner. Who would you like to see Evans face next? Let us know in the comments section below. For more news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson," visit our complete event archive here.

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UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson is in the books and in the main event it was Rashad Evans who was awarded the split decision over Dan Henderson in what some are calling a controversial decision. Both fighters were cautious early in the first round and after the feeling out period it seemed to be a pretty even round. Toward the end of the round, Evans was stumbled with a left hand that prompted Henderson to swarm in with strikes and win the round out right. However, in the next two rounds it was Evans who was quicker to the punch.  Although Henderson was able to stop all but one of Evans’ takedown attempts he didn’t do enough to win the rounds. While Evans was winning the fight it seemed as though Henderson was looking for the  one shot to end Evans’ night. Henderson admitted as much in the post fight interview. “There’s nobody to blame but myself,” he said. “That third round, I slowed down. I should have gotten more active. I thought I hurt him bad in the first and second rounds, I thought I got those.” Evans says he knew going to back to his corner he lost the first round, but felt he did enough to win the last two. Evans said “After getting dropped in the first round, I knew I won the second, but I needed to come out strong in the third.” Evans also explained why he seemed a little cautious in the bout, “One thing you know about Henderson is you don’t rush in. Only fools rush in with Dan Henderson. When he is hurt, he can still hurt you with a good shot.” You can watch their post fight comments right here courtesy of the UFC: The post Rashad Evans Wins Close Bout With Dan Henderson At UFC 161 (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Check out the full results for UFC 161: 'Evans vs. Henderson'!

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans hasn’t even seen 24 hours pass since his narrow outpointing of Dan Henderson at UFC 161 and it appears the former champion already has his next opponent lined up. Though far from official, Evans is already looking a bout with streaking contender Glover Teixeira (21-2). Evans pointed to the possibility of taking on Teixeira in an interview with Fuel TV moments after beating Henderson, stating, “I heard Glover Teixeira wanted the winner. I’m not turning anyone down.” In terms of his tilt with Henderson, Evans was clearly pleased to have put an end to his two-fight skid but not necessarily thrilled with his showing in the scrap. “I’ve learned in this game, be happy with the win because they don’t always come. But the critic in me says I didn’t do everything I wanted to,” admitted Evans. “I did need to get that win, desperately, (but) I wanted to perform well. I wanted to execute.” “Sugar” ‘Shad improved his record to 18-3-1 with last night’s win, adding Henderson to a list of fallen foes including the likes of Tito Ortiz, Forrest Griffin, Phil Davis, and Quinton Jackson. The full interview with Evans can be seen below: The post Rashad Evans: “I heard Glover Teixeira wanted the winner.” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Fresh off a hard fought victory at UFC 161, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was already thinking of his next possible opponent. Evans made it clear that Glover Teixeira was in his sights after Teixeira stated he wanted the winner of tonight’s main event between Evans and Dan Henderson. Evans stated on the UFC Tonight post-fight show: “I heard Glover Teixeira wanted the winner. I’m not turning anyone down.” A fight between the two fighters makes sense for many reasons, with the main being that a victory for either fighter aides them in their quest for the UFC light heavyweight belt currently held by Jon Jones. If both are healthy, it is possible the bout could land on UFC 165 if the promotion continues their practice of stacking high profile divisional bouts underneath title fights in the same division. Be sure to check out our full coverage of UFC 161 including Full Results, Play-by-Play, and More. MMAFrenzy.com

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Anytime we get a split decision from the judges for a high level Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) main event bout, such as the one that occurred last night (Sat., June 15, 2013) at UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" when Rashad Evans was awarded one such victory over Dan Henderson in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, we're going to pass along the Fight Metric Report. That's because it's a useful tool in determining who had the statistical edge in the bout. So let's take a look at just that, shall we? And remember to head on over to Fight Metric to get a look at the entire Report as well as a detailed explanation on their methods. Here's the striking report for all three rounds: And the grappling report: Finally, the performance ratings for each fighter: As you can see, the report agrees with the judges decision to award the bout to Evans with a score of 29-28, though neither fighter turned in a truly great performance. Maniacs, what do you think? Agree with Fight Metric and the judges here? For complete results and a comprehensive look at Evans vs. Henderson click here, and for complete UFC 161 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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Two former world champions trying to get back to the top of the heap squared off last night (June 15, 2013) as former UFC Light Heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans took on former Pride and Strikeforce champ Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Both men had a lengthy feeling-out process early on, with neither gaining a big advantage. Evans wasn't playing patty cake this time around, keeping his hands up and looking to land short combinations while Henderson, as expected, looked for an opportunity to connect with his massive right hand. Evans seemed to be slightly in control, utilizing better movement and throwing more often, but Henderson's power was the great equalizer, scoring with a stiff left jab of all things and stunning "Suga." Henderson tried to follow up with a big swarm of blows but he couldn't find a home for the killshot. Evans responded in the second round by turning up the aggression, throwing more combinations and avoiding the big "H-Bomb" from Henderson. He found success whenever Henderson was backed near the fence and had his escape routes cut off. Takedown attempt from Evans were very unsuccessful, but he did score with short knees in the clinch whenever he was able to get inside. For complete UFC 161 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is still open to middleweight opportunities, but he wants another shot at Jon Jones.

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Rashad Evans’ victory over Dan Henderson in the UFC 161 headliner did not come easily

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Watch a clip from the UFC 161 main event bout between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. Video: Highlights: UFC 161: Evans - Henderson

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Evans and 'Hendo' showed Saturday there's a wide gulf between themselves and the UFC light heavyweight champ.

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<A href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=faaea7ad-f65e-4dc9-bb55-00f262c56751&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" mce_href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=faaea7ad-f65e-4dc9-bb55-00f262c56751&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="Highlights: UFC 161: Evans - Henderson">Video: Highlights: UFC 161: Evans - Henderson</A> Rashad Evans keeps the demons at bay, at least for one more fight, as he earns a split decision victory over Dan Henderson after three hard fought rounds in the main event of UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" at the MTS Centre last night (Sat., June 15, 2013) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. "Suga" used a smart game plan reliant on stifling "Hendo's" big overhand right while popping in and out with effective punches. He did that for most of the first and second and nearly all of the third rounds, good enough to take two judges scorecards. Henderson did score a knockdown in the opening frame but gassed pretty hard at the end and simply couldn't keep up the pace of the still relatively fresh legs Evans is working on. What's rough, though, is neither fighter looked shot, necessarily, but neither looked like potential world beaters. The song remains the same, despite the change in the win/loss column. For complete results and a comprehensive look at Evans vs. Henderson click here, and for complete UFC 161 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson is in the books, and the crowd has already filed out of the MTS Centre after watching Rashad Evans get the split decision over Dan Henderson. As usual, the UFC will be handing out $50,000 to the night’s top performers. Stay tuned to Fighters.com for complete UFC 161 coverage. Submission of the night: James Krause Knockout of the night: Shawn Jordan Fight of the night: Sam Stout vs James Krause The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Fight Night Bonuses appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Check out video highlights of the UFC 161 main event light heavyweight bout between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans.

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After two straight losses Evans is back in the win column, but it was a far-from-impressive outing against 'Hendo'.

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His career at something of a standstill, onetime Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight boss Rashad Evans came away with a win he desperately needed.

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June 15, 2013 UFC 161 Evans vs. Henderson resultsWinnipeg, Canada Rashad Evans def. Dan Henderson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Stipe Miocic def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Ryan Jimmo def. Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Alexis Davis def. Rosi Sexton by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)Shawn Jordan def. Pat Barry via TKO (punches) 0:59 R1Jake Shields def. Tyron Woodley via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)James Krause def. Sam Stout via submission guillotine choke 4:47 R3Sean Pierson def. Kenny Robertson via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)Roland Delorme def. Edwin Figueroa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Mitch Clarke def. John Maguire via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Yves Jabouin def. Dustin Pague via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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Rashad Evans' fight with Dan Henderson at UFC 161 was billed as a battle to remain relevant in the light heavyweight division. Following a slow start at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on Saturday, Evans fought his last two rounds like he knew it. After Henderson took the first round and a close second, Evans turned it on the the third. That was enough in the three-round main event for Evans to take a pair of 29-28 scores (Henderson took the other card 29-28) in a split-decision victory. "After getting dropped in the first round, I thought I won the second and I knew I had to come out in the third." More Coverage: UFC 161 Results | UFC newsDownload MMA Fighting iPhone App After a feeling-out period in the first round, Henderson dropped Evans with a solid jab. He swarmed Evans (18-3-1) in an attempt to finish the round, but lost his balance in the process. Evans cleared the cobwebs, but it was enough to Hendo to take the round. "I didn't know who threw it, I thought the referee kicked me or something," said Evans. "After the round I was asking my corner ‘what hit me?'" The second round was the closest of the fight. Evans picked up steam as the fight wore on, though, and landed his best shots coming off the breaks after the clinch. The third round was all Evan,s as he was quicker and more technical with his striking, as he slowly wore Henderson down. Evans outstruck Henderson in the fight, 49-47. It was a much-needed victory for Evans, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, who had lost his past two fights. "Only fools rush in with Dan Henderson," Evans said. "He's the kind of guy who's movement, when he's hurt, he can still hit you with a good shot." The 42-year old Henderson, a former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion, goes back to the drawing board after his second consecutive split-decision defeat. "There's nobody to blame but myself," said Henderson (29-10). "That third round I slowed down, I should have got a little bit more active. ... I thought I hurt him in the first and second rounds, I thought I had those rounds."

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Tonight’s UFC 161 main event featured a clash of light heavyweights as former Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson took on former UFC champ Rashad Evans at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Evans would get the better of Henderson in the end, utilizing slick boxing and wrestling to edge the MMA legend. Be sure to check out our full coverage of UFC 161 including full results, play-by-play, and more. Evans Edges Henderson in Great Fight Both Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson came into tonight’s bout with a lot on the line after disappointing losses in their respective February bouts. Hendo would take the first round after catching Evans moving in with a stiff jab that put Evans on the canvas briefly. “Suga” Rashad would bounce back in the second round, as he began to find his range with his strikes. With every tied at the end of two, the bout hinged on the third round. Evans really hit his stride in that round, as he landed blistering combinations and pressured forward with his wrestling against the tiring “Hendo.” That effort proved the difference however, as Evans picked up the crucial victory to snap the longest losing streak of his career. The loss drops Henderson to 0-2 in his last two outings, but the classy fighter admitted that tonight’s loss was a bit easier to take than his UFC 157 loss to Lyoto Machida. Play-by-Play: Rd. 1- Evans is in wrestling style stance to start the fight and lands a nice jab early. Hendo storms with his right but is rebuffed by a combo from Evans. Gorgeous duck to a combo by Evans. Nice combo by Rashad here. He looks like his old self so far. Hendo tries to throw his right but it isn’t there. Evans is so much faster. Takedown attempt by Evans but Hendo stuffs it. Evans with clinch work now and lands a big shot on the exit. Evans is ducking Hendo’s right well so far. Hendo catches Rashad with a stiff left jab that rocks the Blackzilian fighter  Evans is struggling to recover. Round ends with Hendo stealing it late. MMAFrenzy has it 10-9 Hendo. Rd. 2- Great takedown by Evans as the cobwebs are cleared now. Hendo is back up and a wicked punch by Evans on the exit that briefly staggers Hendo. Nice uppercut by Hendo. Great fight so far. Hendo is showing more striking range than in his last few fights. Nasty combo by Evans and he seizes control in the clinch. Hendo stuffs an Evans takedown attempt. Hendo is leaving himself open to the left high kick. Combo by Evans that he tries to finish with a takedown. Round ends with both in the middle and Evans cut. MMAFrenzy has it 10-9 Evans (19-19). Rd. 3- Touch of gloves to start the round. Huge combo by Rashad staggers Hendo but he wisely plays it safe to avoid the mistake Fedor made. Evans doubles up on the jab. Hendo really looks tired here. Evans in on a single and he gives it up as he controls against the cage. Evans is controlling the fight against the cage but Hendo lands some knees. Nasty combination by Evans and he misses a takedown on the end of it. Jab by Evans. Evans controlling the clinch with good punches. Another combo by Evans against the cage. Evans is really looking strong here. Evans lands some shots as he tries a single Nice elbow by Hendo in the clinch. 0:30 left. Another slick combo by Evans as the round ends. MMAFrenzy has it 10-9 Evans to give him the win (29-28). Rashad Evans def. Dan Henderson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC 161 - Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson

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What: UFC 161 "Evans vs. Henderson" live pay-per-view results Who: Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson -- Light-heavyweight division Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada When: June 15, 2013 Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson -- Light-heavyweight bout Evans was crisper and more effective with his boxing for the bulk of the 1st round, occasionally mixing in smooth transitions to takedown attempts that were unsuccessful but ultimately put Henderson on his heels and into defense mode. "Hendo" spiked out a heavy jab that landed clean and froze Rashad, then followed up with a series of menacing jack-hammers while Rashad tried to regain his composure on wobbly legs. In the 2nd round, Rashad went on the hunt and dictated the pace more effectively with his fast hands and clinch control. Henderson gathered himself after negating a takedown attempt and cracked Evans with a short upward elbow in the clinch, but Evans seemed to be piecing his combos together well in the center of the cage and using them to keep Henderson in reverse. Rashad made his mark early in the 3rd by finding the mark with a stiff combination that visibly affected Henderson for a moment. As usual, Henderson dueled almost exclusively with a pawing jab while measuring the distance for his outrageous right hand. Evans culled from a deeper toolbox, cutting angles on the way in and blazing off fast 2- and 3-punch combinations, at times going downstairs for crunching body shots or dropping levels for takedowns to keep Hendo guessing. Evans adjusted his distance in the last frame and crowded Henderson with a clinch-heavy strategy, swarming with punches on the way in and staying on him with pressure and control. Henderson made that game-plan a chore with more tight-range elbows despite a lot of backpedaling and fighting off the fence. One judge saw it 29-28 for Henderson but the others had it the same for Evans. The bout was closely contested and the only clear round was the 1st for Henderson. Let us know who you scored the bout for in the poll below. Rashad Evans defeats Dan Henderson by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x 2) Poll Who won this here fist fight? Rashad Hendo   3 votes | Results

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The main event of UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" tonight (Sat., June 15, 2013) at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, featured Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson squaring off in a battle to remain relevant in the light heavyweight division. Both have had prior chances at the gold in their respective weight class and a loss here would likely mean never challenging for said championship ever again. So sad for "Dangerous Dan." Indeed, the former two division champion in Pride had his moments in the opening round, knocking "Suga" down with a jab at one point, but he ultimately ran out of gas far faster than times past and couldn't keep pace with the younger, fresher Evans. It led to his nearly being knocked down himself on more than one occasion. It also led to his losing the final two rounds on the scorecards in the eyes of two of the judges and that was enough to give Evans the split decision victory. Yes, one of the judges still scored one of those rounds for Henderson, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Afterwards, Joe Rogan talked to"Hendo" and he said Evans never hurt him at all while he thought he hurt Rashad in both the first and second frames. His mistake, he said, was letting off the gas in the third and final round. So there you have it. Henderson is now in No Man's Land while Evans has a new lease on life, though this performance didn't exactly inspire the most confidence in his chances to one day regain gold in the 205-pound division. Stay tuned. For complete "Evans vs. Henderson" results and coverage click here, and for complete UFC 161 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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The main event of UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" tonight (Sat., June 15, 2013) at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, featured Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson squaring off in a battle to remain relevant in the light heavyweight division. Both have had prior chances at the gold in their respective weight class and a loss here would likely mean never challenging for said championship ever again. Evans decided to stay aggressive in the third, pushing in with left and right hands and landing some relatively big punches that had the iron-chinned "Hendo" backing up. If nothing else, the sheer volume of strikes was effective in giving Rashad the edge. Henderson's lack of energy became a real hindrance here. Evans was landing the more meaningful offense on top of implementing his game plan and even effectively controlling the Octagon. You know that old outdated method of scoring or whatever. Evans spent much of the remainder of the round simply controlling the action by pushing "Hendo" up against the cage and dirty boxing with him, getting the better of the exchanges there. His younger body held up much better, and had this been a five-round battle, it likely would have been even more emphatic. Henderson swung hard with that big right hand just before the bell but it missed and that seemed to signal the end for him. The judges ultimately scored it for Evans via split decision. For complete "Evans vs. Henderson" results and coverage click here, and for complete UFC 161 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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The main event of UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" tonight (Sat., June 15, 2013) at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, featured Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson squaring off in a battle to remain relevant in the light heavyweight division. Both have had prior chances at the gold in their respective weight class and a loss here would likely mean never challenging for said championship ever again. The second round opened with Evans landing a takedown finally, but Henderson getting back to his feet rather quickly. That simply led to a clinch and some grappling to change the pace. Rashad exploded out and scored points on some solid punches that did some damage not long after, with "Hendo" even getting a bit wobbly at one point. He stayed aggressive, too, using his speed and some fancy footwork to get inside and work his offensive before bouncing back out and maintaining a safe distance. You know, because that power right hand is always looming large. They stayed relatively even as the round moved along but it started to look more and more like Henderson was wearing out and Evans was staying fresh. For complete "Evans vs. Henderson" results and coverage click here, and for complete UFC 161 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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The main event of UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" tonight (Sat., June 15, 2013) at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, featured Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson squaring off in a battle to remain relevant in the light heavyweight division. Both have had prior chances at the gold in their respective weight class and a loss here would likely mean never challenging for said championship ever again. Round one opened with Rashad taking the center of the cage but staying at distance. The first exchange took place with Evans jumping inside and looking for uppercuts. They broke clean and came out to reset in the middle. "Suga" attempted to use a combination to duck under for a takedown but they were too close to the fence and he was forced to back out. "Hendo" tried to use the moment to load up that big right hand and fire but Evans was watching for it and defended well. One hand out and circling away. Henderson continued looking for an opening to land his trademark punch while Rashad made sure to stay as far away from it as possible. The shot that ended up hurting Evans was a stiff jab, though, and Henderson earned a knockdown on a follow up right hand, though it wasn't the "H-Bomb" we've come to know and love. The round closed with both fighters staying back. For complete "Evans vs. Henderson" results and coverage click here, and for complete UFC 161 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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Did Rashad Evans or Dan Henderson win last night (Sat., June 15, 2013) in UFC 161 main event from MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada? MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE stream round-by-round full-fight blog coverage of the Light Heavyweight showdown, which will pit "Suga," former 205-pound division champion, against "Hendo," former Pride FC dual-division kingpin. Be sure to check back often (results are below) for the latest updates to find out who won the pivotal, high-stakes mixed martial arts (MMA) bout between Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson at UFC 161. This was never supposed to be the main event of the show, as UFC 161 was originally dubbed "Barao vs. Wineland" and featured a bantamweight championship showdown pitting the seemingly unstoppable Renan Barao against veteran former king of the 135-pound mountain, Eddie Wineland. Instead, when the world's largest fight promotion goes rolling into the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, later on this evening (Sat., June 15, 2013), it will do so with UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson," featuring Rashad Evans desperately trying to get back in the win column against Dan Henderson, himself seeking to get back to that number one contender spot he choked away in a decision loss to Lyoto Machida just a few months ago. Evans could be on his way down to 185-pounds with a loss while "Hendo" would find himself in No Man's Land in a hurry. His track record is enough to keep him around, sure, but there has to be a sense of urgency with both fighters, both deep into their respective careers and running out of chances to earn a shot at the light heavyweight title. Or any title, for that matter. We'll see who still has some magic left later tonight. God forbid it's a stinker. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 161 fight card on fight night (June 15, 2013), starting with the Facebook "Prelims," which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, right on through the FX-televised under card bouts at 8 p.m. ET and then main card PPV action, which is slated to begin at 10 p.m. ET. For more on the upcoming UFC 161 be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.

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MMA Fighting brings you UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson results. UFC 161 takes place at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. The event is headlined by a fight between former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. In the co-main event, Roy Nelson will square off against Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight contest. At 33 years old, Rashad Evans is nearly a full decade younger than his UFC 161 main-event opponent Dan Henderson. Yet of the two, it is Evans who faces more questions about his fighting future. Perhaps he invited it upon himself when earlier this year, he mentioned that he ever-so-briefly considered retirement. It doesn't help that when he went out and faced Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in February, he was uncharacteristically and exceptionally flat, landing only 22 strikes over the 15-minute fight.Henderson wasn't much better when he fought Lyoto Machida the same month. Though he landed 54 strikes in the bout, 34 of them came in the third round, when he was attempting to come from behind. The judges ultimately ruled it in Machida's favor in a split-decision.The fact that against Machida, Henderson was competing for the first time in 15 months faded into the background, mostly because Machida has a tendency to make most opponents look bad. But the layoff could have affected him. So could his age. Just two months shy of 43, Hendo is still in the mix as a top light-heavyweight, but those days simply must be numbered. The fact that he's done it at such a high level for this long is something to be admired, but at some point, he is going to begin to fade. About here, we would be remiss if we didn't add that for the last several years, Henderson has, with commission approval, used the controversial treatment testosterone replacement therapy. But even that doesn't guarantee him any longevity past what he's already achieved.At this point of Henderson's career, he largely favors striking as his favored method of combat, far over his wrestling roots. In most of his fights within the last 4-5 years, takedowns are only a secondary weapon, with most of his energy focused on landing his thudding right hand, often as a counter based on timing. In five of his last nine fights, he hasn't scored a single takedown. Amazingly, that hasn't posed much of a problem for him in terms of attaining victory; he's 7-2 in those fights. Against Evans, he's a fractional underdog. The line between the two has barely wavered. That's understandable. There have been only a handful of others in MMA history who could boast both the crushing one-punch power and the legendary chin of Henderson. He is exceptionally difficult to put away, yet he can end the fight in an instant.Henderson's success comes in a simple approach and his ability to cash in on opponent's mistakes. He doesn't necessarily have the foot speed to chase opponents down, but he finds a way to make them engage, and has excellent timing on his straight right hand. He feasts on opponents who circle towards it, but when they don't he goads them there, often setting them up with an inside leg kick which puts his foe off-balance for the split-second necessary to fire off his H-bomb. If fight-changing power is Henderson's advantage, Evans' edge comes in the diversity of his attack. He's equally capable of blasting a rival with a right cross or a double-leg. The takedown is a staple of his game, and he's not shy about capitalizing on that opening when he sees it to be an advantage. He took down Thiago Silva eight times and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Phil Davis three times apiece. Though against Nogueira, he went only 1-for-5 in takedown tries, I would suspect that he'll make it a focus of his attack against Henderson, a far more dangerous striker.He pretty much admitted such when I asked him to go into his FUEL TV analyst persona and give an objective account on his best route to victory in Winnipeg."If Rashad Evans is to win this fight, he has to fight this on a multi-level attack basis," he said. "He can’t get to the point where he’s playing defense too much, sitting waiting for Dan Henderson to do anything. He has to put his combos together followed by his shots. If he’s not able to take Dan Henderson down, this is going to be one of those fights for him where he puts himself in danger of being caught by the big shot Dan Henderson has. Rashad Evans does his best fighting when he's able to go with the up-and-down basis, when he’s got the ability to be able to take his opponents down."I agree with Evans. The takedown will be the X-factor of the matchup, especially in a five-round fight. If Henderson can stop him and keep the fight standing, he will eventually get comfortable with the rhythm of Evans' offense and potentially land that big right. If Evans can take him down, Henderson will have a lot more to think about. And let's not forget, Evans has pretty good power, too. When he is firing on all cylinders, he is truly elite. For all of Henderson's exploits of accomplishments, and despite his wrestling pedigree, he is not an automatic shot-stuffer. Machida took him down on his only try. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua took him down five times. Jake Shields put him on his back four times. Evans must put up a number like Rua in order to win. I believe he can. While Hendo has the one-punch edge, Evans has speed, youth and wrestling on his side. Given Henderson's knockout power, I'd never advocate a bet against him, but since I must offer a pick, I'm guessing that Evans' more diversified skill set adds up to a decision victory.

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Before Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson share the Octagon at UFC 161 just hours from now at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the two light heavyweight contenders were forced to endure one final formality: The weigh-ins. For mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, the weigh-ins are the last time they will see stand face-to-face (see the staredown pic here) with their opponent before colliding inside the cage. Some fighters are casual when stepping on the scale, others use the moment as one final opportunity to try and intimidate their opponent. Just moments after successfully making weight, Evans and Henderson both appeared on the FUEL TV weigh-in show to share some finals thoughts on their bout with correspondent Ariel Helwani less than 24-hours away from UFC 161. First, the former UFC champion "Suga" discussed getting booed by the crowd when he stepped on the scale, if he has anything to prove after losing two fights in a row, possibly forcing Henderson into retirement, where Henderson would prefer to fight him and how he is going to earn the victory. On The Boos"I thought [the fans loved] me too, but you know what, when they started to like me too much I went on a losing streak so the boos kind of made me feel good, they made me feel at home, so if I get booed, I fight well." On If He Has Anything To Prove"More or less to myself, if anything. I feel like I let myself down as a competitor and I know what's inside of me. And when I don't go out there and fight the way I need to fight and I go to the dressing room feeling sick and disgusted and stuff and I can't look in a mirror after I fight, then it's gut check time for myself and I know I need to make something change." On If He Wants To Push Henderson Into Retirement "I don't want to be the one to end his career, you know I love to see Dan fight. It's hard to say how much anybody has left in their career, when it comes down to fighting it's all about will. And as long as he does what he needs to do to keep training and stay at the top of the ladder, then I think he should compete. But if he doesn't have that, then maybe he should retire." On Where Henderson Will Want To Fight"I think that he would prefer it on the feet. I think that's where he feels his best chances are and when you stand and bang it out on the feet it's really a 50-50 game so he'll want it on the feet." On How He'll Finish The Fight"Probably G and P, baby. Ground and pound." The former Strikeforce and duel division PRIDE champion also spoke with Helwani on the FUEL TV weigh-in broadcast, sharing his thoughts on if Evans has lost a step in his fight game, Evans' last fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, if he expects a lot of wrestling to take place in the fight, retirement talks that are surrounding him and how he will come out victorious in the fight. On If Evans Has Lost A Step"No, I'm expecting to fight the best Rashad Evans that there ever was. And that's what I hope for, I hope he at his best so we can have an exciting fight. On What He Took Away Evans' Last Fight"Not a whole lot. Everybody has a bad fight or a flat performance and I've been there too and I'm not going to judge him on how that last one was." On If Evans Will Try To Take Him Down"No, I think he's still not going to forget about his stand up, but I was already expecting him to try and take me down at some point in the fight." On Retirement Talks "I hear it, but it doesn't bother me at all. It's entertaining for me and it creates a bigger challenge I think." On How He Will Win The Fight"I think it's going to be a war and I plan on stopping him." Just a few more hours until showtime, Maniacs! MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 161 fight card on fight night (June 15, 2013), starting with the Facebook "Prelims," which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, right on through the FX-televised under card bouts at 8 p.m. ET and then main card PPV action, which is slated to begin at 10 p.m. ET. For the latest UFC 161 news and notes check out our complete event archive right here.

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Dan Henderson talks with Ariel Helwani. Henderson says he doesn’t see Rashad Evans recent losing streak as suggesting that Evans won’t show up to fight at UFC 161.The post Dan Henserson Plans “On Stopping” Evans appeared first on MMA Convert.

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Rashad Evans wants to set the record straight -- not for the fans or media, but for himself.

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This Saturday June 15, the UFC is live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson. Headlining the card will be a Light Heavyweight clash between Rashad Evans (17-3-1 MMA; 12-3-1 UFC) and Dan Henderson (29-9 MMA; 6-3 UFC). This Light Heavyweight fight wraps up the five fight UFC 161 PPV card and will only be a three round main event. The UFC rankings have Henderson as the #3 Light Heavyweight contender with Evans a few spots below at #6. UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson airs live on PPV this Saturday June 15, with the main PPV card beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. UFC 161 is one of those shows that has ended up drastically different from what was originally planned. This main event is no exception. Originally, this was billed as UFC 161: Barao vs. Wineland, but an injury to champion Renan Barao cancelled those plans. The already scheduled Evans vs. Hendo fight was bumped up to main event status. These are two former champions in an interesting battle, so it's not a terrible fight by any means. But with both men coming off of losses, it's a hard sell as a true PPV quality main event. We'll see if the two can in fact deliver Saturday night. How do these two stack up? Evans: 33 years old | 5'11" | 75" reachHenderson: 42 years old | 6'1" | 71" reach What have these two done recently? Evans: L - Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UD) | L - Jon Jones (UD) | W - Phil Davis (UD)Henderson: L - Lyoto Machida (SD) | W - Mauricio Rua (UD) | W - Fedor Emelianenko (TKO) How did these two get here? "Suga" Rashad Evans is the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, but that 2008 title win has started to feel like the distant past. Undefeated when he won the belt, Evans was promptly defeated by Machida in his first title defense. The four years since have been marked largely by inactivity and frustration, as Evans has spent large amounts of time on the shelf awaiting fights with Rampage and Jones. He's now coming off the worst loss of his career, a shocking defeat at the hands of Lil Nog where Evans was unable to get any offense going. This is do or die for Evans, as the former undefeated champion could lose his third in a row here. If he wants to remain a relevant fighter, he can not let that happen. More on UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson Dan Henderson is another former champion, having worn gold in Pride and Strikeforce. Like Rashad, he's seen a tremendous amount of inactivity lately. Since KOing Fedor in 2011 and making the jump to the UFC, he's only fought twice. One was the epic win over Shogun, the other a dull loss to Machida. Henderson is a legend of the sport, and one who really should have received that UFC Light Heavyweight title shot that went to Chael Sonnen a few months back, but he's now stuck fighting to keep his spot at the top. At 42 years old, time is quickly ticking away on Hendo and his fabled H-Bomb. Like Evans, this is do or die time for that title shot. Why should you care? Because both of these men have a ton to lose. Both are major players in the landscape of MMA's rich Light Heavyweight division, and after this fight, one of them probably won't be ever again. Let's see how that plays out. Latest From Our Partners Greatest Underdog Stories (BR) Looking Back at TUF 1 Cast (BR) New Nicknames for UFC's Top Stars (BR) Weirdest Moments in MMA History (BR) Fighters on Downside of Career (BR) Best Additions to UFC Roster (BR) Bold MMA Predictions for June (BR)

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Join us at Bloody Elbow for live results, play-by-play, and commentary of the entire UFC 161 event today from Winnipeg. The event will kick off with six preliminary card fights followed by a main card featuring five bouts. The first two bouts will be streamed live on Facebook, and that stream kicks off at approximately 7pm ET/4pm PT. They flip things over to FX at 8pm ET/5pm ET for the other four preliminary card fights, then finally move onto pay per view for the main card at 10pm ET/7pm PT. This post will cover the main card. The featured main event of UFC 161 will be a light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. The fight is scheduled for three rounds. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments as the event progresses. Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac Rosi Sexton vs. Alexis Davis Shawn Jordan vs. Pat Barry

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans is a former champion, an Ultimate Fighter winner, and has a tremendous personality. However, for a handful of reasons including his occasionally cocky demeanor he has never been one of the company’s most beloved competitors. Though that seemed to be changing after receiving the crowd’s approval in his last two tilts, that certainly wasn’t the case at the weigh-ins for UFC 161. Evans discussed the audience showering him with boos in an interview with Fuel TV, actually expressing a bit of relief at the return to normalcy. “I thought (they loved me) too but when they started loving me too much I went on a winning streak. So the boos kind of felt feel good, made me feel at home. When I get booed, I fight well.” On the need to prove something after losing two in a row: “More or less to myself more than anything. I feel like I let myself down as a competitor and I know what’s inside of me. When I go out there and fight the way I need to fight, when I go to the dressing room feeling sick and disgusted with myself, when I can’t look at the mirror at myself after losing a fight, then I know it’s gut check time and I need to do something to make that change.” Check out the full interview with Evans: SOURCE: Fuel TV PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The post Rashad Evans: “When I get booed, I fight well.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

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UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" goes down this Saturday night (June 15, 2013) from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and for the second time in a 21-day span, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosts a pay-per-view (PPV) event for the world to see. A collision between light heavyweight contenders serves as the main event of the evening as former world champions Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson both look to rebound from underwhelming showing in their last fight and prove they still have what it takes to be a threaten 205-pound champion Jon Jones. After a number of changes to the card, the co-headliner will now see The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10 winner Roy Nelson get back in the Octagon for the second time in two months against the talented Stipe Miocic. With the two headlining bouts garnering the most attention of any on card from both fans and media, it's time to break down what --besides a paycheck-- a victory on Saturday means for the four athletes carrying the UFC 161 fight card. Rashad Evans While Evans faces a tremendous amount of pressure by risking a three-fight losing streak against Henderson, "Suga" has the type of job security and standing with the UFC where he doesn't have to worry about being released from the organization with another loss. What's not secure for Evans, though, is his place as an elite light heavyweight competitor. Especially after his upset loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 last February. The 33-year-old has repeatedly stated going into UFC 161 that he is determined to get his "swagger back" and earn a second chance to fight 205-pound titleholder Jon Jones, but that's a very lofty goal for someone on a two-fight skid and potentially facing a third defeat in a row. However, as we've seen time and time again, it only takes one memorable performance to get right back near the top of the pecking order. And when Evans is on his game, he is certainly capable of producing that kind of effort. Defeating a fighter of Henderson's caliber would be a tremendous addition to the already epic resume Evans has put together throughout his career and help him get back in the mix of top contenders after a performance in his last fight that led many to believe his best days are behind him. Dan HendersonAt 42 years of age, Henderson could become the second oldest fighter in history to record to win inside the Octagon behind his good friend and former training partner Randy Couture. Around this point last year, "Hendo" was preparing for a title shot against Jon Jones at UFC 151 in a fight that never came to fruition due to the knee injury that infamously led to the first-ever cancellation of a UFC event. Fast forward to now and Henderson is coming off his first loss in three years in an underwhelming fight against Lyoto Machida and is simply competing to stay relevant as a contender at 205-pounds. With his age and amount of experience, Henderson could show up looking "old" in any fight, but he shouldn't be counted out because a win over Evans would be a microcosm of his Hall of Fame worthy career to this point. While no one really knows the implications for the winner of the UFC 161 headliner, a win for Henderson keeps him around the top of the light heavyweight division and arguably just one more good win away from earning a title fight with Jones for a second time. Roy NelsonIt's a well-known fact by now that UFC 161 marks the final fight on Nelson's current UFC deal. While a win over Stipe Miocic doesn't do much for him in terms of rankings or the progression of his career, a victory over his American foe would be his fourth in a row and, assuming he wants to stick around with the world's premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, would provide him with a strong amount of negotiating power with the UFC for his next contract. Stipe MiocicMiocic failed to crack the top-10 in his last UFC fight in Sept. 2012 when he lost to Stefan Struve, and now he has a second chance to join the elite of the weight class by taking out Nelson. The 30-year-old has a tremendous amount of potential and if he can pull it together and defeat Nelson is would signify the biggest victory of his young career. What do you think a win means on Saturday for these four men? Let us know in the comments section below! For more news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson," visit our complete event archive here.

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You read their articles, you watch and listen to their interviews, but often the personal opinions of the mixed martial arts (MMA) media get brushed over. These media members have inside knowledge of the sport and a unique perspective of the fighters they have the privilege of interacting with. Before you place that bet in Vegas or with your friends, be sure to check out what those most educated about the sport have to say about the upcoming event. UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" is just hours away and with the hype reaching a peak, fans are wondering how the event headliner is going to go down. Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson are set to collide in the main event from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with a prime spot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight pecking order on the line. With another pay-per-view (PPV) main event just around the corner, read as 10 of the sport's writers and reporters break down and predict the UFC 161 light heavyweight main event of Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson. Mike Bohn (MMA Mania): Rashad Evans has been known to play it safe at times when there is a lot on the line, and against Dan Henderson there may be more pressure on his shoulders than ever before. If "Suga" defeats Henderson, expect it to be in a very conservative fashion. While that's not something a fight fan wants to hear, it's the reality of the situation. If Henderson can't connect with one of his thunderous punches over the course of 15 minutes, "Suga" is going to be the one who scores more points with takedowns and ground-and-pound en route to a decision victory. Hopefully this one ends in a highlight reel finish and the Winnipeg fans will be sent home happy after having their first live even weakened by injuries, but unfortunately there's a good chance this match up could result in a bust. Rashad Evans via unanimous decision. Dave Doyle (MMA Fighting/Yahoo! Sports): In some ways, this fight comes off as the moveable force being the resistable object. Was Dan Henderson's loss to Lyoto Machida simply a function of Machida's ability to be Machida-like? Or was it a sign that a 42-year old coming off a bad knee injury has his days in the cage numbered? Is Rashad Evans living proof that the Blackzilians is where good careers go to die? We actually could end up finding out both are true, but when push comes to shove, my guess is Henderson steps it up and keeps himself relevant. Henderson via TKO. Chuck Mindenhall (ESPN): This one feels like the old crap shoot, a fight that hinges on so many variables that a lay person (like me) comes up empty on his hunches. However, if Rashad Evans really believes he was a mere husk of himself in there against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and it's not just lip-service that he wants to treat Henderson as his springboard back, the lean goes to Evans based on clever squinting. Ultimately, though, I think Henderson shows up in his usual Henderson form, eager himself to do away wit the Machida mess, and sends Evans into an existential crisis (read: contemplating a move to the broadcast booth permanently). Here says Henderson, via decision. Shaun Al-Shatti (MMA Fighting): A year ago this would've been such a massive fight, yet now UFC President Dana White is stating that the loser is out of the title picture for good. And the thing is, he's perfectly justified in doing so. MMA is weird sometimes, folks. This match-up is pretty much a toss-up; both guys have solid wrestling and KO power, but both looked lethargic their last time out. Evans claims to have rediscovered his old fire, though that kind of statement has become one of the oldest clichés in the book. Between the two, Henderson is the only one with a conceivable road to the title, and since I'd still like to see that fight, I'll go ahead and say the thunder in his right hand prevails. Henderson via late-round TKO. Dave Deibert (Postmedia News): We'll see if Rashad Evans' loss in February to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was simply a terrible night for him or if it was a sign of things to come. Even more than the final result, I'm anxious to see if Evans still wants to be in there, grinding it out with one of the toughest, most durable fighters in the sport. If Evans does, it's his fight to lose. When Evans is right - and when he is, I still think he's one of the two- or three-best light heavyweights in the sport - his speed and movement will keep him away from Henderson's one-punch power for 15 minutes. Evans via unanimous decision. Ian Bain (MMA Opinion): Dan Henderson vs Rashad Evans is an intriguing fight as both guys desperately need a win. Evans' performance against Nogueira was pitiful and Henderson and Machida was not exciting at all. That is why I think both guys will come out swinging for the fences. Rashad's speed vs Henderson's power on the feet is where it will be decided I think. Since we know Dan's chin is famous for taking big shots, I can't pick against him. Henderson by TKO Jason Moles: (Cage Potato): Testosterone Replacement Therapy boasts many benefits to those who undergo the controversial treatment including increased aggression and speed, muscle gain, and improved recovery time from intense training sessions in the gym or previous injuries suffered in battle. At an age when most men are out buying Harleys or and getting tattoos they'll undoubtedly regret in 10 years, Dan Henderson is still going strong in the world's toughest sport, thanks largely in part to the wizardry of modern medicine. TRT has given "Hendo" the energy and stamina of a 25-year-old in the prime of life in addition to the wisdom gleaned from a career spanning nearly two decades. The rest of his success can be attributed to his heavy right hand, the gloved fist that keeps opponents up at night in the weeks leading up to fight night. Winning three of his last five fights by (T)KO, Henderson will use his Olympic level wrestling to keep things standing - at least long enough to make lock on target and deliver an air strike to end the night. With lethal combination of power and performance enhancing drugs, Henderson will demolish Rashad Evans. Without either, he wouldn't be knocking on the door of title shot in the UFC at UFC 161. Karim Zidan (The Flying Knee): UFC 161 goes down Saturday night and while the card may not be as appealing with the loss of an interim title bout as well as Shogun Rua, the main event between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson could certainly make up for the losses. It appears that many consider this fight a coin flip due to the wide vast arsenal that both competitors hold, I personally believe that Evans holds a significant advantage over Henderson in terms of speed, stamina and accuracy and that will prove to be the deciding factor over an entire fight. While I do not doubt Hendo's ability to finish Rashad, I do believe that if Evans is driven to perform in this bout, his well rounded skill set will ultimately earn him the decision victory. Evans via unanimous decision Adam Martin (Sportsnet): The main event of UFC 161 is a very close fight on paper and a fight I could really see going either way but I believe that if Rashad Evans is motivated, this is his fight to lose. Unless Evans doesn't come out and lay a stinker like he did against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last fight or gets knocked out by one of Dan Henderson's trademark 'H-Bomb' punches, he should be able to get the takedowns and control Henderson the ground en route to a three-round judges' decision victory. Jeremy Brand (MMA Sucka): While the H-bomb is always a devastating factor in every single one of Henderson's fights, Evans has the speed to avoid it and ultimately dictate where this fight will take place. The two fighters both have wrestling pedigrees so that could counter each other out. I believe the speed and endurance will be the beginning of the end for Henderson. Evans will be able to take it in to the later rounds and where Hendo out. I'm going with Rashad Evans unanimous decision. Media picking Rashad Evans: Five Media picking Dan Henderson: Five For all the current news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson," be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.

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The namesake of UFC 161 is a compelling battle between former light-heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. The 5-fight pay-per-view from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg begins at 10:00 p.m. ET, picking up where the preliminary cards on the FX Channel (8:00 p.m. ET start time) and Facebook (est. 7:00 p.m. ET start time) leave off. 33-year-old "Suga" Rashad Evans (17-3) is among the short list of reality show contestants who not only became "the next Ultimate Fighter!" but progressed onward to the prestigious title of UFC champion. Rashad debuted on TUF 2 as a fairly inexperienced (5-0) and unknown fighter, competing as a drastically undersized heavyweight. However, what Evans lacked in height and girth was more than balanced by his unparalleled quickness and agility as compared to the other larger, lumbering heavyweights, and his Division 1 wrestling background kept him from being bullied around in the few instances in which his beefier counterparts were able to get their paws on him. In retrospect, the way the green mixed martial artist dramatically improved in such a short span of time was a harbinger of Rashad's future success. His untapped potential might've been clouded by the competitiveness of his first three Octagon outings, the first being a split decision over Brad Imes to snare the TUF 2 crown as a heavyweight, the latter two, which transpired back at his natural fighting weight of 205-pounds, were decisions over Sam Hoger (split) and inaugural TUF runner-up Stephan Bonnar (majority). At the time, the MMA sewing circle was already grumbling about Evans' purported inability to finish fights (every TUF and UFC win had been via decision) and his little spat with opposing TUF coach Matt Hughes, who criticized Rashad for showboating. On cue, Evans notched highlight-reel-worthy stoppages in his next two turns: a crushing TKO by way of mounted punches over Jason Lambert and a devastating high kick that sent Sean Salmon's cranium into orbit. Evans would go on to unseat TUF predecessor Forrest Griffin to assume the light-heavyweight throne and, though his title run was ephemeral, Evans has been a staple in the top-5 rankings ever since. Respected legend Dan Henderson (29-9) would need a half-dozen waists to accommodate the plethora of championship belts he's accrued throughout his MMA career, and there are phone books thinner than his overall list of accomplishments as an athlete. For reference, the following is a screen shot portraying most of (as many as I could fit) Henderson's past honors from his Wiki page. So he's done one or two noteworthy things in his life. Of course, the downside to his mile-long rap sheet, 16-year tenure in MMA and being forced to rent garage space to fit all his medals, belts and trophies is age and wear. At the ripe ol' age of 42, Hendo hasn't slowed down noticeably yet, but a confrontation with Father Time and all of his debilitating afflictions is inevitable. Since both fighters have a wrestling background that may be pivotal in tonight's match up, allow me to reference the fine efforts of Bloody Elbow's Mike Riordan, who's treated us to his "Factgrinder" series with the intention of impressing the true value of a wrestler's past achievements. Factgrinder: Dan Henderson Pertinent achievements Two time U.S. Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling Two time U.S. world team member in Greco-Roman wrestling Junior World Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling 2000 Pan American Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Summary Dan Henderson, domestically, was the dominant Greco-Roman wrestler of his generation at his weight. On the international level, he showed great potential and had flashes of brilliance, but was never able to put it all together and bring home a world-level medal. Remember, however, that his Greco-Roman skills vastly outstrip his ability in other styles, so nobody should be surprised when he appears human in a wrestling situation non-native to Greco. Factgrinder: Rashad Evans Pertinent achievements NJCAA Wrestling champ 2-time NCAA D1 national qualifier 3rd place in the Big Ten NCAA D1 national tournament round of 12 Win over Greg Jones of West Virginia, a 3-time NCAA champ Summary Rashad finished his NCAA Division 1 career in the round of 12 in the NCAA tournament, and this serves as a just representation of his skill level. While never one of wrestling's true elites, Rashad was pretty darned good, and not too terribly far away from greatness. Let's move on to their in-cage skills and tendencies, which is really of the most importance here. Hendo's "H-bomb" of a right hand accounts for the vast majority of his known weaponry, but is widely feared across the galaxy, and for good reason. Like Rashad, Henderson was anointed with the less than desirable moniker "Decision Dan" early on in his career for his propensity to control and neutral foes with his wrestling, and he's complimented that foundation with striking as Rashad has, but by different means. Whereas Evans has forged himself into a fairly refined boxer with strong capabilities across the board (footwork, balance, head movement, defense, stance, etc.) and the ability to seamlessly blend his wrestling and striking together, Hendo has typically opted to use his wrestling in reverse in order to stay on his feet and behead opponents with the infamous H-bomb. Though he does have the ability to pull the curtains with legit combos (as he did against Wanderlei Silva in Pride) or abridge the H-bomb into a short-range jackhammer (see: Fedor Emelianenko), Henderson has successfully defied MMA's proven theory of maximum diversity by allowing his fat to be decided almost entirely by the efficacy of his home-run overhand right. The advantage of Hendo's outlook lies in the all-powerful "whatever works" sentiment, as the proof is in the proverbial pudding, but the timeless concerns surrounding a nearly one-dimensional knockout artist still remain. For starters, it's easier to game-plan for opponents with one weapon (or limited weaponry) than those with many: whereas Henderson has to be concerned with Rashad's quickness, cage motion and the dual threat of his wrestle-boxing, Rashad basically has to make sure he doesn't introduce his chin to Hendo's fist. Secondly, takedowns are the best way to disrupt a monstrous power puncher: in order to heave fight-ending punches, the thrower's feet must be firmly planted to the floor, their hips rotate when generating said power, and their position is similar to that of a pitcher throwing heaters across the plate. Conversely, the ideal position to avoid or defend a takedown is almost the exact opposite: the defender should be light on the toes for adequate movement, able to match their opponents angle and level, and have their hands/arms available to dig in underhooks, control the head,and/or deflect potential strikes if their adversary baits with a takedown to land strikes instead. Additionally, Riordan's closing statement in the summary for Henderson is worth revisiting: "Remember, however, that his Greco-Roman skills vastly outstrip his ability in other styles, so nobody should be surprised when he appears human in a wrestling situation non-native to Greco." In layman's terms, Greco-Roman wrestling caters strictly to the upper body and attacks below the waist are prohibited. That theme holds true for Hendo's MMA wrestling as well, as he's been a beast in entanglements with the likes of strong light-heavyweights like Quinton Jackson and even heavyweights like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and the aforementioned Emelianenko. His familiarity with standing more upright is also a big reason he's able to unload such exorbitant velocity into his punches. However, against the short list of more traditional wrestlers he's faced whom are adept at quickly sinking their levels way down to the floor while shooting in (Jake Shields is the prototypical example while Kazuo Misaki, though not necessarily a "traditional wrestler," also deserves mention), it's no coincidence that we've seen Henderson struggle. Rashad fits firmly into the latter mold. He's quite capable with takedowns in the clinch but one of the best in the division at exploding for lower-level singles and doubles from a distance. Those attributes, along with how well Rashad fuses his striking and wrestling together, should present some problems for Henderson. Not only should Rashad use those intertwined skills to take some heat off the H-bomb, but Henderson is not a huge threat off his back either. I expect Henderson to be a handful for Rashad to move around in upper-body clinch encounters, but to have a solid advantage with his low-level takedowns, especially if he lures Henderson into fiery striking exchanges beforehand. Hendo is feisty as hell in every aspect of MMA and, regardless of how predictable or basic it may seem, has a great chance of pulling Rashad's plug with a single punch. It'd be crazy to overlook that possibility considering Henderson's legacy and lengthy body count. For prediction purposes, it's more of a longshot to bank on the fighter with the puncher's chance, even if it's the best puncher's chance in the game, over the more diverse fighter with finely honed set of tools that are ideal to unhinge his opponent. My Prediction: Rashad Evans by decision. Latest From Our Partners Greatest Underdog Stories (BR) Looking Back at TUF 1 Cast (BR) New Nicknames for UFC's Top Stars (BR) Weirdest Moments in MMA History (BR) Fighters on Downside of Career (BR) Best Additions to UFC Roster (BR) Bold MMA Predictions for June (BR) Poll Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson Evans Hendo   1 votes | Results

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UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson takes place tonight in Manitoba, Canada for the first time as the octagon touches down in Winnipeg. Before Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson duke it out tonight in the main event, check out the fighters.com preview below to see how all the fights will play out. Make sure you stay close for all of our UFC 161 coverage. Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson Both Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson have heavy hands, and have more than capable wrestling. The thing is they are good at those things for different reasons. While Henderson’s wrestling is greco based and he has that mean right hand, Evans has more of a college wrestling base that emphasizes takedowns and two powerful paws. What grabs my attention when breaking down this fight is how easy it has been for Henderson to be taken down in the past, and coupling that in with Evans’ ability to change levels really fast. Evans looked horrible in his last fight, but Henderson looked old. Evans’ losses have come at a bad time, but lets remember how good he is and how long he has been fighting at the upper end of the division. Rashad Evans via Unanimous Decision Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson This is a tough draw for Miocic as he is going up against a guy with a mountain of experience on short notice. While he may earn good favor from the UFC for stepping, he is going to have a really hard time earning the win. One of the problems Nelson has that may work in his favor is that he has had a hard time winning big fights in the fast. While this one won’t earn Nelson a title shot, contractually speaking this is a big fight. If Miocic can somehow get this fight into deep waters, he can really increase his chances of winning. I don’t expect that to happen. I expect Nelson to land something early and snatching a submission or just finish with strikes. Roy Nelson via Technical Knockout Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan While its always entertaining to watch Pat Barry fight, the bad news is he has a terrible IQ. The man gets hit in the head and it turns into a game of “Hulk Smash.” When this happens Barry’s concern for his safety, and along with any and all defense, fly right out of the octagon. While Barry’s overall game is improving, its becoming more and more apparent the hype is not matching with his skills. Jordan can take some shots and still be dangerous, and that is going to do him some good in this fight. I see Barry getting reckless and start to overextend on his punches, and thats when I expect Jordan to get the tko. Shawn Jordan via Technical Knockout Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac This will be a close fight as both fighters strengths play right into the other’s weaknesses. Pokrajac’s heart keeps him in a lot of fights and keeps him coming forward, and while thats sometimes not good for his health, he is still able to keep his wits about him and stay dangerous. Jimmo has a lot of composure in the cage for someone with his experience and he doesn’t panic when things aren’t going his way. Look for Jimmo to try to grind up Pokrajac with knees early in the fight to try and take the fight into deep waters. Pokrajac will make a go of it, but it will Pokrajac who walks out with the decision. Igor Pokrajac via Unanimous Decision The post Breaking Down UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson – Main Card appeared first on Fighters.com.

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans caught fans’ attention for his February performance against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, albeit for the wrong reasons after turning in an uncharacteristic performance against the underdog. However, UFC 161 opponent Dan Henderson isn’t judging Evans’ abilities based on the lackluster showing and has been preparing for the “Sugar” ‘Shad who beat opponents like Forrest Griffin, Tito Ortiz, Phil Davis, and Quinton Jackson. “I’m expecting to fight the best Rashad Evans there ever was and that’s what I’m hoping for,” explained Henderson in an interview with Fuel TV shortly after weighing in for tonight’s tilt. “Everybody has a bad fight or flat performance. I’ve been there too.” Though Henderson is expecting a standard showing from Evans, he’s not counting on a common result when it comes to the Ultimate Fighter 3 winner’s reputation for toughness. “I think it’s gonna be a war and I plan on stopping him,” predicted Henderson. Evans has only been finished a single time in 21 total fights. The full interview with Henderson can be seen below: The post Dan Henderson: “I’m expecting to fight the best Rashad Evans there ever was…” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Coming off two difficult losses, life is not so sweet right now for Rashad “Suga” Evans. After losing to the undisputed champion of the light-heavyweight division, Jon “Bones” Jones, Evans put up a dismal effort against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. In that fight, he looked slow and completely off his rhythm, and if that’s the Evans [...]The post UFC 161 Results: What Next for Suga? appeared first on MMA Convert.

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There’s no doubt UFC light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson have had a significant impact on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Evans is a former UFC champion and Ultimate Fighter winner, headlining a number of the organization’s events along the way, while Henderson has been impressing fans for the last 15 years including an exceptional run under the PRIDE banner. However, tonight each man will be fighting to remain relevant in the hunt for a crack at the title currently around Jon Jones’ waist. Evans-Henderson will serve as the headliner at UFC 161 where both will attempt to avoid another loss after falling in their previous pairings. Evans is 17-3-1 with past wins over Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, and Phil Davis, while the 29-9 Henderson has thirteen TKOs to his name including those over Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, and Fedor Emelianenko. The action will fire up at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook with FX taking over an hour later and PPV closing the card out at 10:00 PM EST. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be watching from beginning to end while relaying results back to our readers in real time. A full list of UFC 161 outcomes can be found below: Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa John Maguire vs. Mitch Clarke Kenny Robertson vs. Sean Pierson Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague Sam Stout vs. James Krause Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson The post UFC 161 Real Time Results (7:00 PM EST) appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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There’s no doubt UFC light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson have had a significant impact on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Evans is a former UFC champion and Ultimate Fighter winner, headlining a number of the organization’s events along the way, while Henderson has been impressing fans for the last 15 years including an exceptional run under the PRIDE banner. However, tonight each man will be fighting to remain relevant in the hunt for a crack at the title currently around Jon Jones’ waist. Evans-Henderson will serve as the headliner at UFC 161 where both will attempt to avoid another loss after falling in their previous pairings. Evans is 17-3-1 with past wins over Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, and Phil Davis, while the 29-9 Henderson has thirteen TKOs to his name including those over Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, and Fedor Emelianenko. The action will fire up at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook with FX taking over an hour later and PPV closing the card out at 10:00 PM EST. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be watching from beginning to end while relaying results back to our readers in real time. A full list of UFC 161 outcomes can be found below: Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa John Maguire vs. Mitch Clarke Kenny Robertson vs. Sean Pierson Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague Sam Stout vs. James Krause Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson The post UFC 161 Real Time Results (7:00 PM EST) appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Winnipeg fans in the MTS Centre witnessed a mixed bag of performances from beloved UFC veterans on Saturday night, as main eventers Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson waged a careful war while heavyweights Pat Barry and Roy Nelson were outshined by up-and-comers Shawn Jordan and Pat Barry, respectively.Rashad Evans vs. Dan HendersonAfter disappointing losses in their last outings, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion Dan Henderson clashed in a return for glory in the main event of UFC 161. It was a back-and-forth, measured bout but Evans’ con ... Read the Full Article Here

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            UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Date: June 15, 2013 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Venue: MTS Center Main Card (PPV / 10:00 EST) Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac Preliminary Card (FX, 8 p.m. ET) Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley James Krause vs. Sam Stout Sean Pierson vs. Kenny Robertson Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa Preliminary Card (Facebook, 6:35 p.m. ET) Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson appeared first on Fighters.com.

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MMA Fighting has UFC 161 results for the Evans vs. Henderson fight card June 15, plus live UFC coverage from Winnipeg, live blogs of all the fights and live UFC 161 twitter updates.In the main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will square off against Dan Henderson. In the co-main event, Roy Nelson will face Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight contest.Check out the full UFC 161 results below.Main card (PPV at 10 p.m. ET)Rashad Evans vs. Dan HendersonRoy Nelson vs. Stipe MiocicRyan Jimmo vs. Igor PokrajacAlexis Davis vs. Rosi SextonPat Barry vs. Shawn JordanUndercard (FX at 8 p.m. ET)Jake Shields vs. Tyron WoodleySam Stout vs. James KrauseSean Pierson vs. Kenny RobertsonRoland Delorme vs. Edwin FigueroaUndercard (Facebook at 7 p.m. ET)Mitch Clarke vs. John MaguireYves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague

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Less than 14 months ago, fans were busy discussing whether Rashad Evans was the man who would defeat his former teammate Jon Jones, and end the star’s reign as champion. Now, just one day before UFC 161, Evans is looking to end a two fight losing skid and Jones will soon begin preparing for a September tilt with Alexander Gustafsson. Lot’s has changed. Of course, despite Evans’ recent setbacks, many fans, and the oddsmakers as well, are picking the former champ to beat the legendary Dan Henderson tomorrow night. One of those folks, in fact, is Jon Jones. While speaking to MMA Fighting.com’s Ariel Helwani recently, the 25 year-old offered this prediction on Saturday’s headliner. I got Rashad winning. If he gets Henderson on his back, the fight is pretty much over Evans’ wrestling and agility could certainly be the deciding factor in the fight, particularly if “Hendo” overreaches in an effort to land his bomb of a right hand. Jones also discussed in the interview how he recently met Fedor Emelianenko during his trip to Russia, and  relayed that: “I let him know how big of a fan I was of him. I told him if there was ever anything I could do to support any causes of his, I would be honored. Basically, I was just being a groupie for 15 minutes. It was pretty cool. He was so respectful and showed a lot of respect back at me. It was a little bromance for a bit.” Apparently Fedor told Jones that if the champ wants to train with him in Russia, to just let him know and he’ll make time. Who wouldn’t want to check out that sparring session? Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC 161 news and coverage. MMAFrenzy.com

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Two former world champions will clash tomorrow night (June 15, 2013) as former UFC Light Heavyweight champ Rashad Evans takes on former Pride and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Both veterans are coming off uninspired losses and are hoping to right the ship and get back into contention. Dan Henderson Record: 29-9 overall, 6-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Mauricio Rua (UFC 139), Fedor Emelianenko (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Michael Bisping (UFC 100) Key Losses: Lyoto Machida (UFC 157), Anderson Silva (UFC 82), Quinton Jackson (UFC 75) How he got here: Henderson started out as a Greco Roman wrestler, competing twice in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic games for the United States. He had immediate success after transitioning to MMA The first four events Henderson competed at were single night tournaments, and he won them all, winning nine fights overall in four nights. Afterward, he would sign with Pride FC, where he would have an up and down career, never really stringing together a huge run of victories. That is until the inaugural Pride FC welterweight (185-pound) Grand Prix. He would knockout consecutive opponents on one night to make it to the finals and then go on to win the tournament with a split decision victory against Murilo Bustamante. After defeating Vitor Belfort at 205 pounds, he was offered a title shot against Wanderlei Silva, an opportunity to avenge his initial Pride FC loss from six years prior. He would capitalize on the opportunity with an incredible third round knockout to become the Pride FC champion in two weight classes. Henderson would earn back-to-back title shots in his UFC return, losing to both Anderson Silva and Quinton Jackson, but would put up strong performances in both fights. He bounced back with three consecutive victories in the UFC, including the 2009 "Knockout of the Year" against Michael Bisping, but instead left the promotion and signed a very large deal with Strikeforce. Henderson would lose his first Strikeforce bout to middleweight champion Jake Shields, but he would follow it up with consecutive knockouts of Renato Sobral and "Feijao" Cavalcante to become the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. He capped off his Strikeforce career with an incredible knockout of MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko earlier this summer in Chicago. He returned to UFC for a fight against Mauricio Rua and delivered with one of the greatest fights of all time, dishing out serious punishment before slowing down in the later rounds to eek out a decision. "Hendo" sat out a year waiting for a title shot against Jon Jones, but injured his knee just weeks before the title shot and has been sidelined since. He finally returned to the Octagon against Lyoto Machida but couldn't handle the Brazilians elusive style, losing a dull three round decision. Now, he's looking to prove he still has it against another former champion. How he gets it done: Henderson has a few solid methods to getting the job done. First, obviously, is to land that killer right hand of his. If he can knockout Fedor with it from an uppercut on the ground, he can put Evans to sleep, too. Evans will be looking for the right hand, as every opponent Henderson has ever faced in the last four years has been cautious of it, but they still keep getting tagged. Henderson, despite his age, does a pretty good job of closing the distance. And, he's still got some explosion in him when he needs it. He could be looking to set up the right hand with a takedown attempt or perhaps just lunging in with a lead left jab. Another advantage for Henderson would be in the clinch. He did a pretty good job of controlling Emelianenko along the fence and he could potentially attempt something similar to Evans. If he plays his cards right, it'll open up some dirty boxing attacks and he's always capable of throwing a huge right hand on the break. No single fighter's game centers around a particular attack as Dan Henderson's does with his sledgehammer for a right. If that lands, no matter how much Evans is dancing around, the course of the fight could easily be altered. Rashad Evans Record: 17-3-1 overall, 12-3-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Quinton Jackson (UFC 114), Phil Davis (UFC on FOX 2), Forrest Griffin (UFC 92) Key Losses: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC 156), Jon Jones (UFC 145), Lyoto Machida (UFC 98) How he got here: After a respectable career wrestling at Michigan State, Rashad Evans, under the wing of former UFC tournament champion Dan Severn, won his first five professional fights. This earned him an opportunity to compete on season two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Despite fighting at a weight class heavier than normal, Evans tore through the heavyweights on the show, eventually working his way to the finale where he earned a split decision victory over the significantly larger Brad Imes to become The Ultimate Fighter season two champion. After some less than dominant split and majority decision victories over Sam Hoger and Stephan Bonnar, Evans finally found his groove, earning a technical knockout (TKO) over Jason Lambert with ground and pound and then scoring one of the UFC's all time nastiest finishes with the head kick knockout of Sean Salmon. Evans would go on to have his now infamous draw with Tito Ortiz and would follow it up by defeating Michael Bisping via decision, sending him to the middleweight division. The victory would earn "Suga" a number one contender match against former champion Chuck Liddell and one massive overhand right would change his life forever, flooring Liddell, earning "Knockout of the Year," and earning him his first title shot against champion Forrest Griffin. After a shaky first couple rounds against Griffin at UFC 92, Evans took advantage of a slip, pounced and pummeled his way to victory to take the title and stand atop the division. His title reign would be short, though, halted by Lyoto Machida in his first defense just five months later. Since losing the championship, Evans rebounded nicely by defeating Thiago Silva and "Rampage" Jackson via decision, but an ill-advised choice to sit on the sidelines and wait for Mauricio Rua's knee to recover cost him badly. After nine months of waiting, "Suga" injured his knee while training and had to watch teammate Jon Jones crush "Shogun" and win the belt he'd had his eyes on for over a year. Evans rolled through both Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis to earn a shot at his now former teammate, but would lose a decision to "Bones" last April. His rough streak continued when he showed up and played pattycake with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira for three rounds, losing an uninspired decision. Now, he'll be trying to prove his head is still in the game against Dan Henderson. How he gets it done: Evans' secret weapon ever since losing his title was going back to his roots in the wrestling department. He was able to utilize it very effectively against Thiago Silva, Quinton Jackson and even former national champion Phil Davis, although he stepped off the gas against Jones and Nogueira. Evans can also back up his wrestling with power. His ferocious knockouts of Liddell, Salmon and his title victory over Griffin should be a testament to that. Expect "Suga" to dance around Henderson early, utilizing his speed and movement to perplex the veteran, perhaps lull him into a false sense of security. That's when he should pounce with takedown attempts. Evans has to remember what happened to Henderson against Jake Shields and that he's fully capable of more explosive takedowns than that. If Rashad can take Henderson down, he needs to not only keep him down, but also to try and score some damage with strikes. As long as he doesn't give Hendo too big of an opening to get back to his feet or land that colossal right hand of his, he should be fine. Who will come out on top at UFC 161? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!

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The fighters stepped on the scale on Friday to make Saturday's UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson fight card official. Watch the UFC 161 weigh-in video.

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Full results from the UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson weigh-ins on Friday in Winnipeg, Ontario, Canada.

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His stock trending downward, onetime Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight boss Rashad Evans must now confront one of the most compelling challenges of his career.

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His stock trending downward, onetime Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight boss Rashad Evans must now confront one of the most compelling challenges of his career.

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Evans has lost two straight bouts and another loss would knock him from title contention.

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Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson Tim Burke: I hate picking bouts like this. Rashad should be the obvious pick because he can just plant Hendo on the ground and grind away if he likes. But he has always had a tendency to get lazy at certain points and get caught with a big shot. Against Hendo, that big shot will knock your ass to the moon. Can Evans re-focus after the Lil Nog loss and fight smart for 15 minutes? I'm leaning yes, but I'd much prefer to see the H-Bomb come out to play. Rashad Evans by decision. Mookie Alexander: If Hendo doesn't land the H-Bomb then I don't see him winning. He could very well land it and end Rashad's relevancy at the top of LHW, but I would think Evans is smart enough to stay on the outside and then return to using his wrestling. He's the much faster fighter and just on that alone I see him outpointing Hendo on the feet and getting the takedowns and control necessary to win a decision. Rashad Evans by unanimous decision. Anton Tabuena: We all know what Henderson brings to the table, and Rashad Evans should be smart enough to use his advantages in his speed and technical ability to avoid that mammoth of a right hand. I don't expect to see Rashad trade much, and he would probably take a more cautious approach, so this could be a really ugly bout. Hendo could win with one shot, but I think it's more likely to be Rashad Evans by Decision. Fraser Coffeen: At first, I was thinking this was a 5 rounder, so I wrote this entire paragraph about how Evans was going to be tentative to avoid the H-Bomb, but how that could only go so long before he gets caught. Then I discovered - nope, it's 3 rounds. Just in case there was any doubt that this is not a PPV worthy main event. I still think Rashad avoids engaging much, but over 3 rounds, I think he can succeed at that strategy, mix in just enough takedowns, and outland Hendo to get the close (possibly even split) decision win. Rashad Evans by decision T.P. Grant: The dirty secret about Hendo is despite his excellent wrestling credentials, he isn't that hard to take-down. Anyone with reasonably good take-downs who fights Henderson and avoids the big right hand has been able to take him down. Evans' wrestling is more putting guys against the cage and then sucking their legs out from under them rather than blasting doubles, but Hendo is so stiff on the feet Evans shouldn't have much trouble getting Henderson to the mat. Once on the mat Evans likely can't finish Hendo, but it will wear Hendo down to the point where he will be ineffective going forward. Rashad Evans by decision. David St. Martin: I think this fight has all the potential of being Hendo vs. Machida part two. By hook or by crook, Evans will do his best Machida impression to eek out a win. Rashad hasn't scored a stoppage over someone not named Tito Ortiz since 2008 (Griffin). Each of his past three fights have ended by decision. Expect to see Hendo using his flat footed gape as he chases Evans around the cage for 15 minutes. Evans via Dec. Dallas Winston: Hendo is an anomaly for getting by almost solely on the H-bomb and backing it up with his wrestling background, the latter of which really just translates to rugged scrappiness. Rashad should have the agility, intelligence and wrestle-boxing to devise his own version of a Machida-like strategy, but 15 minutes is still a lot of time for nuclear fission to detonate somewhere on his face. Rashad Evans by competitive decision. David Castillo: I'll follow the crowd on this one and do the sensible thing; which is pick Evans. I do think it'll be tough though, and not just because Evans has looked putrid recently. One of the things that makes it tough for me is that Hendo has shown a much improved grappling game. He was effective against Shogun, and he seems to have improved his scrambling game...a far cry from the Shields debacle where it looked like he had never defended a takedown in his life. This will be the deciding factor. Despite this, I like Evans' ability to phase-shift. Ineffective combos into takedowns will likely be the story of what I expect to be another lackluster fight. Rashad Evans by Decision. Zane Simon: Alright, since I'm late to the party this time, I'll bite. Evans has looked terrible lately, Henderson has not. We can go on and on about how Evans is younger and more athletic, how his quickness and boxing will allow him to outpoint Henderson... But that's something that Machida could only just do (although I would argue that he did so), and considering that Evans couldn't drag the unmotivated version of himself past Nogueira, I don't see him getting by Henderson. I expect he'll come out hesitant, finally decide he needs to engage if he wants to have a shot at winning, and get hurt. Dan Henderson by KO, Round 2. Staff picking Evans: Mookie, Anton, Fraser, Grant, DSM, Dallas, Stephie, David, Tim Staff picking Hendo: Zane Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson Tim Burke: Stipe's striking defense is not good. Phil The Fries tagged him. Shane del Rosario won the first round against him. And Stefan Struve of all people stopped him. Roy can stop takedowns and find his chin. It is known. Roy Nelson by TKO, round 1 Anton Tabuena: Miocic should use his wrestling here to try and avoid that bomb, but I think one way or another, Nelson finds a way to eventually land it. Roy Nelson by KO. Mookie Alexander: I like Stipe, but he can be tagged. I'd lose my religion mind if he managed to impressively defeat Roy Nelson after the way Struve had his way with him in round 2. Everybody hurts sometimes, including Roy ... screw it, I don't know that many R.E.M songs so let me just cut to the case and say Roy Nelson by KO, round 1. Fraser Coffeen: Roy Nelson has pretty much completely given up on his ground game in favor of his hands. But in recent fights, he's also improved those hands, using more combos and variety to get inside and land that bomb. Which is pretty much exactly what I see happening here, despite Miocic's reach advantage. Roy Nelson by KO round 1 T.P. Grant: Ugh yeah, Nelson is the better fighter in pretty much every way except the in the "who looks more like a fighter" contest. Roy Nelson by TKO, Round 1 David St. Martin: I actually liked Miocic as a decent prospect. He's looking to rebound from a stoppage loss to Struve against a much better fighter in Nelson. Not sure how that's going to work. This fight doesn't make much sense for either guy, but I guess if Roy is looking to coast into a title shot this is a decent strategy. Better to get paid beating on mid-level guys than sit out a year, RASHAD. Nelson via TKO round 2 Dallas Winston: Miocic putting Big Country on his back is the most interesting aspect of this match, and also Miocic's best option to keep Roy guessing on the feet. Miocic's sub defense has been sound in the past but he's obviously yet to encounter a grappler like Roy. I'm also intrigued to see if Miocic will go back to his low kicks from outside to exploit Roy's lack of a distance weapon. I've doubted Big Country too many times in the past, so he gets my vote but Miocic is a live dog. Roy Nelson by TKO. David Castillo: Not sure where the hype for Stipe ever came from, but the guy has just never impressed me much. He's often lethargic, and he's never been dynamic in the first place. I guess moderate power and journeyman competence take you very far at Heavyweight. Nelson is actually quite talented, and I'd expect his right hand to be the deciding factor in this borderline squash match. Roy Nelson by TKO. Zane Simon: I was going to say "I don't know what Roy Nelson did to get this crappy fight," but I have a pretty clear idea. Blah, blah, blah, Miocic not bad, blah, blah, right hand, blah... Roy Nelson by KO round 1. Staff picking Miocic: Staff picking Nelson: Stephie, Mookie, Fraser, Anton, Grant, DSM, Dallas, David, Zane, Tim Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton Tim Burke: This is almost a mismatch. Nothing against Rosi, she's a great fighter. But Alexis is waaay bigger than her, and meaner than her too. I love that Sexton got a shot in the UFC, but they should have given her a more competitive fight. Alexis Davis by TKO, round 2 Mookie Alexander: I don't really have much reason to pick 125ers to have a high rate of success against established top 135 lbs talent in the women's division. Davis is stronger and as everyone else has said is the better fighter. Her Invicta performances have solidified her standing as one of the best in the world today and she'll get off to a great start in the UFC. Alexis Davis by unanimous decision. Anton Tabuena: Did you know that Rosi Sexton is the only UFC fighter to have a PhD? Pretty cool, and while it's hard not to like her, I think Davis might be a little bit better. Alexis Davis by Decision. T.P. Grant: Should be a fun fight but Davis is is just the better fighter. She is more skilled, especially on the ground and considering Sexton is moving up from a less talented division to face one of the best in the deepest division in the sport for women, I don't think this ends well for her. Alexis Davis by Submission. David St. Martin: I like Alexis Davis here. She's a bit more well-rounded and a better grappler. Her strong performance over Shayna Baszler seals it for me. Davis via sub round 3 Dallas Winston: Sexton is better suited to flyweight and the move up isn't a good fit for her bulldozing style to implement her sub skills, especially against Davis, who has a stellar grappling game of her own. Davis will be a little stronger and probably has the sharper striking as well. Alexis Davis by decision. Zane Simon: I can't help feeling that the UFC got Sexton past her prime, and unfortunately recent wins over Aisling Daly and Roxanne Modafferi don't mean as much as they used to. Davis has a lot more substance to her recent resume, and has proven to be competitive at 135 lbs. Sexton will be a tough out, but.. Alexis Davis by Unanimous Decision. David Castillo: Sexton isn't bad, but Alexis Davis is actually one of the better fighters in the division, and her well rounded game (as well as her toughness) will be enough to get her the victory in this one. Alexis Davis by Decision. Staff picking Davis: Stephie, Mookie, Fraser, Anton, DSM, Dallas, David, Zane, Tim Staff picking Sexton: Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan Tim Burke: This is just like Barry/Del Rosario to me. If Jordan wants to take it down, he should be able to submit Barry. But SDR thought it was going to be so easy that he didn't even set up his sub attempts, and Barry escaped. Then he put SDR to sleep. The difference here is that I think Jordan is a little smarter and will know how to get it done. Shawn Jordan by submission, round 1 Mookie Alexander: I love watching Pat Barry fight. I hate picking his fights. He's never won 2 in a row in the UFC and this is clearly his best shot at achieving that. Pat is the better striker and hits harder than Jordan, but I definitely fear that he'll lose on a fluke KO or get submitted yet again. I'll just bank on Pat taking out Jordan early. Pat Barry by KO, round 1. David St. Martin: It's just so hard to hitch your wagon to the fate of Pat Barry. It's too 'all of nothing' for me. Jordan is a man with a plan and Greg Jackson. He has seven first round TKO's. He pounces on people early and does enough to make refs jump in. Barry does almost the exact opposite, too often admiring his handy work. It's not that he's not taking his fight seriously, he just hasn't shown that killer instinct enough. He likes being in there a bit too much for someone who's never won back-to-back fights in the UFC. Jordan via TKO round 2 Dallas Winston: This is a tough one that I keep flipping back and forth on. Both fighters are well attuned to exploit the other's weaknesses, and Jordan still seems to be improving. Despite his impressive turnaround against Russow, the number of punches Jordan allowed to get through steer me toward "HD." Pat Barry by TKO. T.P. Grant: A tough fight to call as neither are particularly great Heavyweights. I think Barry very well could get a knockout but I think Jordan clinches with him, tires him out a bit and then takes Barry to the floor, maybe even taps him as Jordan has shown he can take strong strikers down and submit them. Shawn Jordan by Decision. David Castillo: I'll always feel silling picking Barry against a Greg Jackson-trained fighter, but I have a hard time underestimating his striking as well. ‘Dat speed', in other words. At heavyweight this is just not a commodity you'd expect out of someone that size, so expect Barry to utilize that speed, and then perform some archaic frat ritual afterword. Pat Barry by TKO. Zane Simon: Do I like Shawn Jordan as a prospect? Yes. Do I trust him to beat Pat Barry? No. Barry's been around long enough to deal with a wrestle boxer who's neither a particularly good wrestler, nor a good boxer. It wasn't that long ago that Jordan was dropping a decision to Devin Cole. Barry may be a whimsical talent, but he's talent enough to handle this fight. Pat Barry by TKO. Staff picking Barry: Stephie, Mookie, Fraser, Anton, Dallas, Zane Staff picking Jordan: DSM, Grant, Tim Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac Tim Burke: Oh man, Ryan Jimmo again? What the hell? And on the main card? Now I have to skip this event too. Igor Pokrajac by KO, round 1 (legal anchor punch to the scrotum) Mookie Alexander: Ryan Jimmo needs about 4-5 more exciting fights for me to erase his MFC disasters from my mind. As a result, I'm just going to "play it safe" and pick Jimmo by how he normally wins. Ryan Jimmo by unanimous decision. David St. Martin: A little bit of a tossup for me but I have a bit more faith in an improved Ryan Jimmo. It's interesting to see guys from the same camp competing on the same card together. Jimmo and Rashad preparing together could be a blessing, but not if the majority of the coaching focus favored the headliner/meal ticket. Who knows. Jimmo via Dec T.P. Grant: This one could end up being a wild, fun brawl, but it is Jimmo in there. I expect Jimmo to slowly but surely work Pokrajac over on the feet and then remove Pokrajac from the UFC, meaning we may never get to hear Kid Nate pronounce his name "poker-jack" again after this weekend. Ryan Jimmo by mind-numbing Decision Zane Simon: This feels like a slightly dangerous pick to me. Pokrajac is the kind of fighter who has never particularly impressed me, even in victory, while Jimmo's UFC career has been impressive, even in defeat. Pokrajac would be on a two fight skid right now if it wasn't for Beltran's failed drug test and in a pure striker vs. striker matchup (which this will most certainly be) I have to take Jimmo, who has the more technical skills. Ryan Jimmo via Split Decision. David Castillo: I don't like picking Jimmo, nor will I ever unless he single-handedly stops an unnecessary war and saves six babies from a burning cradle atop a tree, but I've gotta do the smart thing here and predict that he will...in fact...beatdown journeyman Igor Pokrajac. Jimmo is no spectacular talent, and this fight may even be somewhat difficult early on, but with his newfound use of power, I'd expect him to win comfortably. Ryan Jimmo by Decision. Staff picking Jimmo: Stephie, Mookie, Fraser, ANton, DSM, Dallas, Grant, Zane, David Staff picking Pokrajac:Tim Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley Tim Burke: I say it time and time again - I don't see what all the fuss is about when it comes to Tyron Woodley. Yes, Nate Marquardt is the only guy to expose him so far, but Shields can get this to the ground, or he can catch Woodley trying to take it to the ground and snatch him up in a guillotine. Woodley's going to be too in love with his hands and Shields is crafty enough to take advantage of that. Jake Shields by submission, round 2. Anton Tabuena: Two very talented wrestlers. Shields should have a slight advantage on the ground, but Woodley should be miles better with his stand up, and I think that would be the difference. Tyron Woodley by Decision. Mookie Alexander: Shields is better at middleweight than welterweight. If he can't get Woodley on his back then the fight is already over. His striking is so bad that even Joe Rogan can't call him "a very underrated striker". Woodley also has power to trouble Shields on the feet and that's where the fight will be won. Tyron Woodley by unanimous decision. Fraser Coffeen: It seems like ages ago that Shields was running through the EliteXC and Strikeforce divisions. His UFC run has been a total bust, with the only win coming against Akiyama - even more of a bust than Shields. I'm still not 100% sold on the Woodley train, but sold enough to pick him here thanks to his superior stand-up and strong wrestling. Plus, I think he's coming to the UFC to prove something and will continue to fight more aggressively, which I like. Tyron Woodley by KO round 1 T.P. Grant: Terrible matchup for Shields. While Shields is a good wrestler and a great grappler, he isn't going to be able to get Woodley down short of a sneaky trip from the clinch. And if Shields manages that he will need to catch the back and lock in a choke instantly. That pretty much represents Shields best possible hope of winning. More likely is Woodley keeps this on the feet and busts Shields up until he falls down and doesn't get back up. Tyron Woodley by TKO, Round 3. Zane Simon: This is really a question of "Which Jake Shields shows up?" He's a fighter who I respect on a performance level, but who I've always found mechanical and tiring to watch as an actual fighter. But he has the ability to be competitive at middleweight and the sort of controlling top game that suggests he could put Woodley on his back and keep him there round after round. At the end of the day however, I have to go with my gut and say that Shields is no longer among the divisional elite. Tyron Woodley by Unanimous Decision. David Castillo: Just a bad, bad matchup for Shields, who will encounter many more in the UFC. Shields needs the takedown in this fight, and won't get it with Woodley's pedigree. Jake, when he's not throwing those open-handed jabs, is most prone to the overhand right; Tyron's specialty. There's always one high profile fighter who has to be brutally dispatched, and tonight that fighter will be Jake Shields. Tyron Woodley by TKO, round 2. Staff picking Shields: Dallas, Tim Staff picking Woodley: Mookie, Anton, Fraser, DSM, Stephie, Grant, David James Krause vs. Sam Stout Tim Burke: Sam Stout hasn't looked that awesome over the last year or so, but he should have enough to outwork a late replacement without a big win on his resume. I was actually considering picking Stout by sub, but he'll probably want to get back to his entertaining ways and he'll kickbox for 15 minutes. Sam Stout by decision Fraser Coffeen: Krause has been pretty good in RFA, and is coming off a nice win over Toby Imada. But Stout is a rough debut opponent. Stout is fantastic at taking a still somewhat green fighter and just outpointing him relentlessly. That's what I see happening here. Sam Stout by decision T.P. Grant: Fun fight checklist: are they lightweights? check. have they won a reasonable amount of fights in their careers? check. Ok this should be a fun fight. Stout hasn't looked great as of late, but he always comes to fight and Krause brings a fairly well rounded game into the cage. I'll go out on a limb and take Krause here. James Krause by Decision. Zane Simon: You must be this (pinching motion) much better than Caros Fodor to beat Sam Stout. Considering that Stout hasn't been stopped since a Kenflo choke in 2006, and he his recent losses are all to faster handed strikers, I don't see jack of all trade's Krause walking in and pulling off the upset. He's on a nice streak, but unless he's advanced a lot over the last few years it's Stouts fight to lose. Sam Stout by razor thin Unanimous Decision. David Castillo: Stout is usually at his best in fights like these, where his opponent doesn't do any one thing great, and isn't particularly dynamic. I'd expect that trend to continue. Sam Stout by Decision. Staff picking Krause: Grant, Staff picking Stout: Stephie, Mookie, Anton, Fraser, DSM, Dallas, Zane, David, Tim Sean Pierson vs. Kenny Robertson Tim Burke: Pierson's concussion issues scare me. Normally I wouldn't have a problem picking him because Robertson is exactly the type of guy that Pierson has consistently beaten in his UFC run. But I have a feeling he's not in top shape, and Robertson will be able to outwrestle him. Despite this pick, I'm a Pimp Daddy fan till the end so I hope I'm wrong. Kenny Robertson by decision. Fraser Coffeen: Pierson has been around for ages, and at age 37, at some point, he's just not going to be winning anymore. But lately he's looked good against the lower level UFC opponents he's faced, settling into a nice groove in his current position on the card. I don't see his run lasting much longer, but I also don't see Robertson as the man to end it. Sean Pierson by decision Zane Simon: This is a weird fight... I like Pierson, he's continually surprised me with slicker than advertized striking. And Robertson, for his part, looked fantastic out grappling Brock Jardine. Considering that he's yet to put anyone away in the UFC and has struggled previously with controlling grapplers, I'm going to take Robertson here. He's younger and I have the feeling that he has the wrestle-grapple game to pick off most of the lower tier welterweights. Kenny Robertson by Submission, Round 2. David Castillo: Tough fight to pick; it's Pierson's doggedness vs. Robertson's blue collar eccentricity. Pierson is probably the better fighter overall, and I certainly like him to gain the advantage on the feet, but I don't think he'll find his rhythm against Robertson, who I expect to eek out a close decision. Kenny Robertson by Decision. Staff picking Pierson: Stephie, Anton, Fraser, DSM, Dallas, Staff picking Robertson: Mookie, Zane, David, Tim Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa Tim Burke: I honestly forgot this fight was on the card. Figueroa was very competitive on the feet against Mayday in his debut and he was holding his own with Rivera before the KO. Delorme has a great chin, but his takedowns are going to be the key. If Figueroa can stay upright, he knocks Delorme out. If not, it's going to be a struggle on the ground and Figueroa will gas out. Man, this is tough. I'll lean towards the former, but I wouldn't bet on this fight. Edwin Figueroa by TKO, round 2 Mookie Alexander: Delorme gets punched in the face a lot and that worries me against a guy like Figueroa, but then I remember that Figueroa's wins involve getting kicked in the balls by Alex Caceres and TKOing Jason Reinhardt. If Delorme is smart he takes it to the ground and keeps it there. Roland Delorme by unanimous decision. Zane Simon: Both fighters got blitzed by Francisco Rivera last time out, and both have otherwise mediocre resumes over their time in the UFC. However, where Figueroa is a generalist who squeaked by Alex Caceres despite gaining a two point handicap (via groin strikes), Delorme is a slick specialist with a penchant for submission grappling. Figueroa doesn't have the sort of counter wrestling/grappling track record to make me think he'll stay of the mat, and he doesn't have the dominate striking to take over on the feet. Roland Delorme by Submission, Round 1. David Castillo: While it's true Delorme has the advantage on the ground, I don't think the gap is so wide as to make this a wash, whereas I do think the gap is wide in relation to their striking games. Edwin Figueroa by Decision. Staff picking Delorme: Anton, Fraser, Mookie, DSM, Dallas, Stephie, Grant, Zane Staff picking Figueroa: David, Tim Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire Tim Burke: If Maguire can make the cut effectively (and I believe he will), he should take it. He's just a better fighter overall than Clarke. It's his fight to lose. John Maguire by decision. Mookie Alexander: Clarke is a gamer but there's not much else in his game that makes me think he can hang around the UFC much longer. Maguire will use his Gypsy Jiu Jitsu (or whatever he calls it) and will return to his winning ways. John Maguire by decision. Zane Simon: Heart pick! I have no good reason to be so, but I'm a bit of a mark for John Maguire. I think it's mostly because he's refreshingly weird. He may never be a top fighter in the UFC, but I have the feeling that a move to lightweight will make his submission game more potent. On the flip side, Clarke is coming off two losses to fighters that have since been cut. John Maguire by Decision. David Castillo: Maguire's not a bad fighter; think a garage cover band performed by 8th graders to TJ Grant's MTV rockstar (Think Soundgarden, not Five Finger Deathpunch). The move down in weight will help him because his losses were gradual, and systematic. He hasn't been really embarrassed in the UFC despite some ok competition at WW. He won't need much help against Clarke who is fairly one dimensional. John Maguire by Decision. Staff picking Clarke: Staff picking Maguire: Stephie, Mookie, Anton, Fraser, DSM, Dallas, Grant, Zane, David, Tim Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague Tim Burke: Bye bye, Dustin Pague. Yves Jabouin by decision. Mookie Alexander: Pague isn't good and Jabouin beats fighters of his caliber with ease . That's all there is to it. Yves Jabouin by lopsided unanimous decision. Zane Simon: Dustin Pague has the ability to lose any fight he's in. Jabouin is not a top tier bantamweight, but he's entrenched in the middle of the division. I expect him to stay there. Yves Jabouin via TKO, Round 1. David Castillo: I'm gonna go out a limb and say Pague's length and reach earn him a controversial decision. Pague isn't good, and Jabouin has the ability to lose to average fighters. Dustin Pague by Decision. Staff picking Jabouin: Stephie, Mookie, Anton, Fraser, DSM, Dallas, Grant, Zane, Tim Staff picking Pague: David

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It’s fairly common to hear fighters talk about how an upcoming bout will affect their chances of earning a title-shot. However, as UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans has learned over the past few years, putting too much emphasis on what MIGHT come can often take away from energy spent on a more immediate task. Evans recently spoke with the UFC’s website where he confirmed he wasn’t looking past his match-up with Dan Henderson tomorrow night at UFC 161 based on his previous experiences with taking the opposite approach. “It’s really refreshing to just allow this fight to speak for itself. There are so many times when I compete it always becomes about what’s next and what’s next and what’s next. If all the while you’re considering what’s next, you’re not looking in front of you at what’s happening right now – you’re not really present. “My last fight when I was going to fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira all everybody was talking about was me fighting Anderson Silva. I’m like, `Wait a minute – I’ve gotta get past Nogueira.’ Then I lose, and nobody’s talking about Anderson Silva no more. “It doesn’t matter. All the hypotheticals? It absolutely means nothing, so what’s the sense in talking about it? I’m going to let my body of work speak for itself.” SOURCE: UFC.com PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The post Rashad Evans Focused on the Present, Not the Future appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Much of the talk regarding tomorrow night’s UFC 161 headliner between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans, has focused on whether “Hendo” can win, and further, if the 42 year-old wonder can secure another title shot with Jon Jones. Of course, part of that is due to the fact that Evans fought and lost to the light-heavyweight champ just last April. Another key reason is that Evans looked terrible in his last outing versus Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in February, when he dropped a unanimous decision loss to the renowned vet. As a result, Evans has fielded numerous questions in recent weeks about his dedication to fighting and what his future holds, and the former champ has consistently said that he’s looking forward to proving his critics wrong Saturday night. In fact, in a recent interview with MMA Fighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, not only did Evans distance himself from talk that he might move to middleweight, but he relayed he wants to work his way back to a rematch with Jones. “I want to stay at 205; I want to fight Jon Jones again,” said Evans, who after getting KO’d by Lyoto Machida in 2009, rebounded with four straight wins to lock up a title fight with his former teammate. “Jon Jones has been getting better and better every fight and I want to go in there and see how much better he’s got.” When asked by Helwani how long he believes it may take him to secure another bout with Jones, who it was announced just yesterday will fight Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on September 21st, “Suga” stated: “I’m just going to let each fight speak for itself. I’m going to go in there and fight Dan, and whoever’s after that, but I’m going to enjoy myself along the way and I’m not going to worry too much about how many fights it takes to get to Jon Jones. If he’s still there when I get there then we’ll fight. Certainly doesn’t sound like Evans has any doubts as to where his future fights lie, and if he takes out Henderson on Saturday, the comeback narrative will certainly kick off. Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC 161 news and coverage. MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson  weigh ins take place today in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canad at the MTS Center, and Fighters.com will be bringing you live results of all the action. In the main event, Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans takes on Dan Henderson in a three round affair while heavyweights Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic handle the co main event duties. You can watch it all go down in the video below and we will also be updating the results in real time if you can’t watch. Courtesy of the UFC: UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Main Card Rashad Evans ( lbs) vs. Dan Henderson ( lbs) Stipe Miocic ( lbs) vs. Roy Nelson ( lbs) Alexis Davis ( lbs) vs. Rosi Sexton ( lbs) Pat Barry ( lbs) vs. Shawn Jordan ( lbs) Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac ( lbs) Preliminary Card Jake Shields ( lbs) vs. Tyron Woodley ( lbs) James Krause ( lbs) vs. Sam Stout ( lbs) Sean Pierson ( lbs) vs. Kenny Robertson ( lbs) Roland Delorme ( lbs) vs. Edwin Figueroa ( lbs) Mitch Clarke ( lbs) vs. John Maguire ( lbs) Yves Jabouin ( lbs) vs. Dustin Pague ( lbs) The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Live Weigh In Results (5:00 PM EST) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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It's that time again. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has trampled the carcasses of Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland during its stampede across the Canadian border because hey, the show must go on. That means the UFC 161 co-main event between Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson will now take center stage. No complaints here. Bringing up the rear (no pun intended) is husky heavyweight hurter Roy Nelson, who needs a big performance on Saturday night (June 15, 2013) at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Not because he has a grudge against opponent Stipe Miocic, but rather to insure the highest possible asking price from UFC (or anyone else) as he hits the open market. That's not all. Pat Barry will try to add Shawn Jordan to his highlight reel in the opening fight of the night while Ryan Jimmo tries to convince Igor Pokrajac he's a "Big Deal" at 205 pounds. Alexis Davis, meanwhile, hopes to keep pace with the rest of the female bantamweights at the expense of Rosi Sexton. Hard not to like this line up. Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 161 fight card on fight night (June 15, 2013), starting with the Facebook "Prelims," which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, right on through the FX-televised under card bouts at 8 p.m. ET and then main card PPV action, which is slated to begin at 10 p.m. ET. Blah, blah blah ... let's get on with it. 205 lbs.: "Suga" Rashad Evans (17-3-1) vs. Dan "Hendo" Henderson (29-9) Nostradumass predicts: I know the MMA fanboy fantasy has Dan Henderson knocking out Rashad Evans and graduating to an eventual title fight against Jon Jones, but I think it's time to recognize that the "Hendo" who enters the Octagon tomorrow night in Canada is a far cry from the killer who was lighting dudes up in PRIDE FC. Even with TRT. Despite an array of highlight-reel knockouts over middle-of-the-pack competition, detonating an "H-Bomb" is hardly a foregone conclusion. Henderson is a geezer in a young man's game, aided by the medically-approved fountain of youth that has spawned copycat conditions in Chael Sonnen, Forrest Griffin and Frank Mir, among others. But even the magic needle has its limitations. Let's not forget that for every thunderous right hand that fells hapless victims like Michael Bisping and Rafael Cavalcante, there are equally putrid performances against Jake Shields and Mauricio Rua. True, the record books reflect a win against "Shogun," but there was nothing in that fight -- particularly in the latter two rounds -- to be proud of. Fans who thought that sloppy brawl was "Fight of the Year" must have missed the barnburner between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler. Against a striker, "Hendo" probably has three solid rounds in him, which is why he wasn't in much danger against Lyoto Machida. It's hard to get tired when you don't have to to anything but circle left for 15 minutes. But against a wrestler like Evans, who recently promised to score 50 takedowns in their main event melee, I give Henderson one round to seal the deal. It won't be enough. Evans has only been finished once in 20 professional fights and he's the first man to take "Bones" to the judges' scorecards since Stephan Bonnar did it way back at UFC 94, a span of 10 fights. And his slap-fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira? I have to believe that was a serious wake-up call. There's no question that Henderson has the deadlier punch, but Evans is nearly nine years younger than the former Olympian. He's faster, more agile and you know what they say about speed killing. Do I think the former division kingpin secures a finish? Not likely. But Henderson's duck-under-then-over-the-top-right is not hard to prepare for and Evans isn't dumb enough to try to bang it out on the feet. He's going back to the style that got him into the game in the first place and even if it doesn't win him the opening frame, the wrestling exchanges will tire Henderson out and leave him gasping for air. From there, it's mug and slug. Final prediction: Evans def. Henderson via unanimous decision 265 lbs.: Stipe Miocic (9-1) vs. Roy "Big Country" Nelson (19-7) Nostradumass predicts: Stipe Miocic was the belle of the ball back in 2012, you know, back when he was an undefeated heavyweight prospect and knocking fools out. Then he suffered his first defeat to Stefan Struve earlier this and suddenly he's a worthless piece of shit who no one cares about. Welcome to MMA, y'all. Fight fans are a fickle bunch and it's not so much what you've done, it's what have you done for me lately. That's why so many people have staked their claim to any available real estate on Roy Nelson's nuts (squatter's rights, I suppose). It's easy to be seduced by the "Country" KO. When you can take a beating like Nelson can, gameplanning is easy. You simply lumber forward and absorb punishment, then fire off a big right hand while your opponent tries to figure out why they can't hurt you. Worked great against Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione. Against Fabricio Werdum? Not so much. Nelson does a great job of convincing people he's a title contender, but his biggest win inside the Octagon is over Stefan Struve. He also clowned Dave Herman and Mirko Filipovic, but faltered against Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir. You don't need MMA math to figure out that formula. He's great when the competition isn't. But bump him up into the top five, or pair him off against former champions, and he can't get the job done. What does that have to do with Miocic? Take a look at their staredown to see why I'm taking the younger, more athletic fighter. They'll call it an upset since Nelson is hovering around the -250 mark. Unless Miocic doesn't own a DVR, or just has the dumbest gameplan in the history of combat sports, I can't envision him getting backed into the cage like a sitting duck. Like Henderson before him, the big right hand is not a surprise. All he does is walk forward and try to kill you with it. I think Stipe is smart enough to keep circling out of danger while never letting himself get too flat-footed, Exchanges with be done on the inside and his size advantage will keep him from getting dumped to the floor or turned around and pushed into the fence. The crowd won't like it, but this fight is won by IQ, not KO. Final prediction: Miocic def. Nelson via unanimous decision 205 lbs.: Ryan "Big Deal" Jimmo (17-2) vs. Igor "The Duke" Pokrajac (25-9) Nostradumass predicts: It's time for Igor Pokrajac to shit or get off the pot. At 34 years old, there isn't a whole lot of time to rebuild and poor showings against Vinny Magalhaes and Joey Beltran didn't leave me wondering where he ranks in the top 10. Still, "The Duke" is tough enough to beat guys like Stephan Bonnar, Krzysztof Soszynski and Fabio Maldonado. Not that any of them are giving Jon Jones night sweats, but he can hang in the mid-to-upper class when he wants to. The question now is, where does Jimmo belong? Too soon to tell. Demolishing a bloated middleweight like Anthony Perosh isn't a "Big Deal" in my book and he was unable to get the job done against James Te Huna. Still, it's difficult to overlook the carnage he's responsible for on the regional circuit, laying waste to most of the MFC roster. All other things being equal, I'm taking the better striker. I don't think Pokrajac has the chops to get it done. He's got decent wrestling and serviceable jiu-jitsu, but too many of his fights turn into wild brawls. I think that happens here, as well, and you'll never be able to accuse me of picking the guy with inferior hands when it comes to a slugfest. Final prediction: Jimmo def. Pokrajac via technical knockout 135 lbs.: Alexis "Ally-Gator" Davis (13-5) vs. Rosi "The Surgeon" Sexton (13-2) Nostradumass predicts: It's got to be tough for Alexis Davis to know she is a long way from the title picture. Reigning 135-pound champion, Ronda Rousey, is tied up with Miesha Tate on the set of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 until the end of the year, then the winner must face Cat Zingano. The winner of that is likely to get Sara McMann, if the former Olympian can overcome Sarah Kaufman in Indianapolis. That means there is nothing left for the "Ally-Gator" to do but win fights, starting with Rosi Sexton in Winnipeg. It's no secret that her hands are a work in progress and that's something I expect "The Surgeon" to try to exploit on fight night. Ain't happening. Sexton is a natural flyweight and while that makes her lighter on the feet, it's a death sentence on the ground, which is where Davis is most dangerous. That's something Hitomi Akano found out under the Invicta FC banner, as did Shayna Baszler. This could be a first rounder. Sexton will come out aggressive and try to overwhelm her foe, but Davis is not going to falter in front of her hometown fans. It's just a matter of time before the larger fighter gets this one to the ground and when she does, it's a wrap. Final prediction: Davis def. Sexton via submission 265 lbs.: Pat "HD" Barry (8-5) vs. Shawn "The Savage" Jordan (14-4) Nostradumass predicts: Somebody is getting KTFO in this fight. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Wow, bold prediction Mr. Out-on-a-ledge." But this is a Pat Barry fight, so it's not like you can build a legitimate case for a three-round chess match, or taut grappling exchanges. This is all about heavy leather. Fortunately for "HD," he's got an opponent willing to oblige. Shawn Jordan was in a big hurry to erase the memories of his stinker against Cheick Kongo and he did that by sending Mike Russow back to Chicago, Marvin Nash style (only Russow got to keep his ears). "The Savage" isn't going to beat Barry in the stand-up, but he doesn't have to. For all the talk about Patty's improved ground game, he's still terribly inept at positioning. If Jordan is interested in winning, he'll wait for one of those thunderous leg kicks and fire off a takedown. From there, it's academic. But that sort of conclusion assumes Jordan can get in range without being pasted upon entry. He doesn't have the same size advantage as most of the other heavyweights Barry has faced and therefore will have no jab or spatial superiority. Too bad. I want to jump on the Barry bandwagon because he's one of the most exciting finishers in the game. But I can't imagine Greg Jackson, of all people, will allow his pupil to turn this thing into a bar fight. Brains, not brawn, wins this 265-pound melee. Final prediction: Jordan def. Barry via submission That's a wrap, folks. For previews and predictions on the preliminary card fights click here and here. To see all the odds and betting lines for UFC 161 click here and remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Evans vs. Henderson." What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.

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At 33 years old, Rashad Evans is nearly a full decade younger than his UFC 161 main-event opponent Dan Henderson. Yet of the two, it is Evans who faces more questions about his fighting future. Perhaps he invited it upon himself when earlier this year, he mentioned that he ever-so-briefly considered retirement. It doesn't help that when he went out and faced Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in February, he was uncharacteristically and exceptionally flat, landing only 22 strikes over the 15-minute fight.Henderson wasn't much better when he fought Lyoto Machida the same month. Though he landed 54 strikes in the bout, 34 of them came in the third round, when he was attempting to come from behind. The judges ultimately ruled it in Machida's favor in a split-decision.The fact that against Machida, Henderson was competing for the first time in 15 months faded into the background, mostly because Machida has a tendency to make most opponents look bad. But the layoff could have affected him. So could his age. Just two months shy of 43, Hendo is still in the mix as a top light-heavyweight, but those days simply must be numbered. The fact that he's done it at such a high level for this long is something to be admired, but at some point, he is going to begin to fade. About here, we would be remiss if we didn't add that for the last several years, Henderson has, with commission approval, used the controversial treatment testosterone replacement therapy. But even that doesn't guarantee him any longevity past what he's already achieved.At this point of Henderson's career, he largely favors striking as his favored method of combat, far over his wrestling roots. In most of his fights within the last 4-5 years, takedowns are only a secondary weapon, with most of his energy focused on landing his thudding right hand, often as a counter based on timing. In five of his last nine fights, he hasn't scored a single takedown. Amazingly, that hasn't posed much of a problem for him in terms of attaining victory; he's 7-2 in those fights. Against Evans, he's a fractional underdog. The line between the two has barely wavered. That's understandable. There have been only a handful of others in MMA history who could boast both the crushing one-punch power and the legendary chin of Henderson. He is exceptionally difficult to put away, yet he can end the fight in an instant.Henderson's success comes in a simple approach and his ability to cash in on opponent's mistakes. He doesn't necessarily have the foot speed to chase opponents down, but he finds a way to make them engage, and has excellent timing on his straight right hand. He feasts on opponents who circle towards it, but when they don't he goads them there, often setting them up with an inside leg kick which puts his foe off-balance for the split-second necessary to fire off his H-bomb. If fight-changing power is Henderson's advantage, Evans' edge comes in the diversity of his attack. He's equally capable of blasting a rival with a right cross or a double-leg. The takedown is a staple of his game, and he's not shy about capitalizing on that opening when he sees it to be an advantage. He took down Thiago Silva eight times and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Phil Davis three times apiece. Though against Nogueira, he went only 1-for-5 in takedown tries, I would suspect that he'll make it a focus of his attack against Henderson, a far more dangerous striker.He pretty much admitted such when I asked him to go into his FUEL TV analyst persona and give an objective account on his best route to victory in Winnipeg."If Rashad Evans is to win this fight, he has to fight this on a multi-level attack basis," he said. "He can’t get to the point where he’s playing defense too much, sitting waiting for Dan Henderson to do anything. He has to put his combos together followed by his shots. If he’s not able to take Dan Henderson down, this is going to be one of those fights for him where he puts himself in danger of being caught by the big shot Dan Henderson has. Rashad Evans does his best fighting when he's able to go with the up-and-down basis, when he’s got the ability to be able to take his opponents down."I agree with Evans. The takedown will be the X-factor of the matchup, especially in a five-round fight. If Henderson can stop him and keep the fight standing, he will eventually get comfortable with the rhythm of Evans' offense and potentially land that big right. If Evans can take him down, Henderson will have a lot more to think about. And let's not forget, Evans has pretty good power, too. When he is firing on all cylinders, he is truly elite. For all of Henderson's exploits of accomplishments, and despite his wrestling pedigree, he is not an automatic shot-stuffer. Machida took him down on his only try. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua took him down five times. Jake Shields put him on his back four times. Evans must put up a number like Rua in order to win. I believe he can. While Hendo has the one-punch edge, Evans has speed, youth and wrestling on his side. Given Henderson's knockout power, I'd never advocate a bet against him, but since I must offer a pick, I'm guessing that Evans' more diversified skill set adds up to a decision victory.

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All that matters is this fight.The last fight is history, and what comes next is completely unknown, so heading into UFC 161, all Rashad Evans is thinking about are Dan Henderson and the task at hand.That’s a very different mindset and set of circumstances than what the former Ultimate Fighter winner and UFC light heavyweight champion has usually encountered during fight week.A fixture at or near the top of the 205-pound weight class for the better part of the last five years, each of Evans’ last 10 or 11 fights have been accompanied by championship implications and one eye on the future. For ... Read the Full Article Here

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WINNIPEG -- In the UFC 161 media day face-offs, Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic and Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton were posed during the media day festivities.

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WINNIPEG -- Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans discusses his thoughts about Winnipeg, his last performance against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, if he wants to stay at 205 pounds, Dan Henderson and his TRT and much more.

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans, is set to scrap with ex-Pride FC and Strikeforce kingpin, Dan Henderson, this Saturday night (June 15, 2013) in the main event of the UFC 161, which takes place at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. After an arduous decision loss to mixed martial arts (MMA) wunderkind and personal nemesis, Jon Jones, at UFC 145, Evans' fight future was uncertain. Luckily for the Blackzilian-trained fighter, he had the possibility of earning a Middleweight title shot in his next fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156. "Suga" entered the bout as a huge favorite, but looked unmotivated, losing a dull and uninspired decision to "Lil Nog." This Saturday, Evans will look to prove that he's still among the best fighters in the world. Despite a two-fight losing skid, a victory against "Hendo" -- widely regarded as the last major challenge for Jones's world title -- would shoot Evans right back into the proverbial "mix." But, does Evans still have the ability -- and desire -- to knock off top competition? Let's take a closer look: Striking Evans is not a supremely technical boxer or kickboxer. However, he is one of the fastest fighters in the division, whose ability to blend striking and wrestling is second to none. More often than not, Evans begins his combinations with his lead hand. He alternates between the left hook and jab, routinely following them up with a hard overhand or straight right. In particular, Evans is phenomenal at covering distance with his left hook. Additionally, Evans almost exclusively uses his lead hand for countering, particularly the hook. Evans' most dangerous punch is clearly his overhand right. In addition to famously stealing Chuck Liddell's soul, Evans' overhand has dropped Quinton Jackson and landed on "Bones" Jones. Evans almost always sets up the overhand the same way. He'll whip out a quick jab or two, and then follow it up with the overhand. "Suga" is very good at throwing it with speed and power, while covering an excellent amount of distance. Most important, Evans' overhand sets up his wrestling and vice-versa. Against Tito Ortiz, Evans demonstrated how far his clinch striking had evolved. He repeatedly landing strong Muay Thai elbows and punches to the head and body. One excellent trick Evans used was to control one of Ortiz's forearms with his own arm, often his left, and land power punches with his free hand. This both prevented Ortiz from returning punches and allowed Evans to line up his shots easier. Evans has successfully incorporated kicks into his striking game. He doesn't throw them frequently, but Evans possesses hard leg and body kicks. In addition, Evans owns one of the most devastating head kick knockouts in UFC history. Complementing his blinding speed, Evans' head kick attempts are greatly aided by his wrestling. Many of Evans' opponents are forced to lower their hands to prevent incoming takedowns, which opens up kicks to the face. One factor to consider about Evans' kicking arsenal is his current training camp, Imperial Athletics. Imperial Athletics' Dutch kickboxing-style is well known and has been displayed by many of their fighters. Dutch kickboxing puts a heavy emphasis on ending combinations with kicks. This could be an important factor in Evans' upcoming bout against Henderson. Despite Evans' evolution into a smooth power striker, he has one large defensive flaw. Put simply, Evans is very easy to counter if a fighter can match his speed. The reason for this is that Evans doesn't move his head as he throws combinations. This was never more apparent than in his title loss to Lyoto Machida. The Karate striker repeatedly landed a hard straight left as "Suga" pushed forward. Over and over, Evans started combinations, but Machida finished them brutally. Wrestling Evans wrestled four years at Michigan State University. While Evans never achieved All-American status, he came close and has become well known as one the best MMA wrestlers ever. In fact, his blast double is far and away his best takedown. Evans excels and lowering his base before literally running through his opponents. What makes Evans' blast double unique is his ability to mix it in with his striking. If you look back at the overhand with which Evans dropped "Rampage," you'll notice he is in perfect position to shoot for a takedown. This isn't by accident -- Evans' low, coiled stance is perfect for both takedowns and power punches. In addition, "Suga" aggressively pressures his opponent when he throws combinations, so he's already moving forward, which makes the initial takedown explosions much easier. Evans' ability to blend striking and wrestling was a nightmare for once-rival "Rampage" Jackson. Jackson made a career out of blocking his opponents strikes and returning a devastating hook. Evans took advantage of this by landing combinations and then ducking under Jackson's vicious counter hooks. The takedown below is an amazing example of timing, speed and explosion. Against Phil Davis, an NCAA Division 1 champion wrestler, Evans had to change his game to out-wrestle the bigger, and on paper, better wrestler. Instead of shooting his blast double, Evans capitalized on Davis' robotic kickboxing to catch his legs and trip him onto the canvas. In addition to has takedowns in the center of the cage, Evans has proven that he's capable of grinding opponents into the fence before taking them down. Even when fighting along the cage, Evans is an expert at distracting his opponents with punches before getting in on their hips. Evans has a very well-rounded top game, meaning he is capable of controlling his opponents and dropping heavy ground-and-pound. Most of the the time, Evans is content to control an underhook with one arm, while dropping small punches with his free hand. However, when Evans gets the space to posture up, he's absolutely violent. Forrest Griffin can attest to the fact that a single error with Evans can end a fight in an instant. Evans has pretty good, not great, takedown defense. However, Evans is excellent at getting back to his feet after he has been taken down. Not even wrestling-minded opponents like Davis and Ortiz managed to keep Evans down for more than a short time after dragging him to the mat. More often than not, Evans will attempt to wall walk. He'll work for at least one underhook while leaning against the cage, and then inch his way up the wall. As he stands up, Evans will look for an opportunity to spin away and get back to the center of the cage. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Evans earned his black belt in Gaidojutsu, Greg Jackson's submission grappling system, and was controversially given his black belt in jiu-jitsu by Rolles Gracie the morning of his fight with Thiago Silva. Despite his credentials, Evans submission grappling is a mystery. According to FightMetric, Evans has never attempted a submission in his UFC career. Never. I've seen most of Evans' fights and cannot disagree with them. In Evans' 21-fight professional career, one fight has ended by submission -- he finished Dennis Reed by anaconda choke in his debut. One thing that is definite about Evans' grappling game is his guard passing ability. When Evans decides to pass, he'll heavily pressure his opponent until he can slip his legs out of their guard. Speed Fans have been calling for Evans to drop to middleweight for years. "Suga" barely cuts weight and wrestled at 174 pounds in college, where he competed against MMA Lightweights and Welterweight fighters such as Jacob Volkmann, Gerald Harris and Josh Koscheck. However, in exchange for a size and strength advantage, Evans carries a significant speed advantage. Evans moves on another level than the majority of his competition, which he can attribute to his smaller frame. This speed is precisely what allows Evans to chain together his strikes and takedowns. Looking at Evans' losses, it's only fighters that can eliminate his speed advantage that beat him. Machida is very much like Evans in that he doesn't really cut weight, and Jones is so lengthy that Evans' speed is irrelevant. The only anomaly is Nogueira, which was because of a lack of motivation (not skill). Best chance for success The No. 1 rule for Evans: Do not circle into Henderson's right hand. Evans needs to pressure "Hendo" early and often. Henderson is at his best when he's hunting his opponent and slinging his right hand, so if Evans can force him backward, Henderson won't be nearly as dangerous. Evans should use his standard game plan against Henderson. If he can keep Henderson guessing with punches and takedown attempts, he'll make it easier to avoid Henderson's overhand. Furthermore, Evans will be able to take over late as Henderson tires. Last, and certainly not least, Evans needs to stay out of the clinch at all costs. In the clinch, Henderson can control Evans and eliminate his speed advantage, which would be very problematic for the 33-year-old. Can Evans out-hustle the aging Henderson or will another "H-Bomb" land? For a closer look and "Complete Fighter Breakdown" of Henderson be sure to click here.

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On paper, few people would argue that Rashad Evans doesn’t have the tools to beat Dan Henderson at UFC 161. That doesn’t mean he’s an overwhelming favorite or anything, but he possesses solid wrestling skills, a punishing top game and has showcased knockout power. That said, the former champ has looked tentative in recent outings, and while champion Jon Jones has a way of making people do that, Evan’s recent performance and loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira certainly surprised many observers. In an recent interview Dan Henderson did with fellow UFC vet Frank Trigg, the legendary fighter made some interesting comments about Evans and in particular, his tentativeness . Henderson credited Evans for being a “better wrestler” than most of the men he’s faced to date, before noting (quote via MMA Weekly.com): “I think he gets a little nervous sometimes in there.  I’m going to be pressuring him, but not overly aggressive where I end up getting taken down easy.  I want to make sure I pressure and control the middle and wait for him to kind of come at me a little bit, but still just pressure him and be aggressive, but not to where I’m going to be getting taken down.” “I wouldn’t go as far as saying scared.  He’s just a little bit shy when it comes to that,” Henderson relayed about Evans’ striking. “He’s a little hesitant sometimes.  Maybe he’s thinking too much, I don’t know.” Of course, Evans is the same man who has had his KO wins over Chuck Liddell and Sean Salmon looped endlessly on highlight reels, but those victories took place several years ago. So in other words, Hendo does have a point; the question is, however, whether Evans will change that come Saturday night? As Henderson also noted: “He’s kind of a hard guy to figure out what he’s going to do, or how he’s going to come out.” Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC 161 news and coverage. MMAFrenzy.com

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From interviews before and after the fight, weigh-ins, highlights and much more, check out this page for all the latest videos for UFC 161 in Winnipeg. In the main event, Dan Henderson will square off against former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. On the 'Countdown to UFC 161' show, Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans talk about their upcoming showdown at UFC 161 and much more. Henderson and Evans will square off in the main event of Saturday's fights. Other fights featured on 'Countdown to UFC 161' are Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic. And Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan.

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Rashad Evans' career is a case study in how difficult navigating the treacherous waters of MMA can be on a fighter. Evans, once considered one of the best talents in the sport, has consistently searched for the winning combination of skills and mindset. And every-time it seems he has found a winning formula the rug is pulled out from under his feet and he is sent back to the drawing board. Evans started his UFC career coming out of The Ultimate Fighter house, where he competed has a Heavyweight and won the season. A Division I wrestler at Michigan State, Evans used his wrestling to great success on the show, but when he got into the UFC he struggled to win decisively, his first two fights in the UFC ending in a Split and Majority Decision. Over the course of 2006 and 2007 Evans fought six times and clearly began adding striking skills to his game, both on the ground and standing. He slowly began working and more stand up striking into his fights and then in 2008 Evans knocked out Chuck Liddell, the premier striker of the Light Heavyweight division for years. Evans then knocked out Forrest Griffin, the man who had just out struck Rampage Jackson, to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight title. At this point in his career Evans was now 13-0-1, 29-years-old, training at Jackson's MMA, one of the premier camps in the sport, and was seen as the culmination of excellent physical talent and skills that would result in a dominant champion. Evans' striking was marveled at, mostly due to the speed and power of his punches. Evans seemed to have found his winning formula of a wrestle-boxer with deadly power and fight ending ground strikes. Then he fought Lyoto Machida, and two things became very clear. First was the Evans had become too enamored with his striking and that it was not at that elite level many portrayed it. Evans headed back to Jackson's MMA, defeated for the first time in his career and he took the lesson of the loss to heart. Evans' then dedicated himself to becoming a more modern mixed martial artist. He focused on more fully integrating his wrestling and striking. His rebirth as a fighter got off to a rocky start with a very narrow win over Thiago Silva at UFC 108. But soon Evans was again being praised for being on the cutting edge of the sport. Together he and Muhammed Lawal had developed the "Cuban" stance, a low boxing stance that allowed them to transition quickly between striking and grappling. The benefits of that stance was on full display when he defeated Quinton Jackson at UFC 114. But then the rise of another Jackson MMA fighter, Jon Jones, to claim the Light Heavyweight title, and the tension began to build. It culminated in Evans leaving the Jackson camp. The camp moved didn't seem to effect Evans too much as had two of his most impressive performances as a fighter. At UFC 133 Evans faced Tito Ortiz, and looked to be in fantastic shape and easily dispatched the aging former champion. Then at the UFC on Fox 2, Evans dominated rising star Phil Davis over the course of five rounds to earn a title shot against his former teammate. Evans was now a cutting edge mixed martial artist who had out grappled some of the premier wrestlers of the division, had out struck some of the best strikers, and now seemed to learned his defeat. And it all added up to nothing against Jon Jones, who toyed with Evans. Evans was again forced back to the drawing board, this time without the guidance of the Jackson MMA coaching staff. It took Evans almost a year to get back in the cage and when he faced aging Pride star Antônio Rogério Nogueira he turned in a listless performance that resulted in his giving a fight away. Evans now heads into his UFC 161 match against Dan Henderson with more questions than answers. What is Evans goal right now? Is he building back towards a title shot or looking to wind down his career with money fights? What is he doing to improve his skill set if wants to continue to be a contender? What kind of fighter is he right now? The fight against Nogueira suggests that Evan might not have a clear path for himself, and we will see if he can provide answers in his performance against Henderson. To share thoughts go to the comment line below or reach out to T.P. Grant on Twitter or Facebook.

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UFC light heavyweights Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans square off this Saturday night at UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson and during their camp UFC Tonight followed the pair through a few of their normal training days. The winner of Evans Vs Henderson will no doubt be one step closer to challenging for the light heavyweight title, but both have had long roads to travel before they climb into the octagon this weekend. Check out parts one and two courtesy of Fuel TV. UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson takes place on June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. UFC 161 will be the first time the UFC has held an event in Winnipeg. Part 1 Part 2 Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports The post Rashad Evans And Dan Henderson Train For UFC 161 (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans are featured in this lead up to UFC 161′s main event.The post Countdown to UFC 161 (Evans vs. Henderson) appeared first on MMA Convert.

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MMA is a young sport (sure, its roots go back centuries, but, well, bear with me) and like any sport, we can sometimes find a generation gap among fans. Those who remember his PRIDE run may tell you Fedor Emelianenko as the greatest heavyweight of all time, while newer fans often call him the best of a lesser era. Those of us who labored to hunt down third-generation VHS tapes to follow the sport laugh at the new MMA fans who scoff at anything not broadcast in HD, and vice versa. Rashad Evans, who fights in the main event Saturday at UFC 161: “Evans vs. Henderson” against Dan Henderson, is another such case. Talk to guys who have been around the sport for a while and we’ll probably refer to Evans as a steady performer of the new school. Evans debuted with ZUFFA-era UFC after only a year fighting on smaller shows. He’s mostly known for winning a UFC title and beating up some of our old favorites like Chuck Liddell, “Rampage” Jackson and Tito Ortiz, who were already established stars before Evans even debuted. He got beat up by the “New Era” Jon Jones and that “New Era (That Didn’t Quite Happen as Hoped)” in Lyoto Machida, but is otherwise as dependable as they come. He’s of the new breed of MMA fighters – quick feet, heavy hands, and solid wrestling credentials. Talk to the young ‘uns, and you may hear the opposite: “Evans is of the old school. Come on, he debuted back when champions were built in The Ultimate Fighter and no one got in trouble for Tweeting, and be honest, anyone who says they remember those days is probably lying. He won a UFC championship, but the guy he beat has already retired. He can wrestle a little, but lost this totally boring fight in February against a guy named Antônio Rogério Nogueira, who the old folks talk about but is barely .500 in the UFC. Evans is old news.” So, who’s right? Well, perhaps both parties have a point or two, but I’m leaning towards the former perspective. Evans indeed had a bad night last time out, but he’s had an otherwise excellent career against the UFC’s best for almost a decade now. The classic “wrestle-box” type of fighter which has come to dominate North American MMA, Evans has only suffered three defeats in his 21 pro bouts. He has those quick feet, isn’t afraid to throw his heavy hands, and sports solid wrestling. His transitions from striking to takedowns are among the division’s best. He has to stay healthy, which apparently wasn’t the case in his last outing. But, he’s still got all the tools. Evans is somewhere in between two eras now, and maybe, at 33, the best is yet to come. A solid win this weekend at UFC 161 in Winnipeg should offer his career needed momentum, and this weekend’s opponent is Henderson, who tends to plod forward, should be particularly suited his style. In fact, there’s no one short of the current champion Jones who I’d classify as a heavy favorite over Evans at light-heavyweight. With the possibility of Jones moving up to heavyweight, don’t be surprised if Evans wears UFC gold again… in whatever era we find ourselves in. Then, look for fans, new and old, to find someone else to disagree about! MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC 108 was awesome, eh? The injury bug has once again munched another Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pay-per-view (PPV) event, and once again, Rashad Evans will sit atop it. UFC 161 is set to hit MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, this weekend (Sat., June 15, 2013) with "Suga" booked to battle former dual Pride FC champion, Dan Henderson, in a heavy-hitting Light Heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) match up. Evans and Henderson, coming off tough losses to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Lyoto Machida, respectively, will look to take out their frustrations on one another, stepping up when Renan Barao's title defense with Eddie Wineland was scrambled because of injury. In addition, Roy Nelson will meet former baseball star and boxing Golden Gloves winner Stipe Miocic in a Heavyweight showdown, while a pair of female submission specialists collide in a Bantamweight match between Alexis Davis and Dr. Rosi Sexton. Despite the shake up, UFC 161 still has significant potential for a solid night of fights, as well as the potential for cold-hard cash. Follow me below for a closer look at the latest odds behind -- and best bets for -- UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson." And as for my performance last week, let's just make like Shane Carwin's steroid ties and pretend it never happened. Or, just blame Hemmi for jinxing it. UFC 161 Odds For The Under Card: Tyron Woodley (-175) vs. Jake Shields (+155)Sam Stout (-245) vs. James Krause (+175)Sean Pierson (-165) vs. Kenny Robertson (+125)Roland Delorme (-190) vs. Edwin Figueroa (+150)John Maguire (-280) vs. Mitch Clarke (+200)Yves Jabouin (-350) vs. Dustin Pague (+250) Thoughts: Two favorites, one underdog this time -- Woodley, Krause and Delorme are your men. I don’t know if there’s something in the water or what, but you can’t argue that Shields has been anything but awful in the Octagon. I scored the Martin Kampmann fight for the Dane and both the Yoshihiro Akiyama and Ed Herman fights were agonizingly dull. He’s just so damn slow and powerless on the feet. "T-Wood" isn’t a paragon of technique, but he’s extremely strong, very fast and hard as hell to take down. Unless something goes disastrously wrong, it’s hard to picture him losing this fight. I’m not advising a huge bet on Krause, but he’s got a lot going for him. Stout has decisively won all of one fight in the last three years while Krause has been on an absolute tear since 2011. Krause is also five inches taller and has a superior submission game. This is a pick-em fight for me which, according to my math, makes betting on the underdog a worthwhile investment. Look, take the Delorme recommendation with a grain of salt. I don’t like Figueroa; in fact, I think he stinks. But, he does hit hard; the thing is, so does Nick Denis, who got choked out after Delorme took his best shots. Yes, Francisco Rivera put him down, but it took a hell of a lot of thumping to do so and Rivera’s a much tighter puncher than Figueroa. In my opinion, anchoring some bets with Delorme wouldn’t be the worst idea. UFC 161 Odds For The Main Card: Rashad Evans (-125) vs. Dan Henderson (+105)Roy Nelson (-255) vs. Stipe Miocic (+215)Ryan Jimmo (-250) vs. Igor Pokrajac (+210)Alexis Davis (-380) vs. Rosi Sexton (+315)Pat Barry (-120) vs. Shawn Jordan (EVEN) Thoughts: I’m not really seeing much value here. If Miocic fights a perfect fight, he might be able to pot-shot Nelson for a decision, but that’s incredibly unlikely. If I knew Barry could keep it standing, I’d put some on him, but I think I’ve had my fill of basing bets entirely on takedown defense. If you’re set on betting on SOMEone on the main card, make it Hendo. He hits crazy hard and Evans, though he has solid recovery ability, isn’t the hardest guy to hurt. Still, don’t make it too much, as I’ve also had my fill of betting on guys with cardio issues (so help me I’m this close to forcing Rafael Cavalcante and Karlos Vemola to spend hours on a treadmill at gunpoint). Best Bets For UFC 161: Parlay: Tyron Woodley and Roland Delorme -- Bet $40 to make $56 Single bet: Roland Delorme -- Bet $70 to make $36.84 Single bet: James Krause -- Bet $25 to make $43.75 Single bet: Dan Henderson -- Bet $20 to make $21 There are several finishers about to duke it out. We might just have something solid in store. See you Saturday, Maniacs. Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" results this Saturday night, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you've got riding on the sportsbook.

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Check out the full Countdown to UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson video here on Bloody Elbow.

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Mark Munoz is hoping to see strength vs. strength when Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson meet up this Saturday night at UFC 161. If that happens, the middleweight contender believes the fans are in for quite the show. “I am a fan of both of these fighters,” said Munoz, in a recent interview with Rick [...]The post UFC 161 Evans Vs. Henderson: Mark Munoz Predicts appeared first on MMA Convert.

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In advance of UFC 161′s headliner between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans Saturday, Fightline.com has posted several interesting videos, which featured UFC vets like Jake Ellenberger and Phil Davis giving their thoughts on the upcoming tilt. In the latest vid to go up, Mark Munoz was asked to breakdown the fight, which not only features two of the promotion’s top light-heavyweights, but former champs that really need a victory. Of course, considering Munoz is a former NCAA  wrestling champ, a coach at Reign MMA and the UFC’s 8th ranked middleweight, he’s a not a bad guy to listen to when it comes to analyzing fights. The 35 year-old vet noted that he’s a fan of both Evans and Hendo, before offering these insights about the June 15th fight. “You’re going to see fireworks from him; you’re going to see his relentlessness in the clinch, with cage work, even with some ground-and-pound,” Munoz noted about Henderson. “I believe that if he can keep the distance, if he can look for times where he can land that overhand right he’ll have his way with the fight.” “On the flip side with Rashad, Rashad’s got to use his elusiveness, he’s got to use his movement to be able to hide behind his devastating punches, because we’ve seen knockout power with Rashad. That only happens when he’s able to move and evade punches and counter with an overhand right or a left hook. He’s really good at that and he’s been exemplifying some wrestling along the way as well.” It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how Evans approaches this fight, as it’s safe to say Hendo will come out hunting and look to land his infamous right hand bomb. As Munoz noted, Evans is also a pretty talented wrestler, so Hendo could find himself on his back if he’s not careful. You can check out the whole interview by heading here. Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC news and coverage.     MMAFrenzy.com

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Check out the full episode of Countdown to UFC 161, featuring Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson, Stipe Miocic, Pat Barry, and Shawn Jordan.

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Once again the UFC gives  us an inside look at the main event and behind the scenes footage as the fighters prepare themselves for one of the biggest fights of their lives.  Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson are set to fight this Saturday night as the UFC  brings the octagon to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the first time, and you can see ‘Countdown To UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson’ video right here. Courtesy of UFC.com Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The post Countdown To UFC 161 Rashad Evans Vs Dan Henderson (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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On Saturday night, former UFC light-heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans will enter the Octagon to face Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 161.   Although Evans has certainly been here before, the circumstances this go-round are a little different:  it will be the first time in his career that Rashad will have to compete coming off of consecutive losses. For most UFC fighters, losing three straight fights is a veritable death sentence.  The promotion is ruthless when it comes to releasing underperforming talent, and many a prospect has been let go after just two non-consecutive losses.  But as an Ultimate Fighter season winner and former champion, Evans probably doesn’t have to worry about job security, even if he falls victim to Henderson’s powerful right hand (the vaunted “H-Bomb”, as it’s come to be known).  The UFC has been known to offer a substantial amount of leeway to fighters who garner name recognition or command popular support in one of the company’s target markets. And yet even though a loss to Henderson might not technically mean the end of Evans’ UFC career, it could mean that he will no longer be considered a championship caliber fighter.  It’s never a good omen when a fighter’s heart is called into question, but in his last two outings, desire has seemingly been the area where the former 205-pound kingpin was most lacking.  After a string of victories led him to a showdown with current UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Evans fought like a man who was trying not to lose and eventually lost a lop-sided decision. Yet despite that relatively lackluster performance, Evans was soon thrown into the mix as a possible contender for Anderson Silva’s UFC middleweight championship, assuming he could make the cut to 185 pounds.  All he had to do was get through perennial 205-pound contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who is a talented fighter but has struggled against strong wrestlers.  But despite being an over 3-to-1 favorite, Evans was strangely aloof during the fight and showed almost no willingness to push the pace.  He dropped another unanimous decision and the potential match with Silva went up in smoke. Taking all of this into consideration, it’s hard to view UFC 161 as anything less than a career-defining moment for Rashad Evans.  Can he roar back to life and show the form that once allowed him to climb to the top of the division?  Or will he fade into the background once again, with the glory days as nothing more than a distant memory?  We’ll see on Saturday whether Evans can rise to the occasion and reclaim his spot as one of the light-heavyweight division’s top contenders. MMAFrenzy.com

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We have a mountain of goodness to navigate this morning, but before we can go outside and play, let's get down to business. Two of the UFC's top draws, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, are both targeting an autumn climb back into the Octagon, according to dual reports made by MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani on Tuesday's edition of UFC Tonight. Jones, still hampered by his once-gruesome toe injury, hoped to return to action this summer, however he's now eyeing an October title defense on the advice of his doctors. And yes, when the time comes, "Bones" still wants the lanky Swede, Alexander Gustafsson. As for St-Pierre, the Canadian sensation is also aiming for an October return. UFC President Dana White told Sportsnet on Tuesday that he expects St-Pierre to defend his belt against Johny Hendricks, although nothing is set in stone at the present moment. For his part, Hendricks repeated his claim that "it's looking like" St-Pierre is scared to fight him. However, Hendricks' words led UFC Tonight analyst Kenny Florian to drop this interesting little nugget, which was quickly agreed upon by Chael Sonnen. "Yes, I do think he's scared. That's exactly why Georges St-Pierre performs so well. He is fueled by his fear, and that's why he trains so hard," Florian said, before ominously adding, "And number two, I think we [should] wait to see what's going to go on with Georges St-Pierre. I'm not sure he's going to fight Johny Hendricks because I think he's waiting to see what's going to happen with Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva." 5 MUST-READ STORIES Jones, St-Pierre update. UFC champions Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre are both eyeing a return to action in October, according to a report from UFC Tonight. Evans out to rediscover fire. Rashad Evans was once on top of the world. Yet after consecutive "disconnected" performances, he now finds himself striving to rediscover the fire that once burned inside of him. 'Bigfoot' to visit doctor. In today's WTF story of the day, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva -- who cuts to make the heavyweight limit -- told Fighters Only that he intends to seek physician clearance to see if he can healthily drop down to 205 pounds and fight Thiago Silva. "If can do it, I will drop weight to make this fight for sure," Silva added. "All I want to do is just fight him because words won't make him change. He's mentally sick, we're completely different people. I am a family guy. I respect my father, mother, wife, I treat my friends well, without pulling their legs, and I don't take drugs." Bellator switches nights. Following season nine's debut episode, Bellator MMA will transition to a Friday night time slot from 9-11 p.m. ET, beginning September 13, 2013. SI.com first reported the move. Daley booked. London-based fight promotion Cage Warriors reached a deal with Bellator to secure the services of welterweight slugger Paul Daley for a one-off bout against Lukasz Chlewicki at its next event, Cage Warriors 57, which takes place July 20, 2013 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. MEDIA STEW Check out the Fightmaster crew (plus Matt Mitrione) calling their shot for UFC 161's main event. The lesson: Next time some computer nerds are giving you the runaround -- BLAM! -- kick to the balls. (For those interested, there's a behind-the-scenes feature for this clip.) Who didn't see this coming: 'Rampage Jackson signed by Bellator? Welp, better upload one of his most brutal losses.' Classy move, Zuffa. The Metamoris crew doesn't waste any time, folks. Check out the new trailer for Metamoris 3's featured match. Yep, of course this ridiculously lavish gym is located in Dubai. Where else would it be? I don't know what Cliff Thompson's most embarrassing post-fight interview was before this, but my guess is it didn't involve projectile vomit. (HT: Reddit) THE CURSE OF 'WHAT IFS' Well this sucks...should be headed to the airport to win me a #ufc world championship! #keeponpushin — Eddie Wineland(@EddieWineland) June 11, 2013 JUST SO YOU KNOW 95% of MMA fighters make a fraction of what people think...... — Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) June 11, 2013 MR. WHITE "@aaronsimpson: Impressive. Even an @danawhite reference. "@maclethal: youtu.be/4XEqJXiEWjs?a via @youtube" — Dana White (@danawhite) June 11, 2013 I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE In discussions with AMC about having me in The Walking Dead. They decided against it realizing that there couldn't be any following episodes — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) June 11, 2013 WHAT A MESS Self note: it takes longer to get 2 toilet on crutches and don't eat so much asparagus. — phil baroni (@philbaroni) June 11, 2013 EMBRACE IT "Brooklyn Supreme, world's largest horse ever. 1928-1948 twitter.com/History_Pics/s…"wooow...A lot of meat right here yeah — Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) June 11, 2013 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Tuesday, June 11, 2013): UFC on FS1 #2: Darren Elkins (16-3) vs. Hatsu Hioki (26-6-2) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is the terrific conclusion to Steve Borchardt's two-part retrospective: A Dog's Life: A Look Back at the UFC Career of Forrest Griffin (Part 2 of 2) There's an age old trope in the fight game that journalists and fighters alike are wont to fall back on whenever a recently crowned champion gears up to attempt his first title defense. Perhaps you've heard it? It's the one about how you aren't really a champion until you've successfully retained your belt. By and large it's a bullshit line. Journalists desperate for an angle often pull it out of their repertoire of rhetorical cliches when faced with the uninspiring task of writing about a title match without any real promotional sizzle behind it. Fighters use it as a motivational tool, similar to how some long term champions claim to look at themselves as the challenger going into every title defense; the idea being it's a way to keep yourself hungry once you've already feasted on the richest prize in the sport. Evidently Forrest Griffin subscribed to this line of thinking after he earned the UFC light heavyweight championship by defeating Quinton "Rampage' Jackson. In fact, according to the UFC Countdown special hyping up his first title defense at UFC 92, Griffin's hesitance to define himself as the true champion went so far as him requesting the strap be kept in storage at UFC headquarters during his reign. One pictures a nervous Zuffa intern gingerly lifting the belt out of a treasure chest sitting in UFC President Dana White's personal office and hastily shuttling it to Griffin for promotional events and photo ops -- almost like the belt once worn by Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, and Tito Ortiz was a 12 pound golden library book Griffin was afraid to take home and enjoy lest he inadvertently spill coffee on it and get slapped with a fine. "It's the best feeling there is," Griffin explained when talking to the Countdown production crew about winning the title. "And once you've had it, the only thing you can do is have it again. Now I have to figure out a way to get there again." Standing in the way of Griffin getting there again was The Ultimate Fighter season two winner Rashad Evans. At the time Evans, a former NCAA Division I wrestler who had yet to taste defeat as a professional fighter, was riding high after knocking out erstwhile light heavyweight champ Liddell. Keep in mind this was in 2008, back when a victory over the once-dreaded Iceman still meant something. Based on Evans' recent performances in the Octagon, he looked like a solid test for Griffin. However, he was far from an insurmountable one for a fighter who had just defeated both Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Rampage Jackson in succession. Griffin was the clear fan favorite on fight night. As he walked to the Octagon accompanied by the incongruous amalgamation of nineties skate punk and Celtic bag pipe music that is the Dropkick Murphy's "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," a packed MGM Grand gave the recently-minted champion an ovation worthy of a newly elected Pope giving his first public blessing to a throng of reverent admirers. The challenger got a decidedly less enthusiastic welcome. Evans had been a heel to the UFC audience ever since former middleweight champ Matt Hughes called him out for showboating on an episode of TUF. It didn't matter that Evans was by all accounts an extremely nice guy; he was already typecast as an arrogant jerk in the minds of the fans. The first round consisted of a protracted feeling out process where Griffin and Evans traded occasional combinations while working to slip into a comfortable rhythm. Griffin found his emphatically in the second and proceeded to light Evans up for the majority of the round while the crowd inside the MGM Grand broke into ecstatic chants of "Forrest, Forrest." Then, in less than five minutes, everything fell apart. Griffin tried a low kick to open the round, but Evans caught it and used it as a lever to send him crashing to the mat. From there the challenger unloaded with a brutal series of hammer fists. It was a pugilistic storm Griffin was just barely able to weather, but eventually he recovered and closed up his guard. That would prove a fleeting respite for the defending champ. Evans postured up, broke Griffin's guard, and began unloading with a relentless barrage of punches for the TKO victory. After three years spent fighting to get to the championship level in the UFC, Griffin lost the belt just three rounds into his first title defense. If he truly bought into the idea that he wasn't a real champion until he defended the belt, it might have almost felt like he was never champion at all; like the UFC light heavyweight title was a lover he was only able to hold close for one night before she slipped through his fingers and retreated from his present to a home forever in his past. Although Griffin wasn't successful in the Octagon that night, ironically enough UFC 92 was his finest moment as a draw. The event did a monstrous 1.0 million buys on PPV thanks in large part to the allure of seeing Griffin as champion. We'll never know what kind of business a protracted Forrest Griffin title reign would have done, but it's entirely possible he may have ended up in the same league as the UFC's current pound for pound PPV king Georges St-Pierre. That's the thing with idle speculation though. When it hits too close to home it can lead to all sorts of unresolvable "what ifs" that keep the best of us, even former champions, laying awake until early morning replaying in minute, excruciating detail how things went wrong. All it takes is one little "What if Rashad hadn't caught that lowkick?" for the vicious cycle of rumination and regret to start wrapping itself around one's mind with all the destructive power of a boa constrictor. The reality is, Griffin never came close to title contention again. Losing the title was unquestionably the lowest moment in Griffin's career to that point, but things were about to get worse. Much worse. Follow me to the jump for more... Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.

Posted in: ufc, title, champion, evan, griffin

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This Saturday night (June 15, 2013), the Octagon hits Winnipeg for the first time in history as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) host their latest pay-per-view (PPV) event --UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson-- from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A light heavyweight contenders contest receives top billing at the event, as former UFC champion Rashad Evans looks to rebound from a career-worst two-fight losing streak to take on one of the most decorated competitors in the sport's young history, Dan Henderson. There are several interesting storylines to follow going into and coming out of the event, but only four can make the "burning" list. That being said, here are four burning questions going into UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" this weekend: 4. How Will Jake Shields Perform In His Move Back Down To Welterweight? After a one-fight stint in the middleweight division, Jake Shields will go against the grain once again by switching weight classes for a second time in the UFC and returning the welterweight division to face Tyron Woodley in preliminary card headliner on FX. Shields had a disappointing run in his first UFC stint at 170 pounds, going 2-2 with his lone victories coming against Yoshihiro Akiyama and Martin Kampmann in underwhelming fashion. However, he will look to rediscover the successful he found earlier in his career when he went on a run of 15-straight wins over the likes of Dan Henderson, Carlos Condit, Yushin Okami and more. When he's on his game, the high-level wrestling abilities and outstanding jiu-jitsu talents of the Cesar Gracie product makes him a threat at any weight class, regardless of the opponent put in front of him. It has been a few years since Shields looked in true top form. And perhaps at 34 years of age his time as an elite competitor regardless of weight class is over, but if the American can return to his peak, he has a good chance at causing a lot of problems for fighters in the division. 3. Does Roy Nelson Have Anything To Gain By Fighting Stipe Miocic?Following Roy Nelson's brutal knockout of Cheick Kongo at UFC 159 in April, fans were expecting him to face a top-five or top-10 opponent after three-straight first-round finishes. What "Big Country" supporters got instead, though, was a last-minute fight against the unranked and unheralded Stipe Miocic, who is coming off a loss, just eight weeks after defeating Kongo at UFC 159. The reason for Nelson competing on the UFC 161 fight card is twofold. Firstly, the UFC needed another well-known name for the PPV line-up after the headliner of Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland fell off the card and secondly, the fight against Miocic will be the last on Nelson's original UFC contract he earned by winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10. UFC President Dana White has stated that Nelson has opted not to renew a deal with the UFC until after UFC 161, likely because the 36-year-old believes he would get an even better contract offer than what's currently on the table should he defeat Miocic in impressive fashion. That's risky game to play. If Nelson is defeated by a huge underdog in the fight, his stock will plummet and he can be sure that whatever contract offer is currently on the table will be either gone or significantly reduced. One can only hope that Nelson is taking this fight seriously because a win over Miocic doesn't help him move up the rankings whatsoever and appears to be more of a risk than the reward is worth. 2. Who Will Rebound From An Underwhelming Loss In The Main Event? Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson were both chastised by mixed martial arts (MMA) fans for their disappointing efforts in their last fights against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Lyoto Machida, respectively, and need to win, and win in impressive fashion to remind fans they are still top contenders in the light heavyweight division. Evans was completely flat against "Minotoro" and showed no urgency when it was abundantly clear the fight wasn't going his way. The defeat marked the first time in Evans' 21-fight career that he had lost two bouts in a row and now facing the pressure of a three-fight skid, "Suga" needs to regroup from his last loss and do it quickly. Henderson's loss and performance against Machida was much more forgivable, though, due to the fact "The Dragon" has participated in several unappealing fights over the years and has an extremely difficult style to solve. Henderson chased the Brazilian around the cage as best he could, but his speed disadvantage and inability to close the distance in an effective way prevented him from inflicting any significant damage. Nevertheless, it was Henderson's first loss in nearly three years and caused him to drop from the spot as the top title contender at the 205-pound weight class, a position he had secured prior to the now infamous UFC 151 event cancellation fiasco. After coming out on the wrong ends of their last fights, only one man will be able to get back on track and begin working towards title contention. 1. Is This The End Of The Line For Rashad Evans Or Dan Henderson As A Title Contender?Speaking of title contention -- the loser of Saturday's main event could very well have their UFC championship aspirations wiped away for good. With Henderson on the wrong side of 40 and Evans on the wrong side of 30, there is absolutely no room for error going forward. For one man, though, they are about to commit a huge error and suffer what will arguably be the most significant loss of their career. Just over a year ago Evans was pegged as the man with the best chance to dethrone 205-pound champion Jon Jones, but after a five-round domination at the hands of "Bones" and the subsequent defeat to Nogueira, the notion he could beat the champion seems laughable. "Suga" still has the skills and athleticism to contend with the best in the world, but one just has to wonder if he is still completely in the game mentally after admitting his mind went blank in his last fight. A third consecutive loss would send Evans' career into a tailspin and would force him to change his goals from becoming a world champion to simply figuring out how to keep up with UFC level competition. As for Henderson, he had a title shot locked up on two separate occasions and blew both opportunities. Once when he pulled out of UFC 151 at the last minute with an injury and the other when he was defeated by Machida. At 42, Henderson is at the stage in his career where any fight could be his last. The former dual-division PRIDE champion doesn't have the luxury of time and needs to rack up impressive wins --and fast-- if he has any hopes of reestablishing himself as the division's top contender for a crack at Jones. While both men have had legendary careers that are unquestionably Hall-of-Fame worthy, Saturday night could very well mark the end of one's time as an elite competitor. Who will it be? For more news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson," be sure to visit our complete event archive here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, henderson, evan, nelson

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If fans felt UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans looked like a shell of himself in a February loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira it’s because he was. Outside of dealing with a few personal issues, Evans recently revealed he decided to reel in his personality instead of approaching the bout as he usually would. Evans explained his rationale to MMAJunkie, saying his “swagger” had returned for this weekend’s rumble with Dan Henderson at UFC 161… “I turned down the swagger a little because I wanted to be more focused in my competitions. But when I did that, I took a little piece away from me. I took a little of that go inside of me that pushed me, that part that made me get into a dogfight with anybody and do anything to get the win.” “When I go out there and compete, I have to be cocky. That’s how I compete. I have to have my swag out there and be like that because that’s a part of me. It’s a part you’d never see of me in regular life because I joke around and smile, and you don’t see that side.” “But when I compete, I want the person I’m fighting to know that he shouldn’t have even signed the contract to fight me. He should be embarrassed, and I want to embarrass him for doing so.” SOURCE: MMAJunkie PHOTO CREDIT: The post Rashad Evans Says His Swagger is Back appeared first on Fighters.com.

Posted in: part, dan henderson, rashad, evan, swagger

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While both Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans are coming off decision losses heading into UFC 161, most fans and critics didn’t openly question what might be wrong with Hendo following his split decision loss to Lyoto Machida (event though it was a ‘forget this’ kind of a bout). Evans, on the other hand, was widely expected to defeat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 in February. At the time, Evans was coming off a UD defeat to light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones–no shame in that–and had scored recent wins over men like Thiago Silva, Phil Davis, and “Rampage” Jackson. As we all know, Evans dropped a unanimous decision loss to Nogueira and didn’t look like his old champion self during the contest. As a result, some observers began questioning whether the 33 year-old’s heart was still in the game, and if his best days might be behind him. While Evans has repeatedly assured audiences as UFC 161 nears that he still wants to fight, in a more recent interview with USA Today, he offered this interesting take on what’s been missing in his recent bouts. “I turned down the swagger a little because I wanted to be more focused in my competitions. But when I did that, I took a little piece away from me. I took a little of that go inside of me that pushed me, that part that made me get into a dogfight with anybody and do anything to get the win.” “When I go out there and compete, I have to be cocky. That’s how I compete. I have to have my swag out there and be like that because that’s a part of me. It’s a part you’d never see of me in regular life because I joke around and smile, and you don’t see that side.” Ah yes. There was a time when Evans was somewhat of a polarizing figure, due to said “swagger.” While such antics will likely fire up Hendo boosters this weekend, Evans will certainly need to be at his best when takes on the 42 year-old legend. Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC news and coverage. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, evan, decision loss, ud defeat, weekend evans

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Take a look at all the action at UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson live on PPV Saturday June 15 in our Bloody Elbow fight card primer series. The UFC returns to Canada on June 15th, but they're headed somewhere they've never held an event before - Winnipeg, Manitoba. Unfortunately for Canadian fans, the card has been decimated by injuries and no longer resembles what it looked like just a few weeks ago. Instead of a bantamweight title fight on top, a light heavyweight bout between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans will now headline the card, with the co-main event being a heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic. Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac has been bumped up to the main card, joining Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton and Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan on the five-five PPV broadcast. Here's a look at the current card: Main Card:Rashad Evans vs. Dan HendersonStipe Miocic vs. Roy NelsonAlexis Davis vs. Rosi SextonPat Barry vs. Shawn JordanRyan Jimmo vs. Igor PokrajacFX Card:Jake Shields vs. Tyron WoodleyJames Krause vs. Sam StoutSean Pierson vs. Kenny RobertsonRoland Delorme vs. Edwin FigueroaFacebook card:Mitch Clarke vs. John MaguireYves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague Latest From Our Partners Greatest Underdog Stories (BR) Looking Back at TUF 1 Cast (BR) New Nicknames for UFC's Top Stars (BR) Weirdest Moments in MMA History (BR) Fighters on Downside of Career (BR) Best Additions to UFC Roster (BR) Bold MMA Predictions for June (BR)

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans is one of the division’s most polarizing pugilists. While Evans is a former champion with knockout power and tremendous takedown ability, “Suga” ‘Shad also tends to rub fans the wrong way with his occasional arrogance and contentment with riding out decisions instead of going for the kill. However, don’t expect Evans to change his approach anytime soon after an attempt to tone things down had a negative impact on his in-ring output at in a February fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. The 33-year old recently spoke to USA Today about the role self-confidence plays in his preparation, making it clear he wouldn’t be tucking his tail against Dan Henderson night at UFC 161. “When I go out there and compete, I have to be cocky. That’s how I compete. I have to have my swag out there and be like that because that’s a part of me. It’s a part you’d never see of me in regular life because I joke around and smile, and you don’t see that side,” said Evans. “But when I compete, I want the person I’m fighting to know that he shouldn’t have even signed the contract to fight me. He should be embarrassed, and I want to embarrass him for doing so.” “No one wrote a book on what you should and shouldn’t do. I’m just making it up as I go along,” he continued. “But at the same time, I have to be honest with myself. I have to be real with myself and compete the way I’m feeling. When I’m in the moment, my body will do what it does. And when that happens, I have to trust that it will be OK.” Evans-Henderson will meet in the main event of Saturday night’s show. If defeated, the 17-3-1 Evans will find himself on the first three-fight skid of his career. The post Rashad Evans: “When I go out there and compete, I have to be cocky.” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

Posted in: rashad, evan, wouldn ’t, division ’s, february fight

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Saturday’s UFC 161 headliner between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans is an interesting one, not only because both men are former champs and need to get back on the winning track, but because of each fighter’s abilities. In Evans, you have a fighter who’s showcased a punishing top game as well as highlight reel striking and with Henderson, you have another decorated wrestler, who has a granite chin and one of the game’s deadliest stopping weapons–yes, that would be his right hand. But who will emerge victorious on Saturday night? Will the 42 year-old Henderson score a victory and move one step forward to what could be his final title shot? Or will Evans end his two fight losing skid and quiet his critics? Well, Fightline.com recently approached welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger for his thoughts on the bout, and the noted vet offered this: “I would say Rashad might be a little more quick, a little more athletic, but Dan Henderson, he’s a guy, you could put him in any fight and you cannot ever, I could never bet against him,” said Ellenberger. “If I was going to bet, I could never bet against Dan Henderson. Just the mentality he has alone is a scary thing.” Ellenberger also added Evans may look for a takedown in an effort to “get him tired or work some ground-and-pound”, and that he believes “whoever controls those transitions is going to win the fight.” Since Ellenberger has been fighting pro since 2005, and doing quite well at it, taking stock of his analysis seems wise. To watch the entire video interview with Ellenberger head here. UFC 161 will be hosted by the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the main card will be available via pay-per-view. Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC news and coverage. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, ellenberger, henderson, dan henderson, evan

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The pros have spoken! and it seems that UFC 161 is going to be a toss up fight between Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans. Will the wrestling of both fighters cancel each other out and force the action standing? Or will Rashad use his foot work and movement to set up a take down in which he will keep Hendo on the ground as much as possible? We know both have something to prove as Evans is looking to bounce back from his lackluster performance against Lil Nog in which his lost via decision as well as a loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Another loss would be catastrophic to Evans who conceivably could receive walking papers depending on how his performance looks on Saturday night. Henderson has his share of pressure as well, seeing a title shot with Jones slip away from injury and then dropping a decision to Lyoto Machida in a very boring fight. The blame of course is more on Machida than Henderson, but a win could finally push Hendo back into a main event title shot with the current champion. Take a look below and see what Randy Couture, Greg Jackson, Matt Mitrione and Joe Warren have to say about the UFC 161 main event!

Posted in: ufc, henderson, rashad, joe warren, evan

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NEW YORK -- All the work had been done. He'd gone through his two-month camp, made the cross-country flight to Las Vegas and sat in his locker room, preparing to go out before the world. It was supposed to be showtime. He warmed up and walked out to the cage and looked across at his opponent. He heard the referee intone him to fight.And then?"It was just weird because I didn’t feel anything. I didn't feel anything at all," Rashad Evans said on Monday, before flying to Winnipeg, the site of this weekend's UFC 161. "I felt nothing. I felt blank. That never happened to me before. I was always able to feel something. But I couldn’t even feel anything. I couldn’t feel nervous. I couldn't feel."That was Evans talking about his last fight, a February matchup with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. But, he also admitted, in his bout before that against Jon Jones, he had not quite been himself, either."Disconnected" was the precise word that he used to describe the foreign phenomenon he experienced, the one separating him from the sensory world surrounding him. You've heard of an athlete being in "the zone"? This is the exact opposite, a purgatory from which there is no escape, in which there are no impactful actions or movements.This is what he's trying to come back from now, with an all-time great, Dan Henderson waiting on the other side. On Saturday night, in the main event, Evans isn't just fighting Hendo and the mother of all right hands. He's also fighting himself, to regain his foothold as an elite, to rediscover the confidence and the fire that carried him to a UFC light-heavyweight championship in 2008. That's obvious to everybody who watches him. Even his mother. Evans' mom Shirley has become a pseudo-celebrity in the MMA world, partly for the impressions of her that her son does. Most of the time, he impersonates her imparting her unique fight wisdom. Asked what advice she offered for this fight, he goes right into it, but her brief guidance boils down to her final words: "Bring some of that swag back."But is it quite that simple? We like to think that there is an imaginary force field that keeps personal problems away from the professional arena of competition, some magical earphones that tune out the noise and static. That's a myth. For Evans, for a time, it was downright impossible to feel like a success in his professional life when his personal life was crumbling around him. In early 2012, Evans and his wife divorced. The child of a broken home himself, Evans didn't take the split lightly. "When you go through a thing like divorce and dealing with all of that, I felt like a failure in life," he said. "I felt like I failed my kids and I failed a lot of things. It took a lot for me mentally to put myself in a place where I was able to compete. I had to forgive myself and let myself know it was OK that things didn't work out, and move on from that. It was definitely something that I had to put my mind to and focus on and do."Some people will chalk this up as an excuse. Evans is smart enough to know that, but he is nothing if not candid; he can't stop himself from offering up his reality whether it's joyful or melancholy. And at the time, everything was new and raw. He had switched gyms, he had moved to a different part of the country, and he was apart from his family for the first time. It was all foreign. He tried to fake his way through it, tried to shut his mouth and plow forward. But the tightly wound ball unravels the quickest, and before long, Evans was struggling in a way that he never had. When you're a young kid starting out in the fight business, the fire burns brightly, especially when you come from a place of struggle as Evans had. As a child, he'd had his heat turned off at times, electricity at others, as his mom tried to keep up with bills. He grew up wanting what the other, better-off kids had. Even before he came into the UFC, he was working security at a hospital. He often had to wheel dead bodies to the morgue, and as he did so, he'd wonder what kind of life those people had. Had they chased their dreams? Had they accomplished anything? As a young man with little to his name, that was plenty of fuel for motivation. He could still remember the feeling of the cold air in his home, could close his eyes and pace the hospital walkways. But now, years later, time has dulled those memories, and the money he's made had given him all those things he'd wanted as a youth and then some. He had those things, so what was his motivation now? "I thought a lot about what happened," he said. "I've harnessed the fight inside me. I've done the things that bring out the fight inside of me. Everybody has those things that make them fight, those triggers and stuff. For me, I’ve been working a lot on what makes me fight. What's my motivating factor and those things. I’ve been all through camp steady working to improve my triggers so the minute I decide to fight, I’m going to be ready to fight. I’ll be able to pull and draw from that. For me it’s about waking up early in the morning and going for my morning runs, like 5 in the morning. Doing my heavy bag work in the garage, or doing a little extra work. Sitting and thinking about the fight, writing down what I’m going to do, different attacks. It's to harness the fight inside of me and in my mind."Evans feels in some ways he won't have a choice but to fight. He knows it's good to feel scared, and Henderson certainly brings something to have fear in. Evans acknowledges that Henderson is one of the best fighters the U.S. has ever produced. He admires him and admits he's dangerous. Someone's going to get knocked out, he says. It's just not going to be him, not when he still has things he wants to do. At 33 years old, Evans can't see the end nearing. Not yet, despite the fact that he once brought up the possibility of retirement.To his core, he says, he still identifies himself as a fighter. Even though he has a FUEL TV gig to fall back on, even though he made the money he wanted as a child, the structure of a fight camp is still the purpose he desires. The label of being a fighter is still necessary to him. Perhaps in his changing world, now more than ever. As a kid, he was a Mike Tyson fan, and like millions, hung on every moment of Tyson's fights, knowing something jaw-dropping was going to happen. Something that drew his eyes like magnets. Those are the same types of moments he wants to produce now. As an adult, he got to meet Tyson. They didn't talk about fighting, but about life. Tyson is a man who's lived through things and gained a lot of wisdom along the way, wisdom that Evans still thinks about.Evans wants to be champion again. He's not afraid to say it. But more than that, he wants to create memorable moments. He wants to throw himself into the best matchups with the most dangerous people. He wants to feel the heat of the fire again."Life in general, sometimes you take a few steps back just to go further than you would have before," he said. "It’s hard to find the perspective of why you had the setbacks and failures, but it happens. Once you’re able to accept it, to internalize it and get a feel for what happened, then you’re able to move past it and maybe go further and project yourself further than you would have if you didn't. I'm not going to put myself in a box and say I have to win. I want to win, I’m going to win, and inside of me, I want to go out there and perform and put on a great show for myself and the fans. But for the most part, I don’t feel the pressure."

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Another event, another new market for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as this Saturday (June 15, 2013) night the Octagon touches down for the first time in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson". It will be the second time this year and the thirteenth time overall that the UFC travels to "The Great White North," except this time around it will be in a city the organization has yet to visit. The main event of the evening will see two of the most accomplished fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history collide as former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans meets former Strikeforce and two-division PRIDE champion Dan Henderson in a three-round bout. With the original headliner of Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland unfortunately falling off the card due to an injury to the interim bantamweight champion, UFC 161 marks the third of the past five fight cards in Canada to go forward without the originally announced main event. That's just one of many facts going into this weekend's event at the MTS Centre. To find out more, simply continue reading: The 22 fighters scheduled to compete on the card have a combined total of 441 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fights with 90 losses. Of those losses, only 17 are by submission. Fourteen fighters on the card have never lost an MMA fight by submission. Evans fights in his 12th UFC main event and 10th pay-per-view (PPV) main event. He is 9-2 in those contests. Henderson is 2-2 in UFC main events. Roy Nelson is on his first three-fight win-streak since Dec. 2007-May 2008, earning all those victories by (technical) knockout in a total of five minutes and 52 seconds. "Big Country" has finished his opponent inside the distance in 17 of his 19 professional victories. James Krause will make his UFC debut against 15-fight veteran of the organization Sam Stout. The match up features the biggest disparity of UFC experience of any two opponents on the card. Ryan Jimmo is 17-1 in his career when fighting in his home country of Canada. "Big Deal" enters the event on the heels of his first loss since Feb. 2007. After entering the UFC with a perfect 9-0 record, Mitch Clarke is 0-2 in the organization with both losses coming to fighters who are no longer part of the UFC roster. Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton is the first female fight in UFC history to appear on the main card of a PPV. Davis will also become the first Canadian female to step in the Octagon while Sexton will be England's first representative. Evans has the longest average fight time of any active light heavyweight on the UFC roster at 13 minutes and 47 seconds. In the 12 events the UFC has held in Canada, Canadian fighters are 38-34 when facing opponents from other countries. There are seven Canada vs. the world match ups on the card. Henderson is the oldest active fighter on the UFC roster. Whether he came out on the winning or losing end, Pat Barry's last five fights have received the "Knockout of the Night," "Submission of the Night," or "Fight of the Night" bonus. Nelson's four ‘Knockout of the Night' bonuses are tied with Vitor Belfort for the second most in UFC history behind Anderson Silva. Evans has the most total fight time of any fighter in light heavyweight history at three hours, 26 minutes and 50 seconds. Tito Ortiz leads the category at three hours, 46 minutes and 49 seconds. Stout holds the UFC lightweight record for most significant strikes landed at 838. After fighting three UFC bouts in 57 days in 2012, Dustin Pague enters the event off a 308-day layoff, which is the longest of his 19-fight MMA career. Pague has lost two-straight UFC fights and three of four overall entering the event. Barry is tied with Cain Velasquez and Andrei Arlovski for second most knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight history at eight. Junior dos Santos leads the category with 11 knockdowns landed. Sexton, 35, is the oldest female fighter on the UFC roster and will be the oldest female to compete inside the Octagon. Nelson is 6-3 in his UFC career. All of his wins are by (technical) knockout, while all his losses are by unanimous decision. Evans can tie Diego Sanchez for the second most UFC victories by a winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) reality show at 13. Michael Bisping leads the category with 14 wins. After a one-fight stint in the middleweight division, Jake Shields returns to welterweight to face Tyron Woodley in the preliminary card headliner. Sean Pierson, 37, the second oldest fighter in the UFC welterweight division behind Mike Pyle. Nelson fights for the second time in a 47-day span following a first-round knockout of Cheick Kongo at UFC 159 on April 27, 2013. Evans' 49 completed takedowns inside the Octagon are the most in light heavyweight history. Maguire makes his lightweight debut on the heels of a career-worst two-fight losing streak. "The One" has fought as high as 185-pounds in his career. Stout is currently tied with Jon Fitch for participating in the most UFC fights to ever go to a decision at 13. Five of those fight have ended in a split decision with Stout going 3-2. That's a wrap for this set of UFC facts. Did you learn anything new/interesting? Do any of the facts change your perspective on Saturday night's fights? Let us know below!For more news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson," visit our complete event archive here. (Credit to UFC and Fight Metric for some of the stats)

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This Saturday’s UFC 161 card in Winnipeg may have lost its original headliners due to injuries, but with a light-heavyweight bout between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans scheduled, it made sense to move the tilt into the main event slot. The bout is crucially important for both veterans, as both Henderson and Evans are coming off disappointing decision losses to Lyoto Machida and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira respectively. Since Hendo is now 42, a defeat to Evans could bring an end to the legendary fighter’s latest title run, which has been drastically altered due a knee injury that pulled him from a fight with champ Jon Jones last September. Evans is only 33, so he still has plenty of time, but a defeat would be his third straight, and the former champ received a ton of criticism for his performance against Nogueira. One man who has faced Evans when he’s been on his game is of course Phil Davis, who lost by unanimous decision to the former TUF winner at UFC on FOX 2 last January. The defeat is the only one the rising light-heavyweight has incurred to date. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons Davis credited Evans for having solid “positioning”, and for being a great “tactician”, in a recent video interview with Fightline.com. And in terms of who’s going to win the June 15th tilt, “Mr. Wonderful” offered this: “He fights smart fights, and I think he’s going to try to get around Henderson’s overhand right and make it a real difficult fight for him. That’s just my take on it. It might go down a little different….Rashad didn’t look like himself in his last fight. Maybe he looks that way, I doubt it, but maybe he looks that way again and that will change things. That’s a whole different fight, but I’m going to have to go with Rashad on this one.” If the agile, powerful and takedowns ready Evans shows up to face Hendo on June 15th, the legendary fighter could certainly have his hands full. You can check out the entire interview and more of Davis’s analysis by heading here. Stay tuned to MMA Frenzy.com for all your UFC news and coverage. MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC Light Heavyweight Phil Davis knows a thing or two about fighting Rashad Evans. Evans handed Davis his first and only professional loss, and Davis has since defeated his last two opponents reminding the division he belongs at the top. As Davis gets ready for his UFC 163: Aldo Vs Pettis bout with Lyoto Machida, a bout with title implications, Davis broke down Rashad Evans Vs Dan Henderson which will also affect the top of the division. Check out how Davis thinks the UFC 161 main event will play out. Courtesy of Fightline: Photo Credit – Rebellion Media The post Phil Davis: ‘I’m a Big Time Hendo Fan’ appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Phil Davis believes Dan Henderson has the experience – and power – to send Rashad Evans to his third consecutive loss. However, despite being a long-time “Hendo” fan, Davis still believes it will be Evans that has his hand raised this Saturday night at UFC 161 in Winnipeg. “I am a big-time ‘Hendo’ fan,” said [...]The post UFC 161: Evans Vs. Henderson – Phil Davis Predicts appeared first on MMA Convert.

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The heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 2 competition, Rashad Evans, entered the UFC on a 5-0 winning streak with a 60% finish rate.  After defeating Brad Imes via split decision at the Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale, Evans dropped back down to the 205lbs division.  At light-heavyweight, Evans continued his winning ways with a majority [...]The post UFC 161 Fight Card: Rashad Evans appeared first on MMA Convert.

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The octagon is touching down for the first time in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada! UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson takes place June 15 at the MTS Centre and in the main event former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will be taking on former Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson. In the co-main event, Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic are scheduled to scrap and see who takes a step further up the heavyweight ladder.   As always, Fighters.com will be bringing you wall to wall coverage of the entire event, and the coverage is set to start on Saturday at 6:30 EST. UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Date: June 15, 2013 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Venue: MTS Center Main Card (PPV / 10:00 EST) Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac Preliminary Card (FX, 8 p.m. ET) Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley James Krause vs. Sam Stout Sean Pierson vs. Kenny Robertson Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa Preliminary Card (Facebook, 6:35 p.m. ET) Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Live Results And Play By Play (June 15, 6:30 EST) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans believes he knows why he has struggled in each of his past two bouts – both of which ended in losses for “Suga.” This Saturday, Evans will return to action against Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 161 from Canada. The bout is scheduled for three [...]The post UFC 161 Winnipeg: Rashad Evans Working On Not Overthinking, Just Reacting appeared first on MMA Convert.

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Check out the UFC 161 extended video preview, featuring Dan Henderson, Rashad Evans, Roy Nelson, and Stipe Miocic.

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The main event on UFC 161’s fight card will be a deciding factor in the careers of both Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans. Prior to his defeat against the seemingly unstoppable Jon Jones, Rashad “Suga” Evans was arguably one of the top contenders in the light-heavyweight division. Following his loss however, Evans put up a [...]The post UFC 161: Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans Breakdown appeared first on MMA Convert.

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UFC light heavyweight Dan Henderson came up a scorecard short of competing for the championship when he last fought, losing a Split Decision to Lyoto Machida despite doing his best to consistently attack the notoriously elusive Brazilian. Though it’s possible his headlining bout with Rashad Evans this weekend at UFC 161 could also go the distance, Henderson can at least rest assured he won’t lose as a result of Evans avoiding contact. Whether boxing or closing distance for takedown attempts, Evans is almost always on the offensive and should engage Henderson instead of trying to simply pick up points. It’s a prospect Henderson’s is more than happy to consider after his last clash, giving the 42-year old hope he’ll have a chance to return fire rather exert energy chasing Evans down. “If he does try to take me down, if he does try to strike with me, then that’s all I can ask for. That means he’s being offensive and he’s trying to come at me,” said Henderson in an extended preview for this weekend’s event. Henderson is also happy to take the fight to Evans if need be as long as he feels it’s necessary to obtain his end goal of a knockout win. “I could wrestle and take guys down more than I do, but if I did that I wouldn’t be utilizing my power,” explained Henderson. “Over the years I’ve gotten to a real happy medium where I’m taking guys down but I’m also trying to land more strikes, trying to finish fights more (but) it’s a little tougher to finish a fight with ground and pound than it is standing up and knocking guys out.” Thirteen of Henderson’s wins have come via TKO including three in the four victories he’d strung together prior to facing Machida. The full preview featuring Evans-Henderson and Roy Nelson-Stipe Miocic can be seen below: The post UFC 161: Dan Henderson hoping for offensve output from Rashad Evans appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" goes down June 15, 2013 from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. UFC commentators Jon Anik and Kenny Florian recently broke down the night's main event between 205-pound contenders Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson.

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Rashad Evans, despite all his accomplishments, never managed to win the crowd. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are a fickle bunch and Evans has a history of breaking their hearts. He captured the light heavyweight belt with a technical knockout win over Forrest Griffin at UFC 92, a title shot he procured by nearly killing Chuck Liddell at UFC 88. What do those two wins have in common? Both Griffin and "The Iceman," at the time, were two of the promotion's most popular fighters. It would also be naive to ignore the fact that some fans, deep down, were not ready or just didn't want a young, confident and talented African American fighter dancing all over their champions. I've banned enough racists in my tenure as senior editor here to vouch for that. But the former Michigan State Spartan wasn't really given a fair shake. The brash young wrestler made his first appearance under the ZUFFA banner as a heavyweight contestant on season two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). That's where Evans drew the ire of opposing coach and fan friendly welterweight champion Matt Hughes, who announced his disdain for "showboaters," after Evans popped and locked his way past Tom Murphy in episode five. Even UFC President Dana White called the fight "boring." In pro wrestling, that's referred to as a "burial." The king of the mountain squashes the new guy before he ever gets a chance to "get over" with fans. But much to Hughes' chagrin, Evans was more than just a juker and jiver. Sure, he was still green and a little rough around the edges, but his skill set could not be denied. Something Mike Whitehead and Keith Jardine, both early favorites to win the season, found out the hard way. Evans would be the only competitor to fight three times before moving on to the live finale, where he faced off against Brad Imes on Nov. 5, 2005 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The Hillbilly Heartthrob" was a true heavyweight, standing a massive 6'7" and tipping the scale at 250 pounds. "Suga" was just 5'11" and ate a big breakfast to enter the bout nearly 30 pounds less. In the opening round, it seemed the size disadvantage would be too much to overcome. Imes was able to bully the smaller man with vicious Muay Thai knees and even secured a takedown to put the wrestler on his back. "Every time Rashad works inside, he's in danger of that jab," notes cageside play-by-play man Mike Goldberg. With just over 90 seconds left in the opening frame, Evans batters Imes with a combo and the big man hits the canvas. He would stay alive and make it to the second stanza, but the tempo of the fight had forever changed. Evans, clearly more confident, controlled the remainder of the contest and in the final frame, once again put his massive foe on his ass with a furious combination. The final result was a split decision win in favor of "Suga." Fast-forward to 2013 and Evans is starting from scratch, much like he was following his victory over Imes. In the wake of consecutive losses to Jon Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the former division kingpin will make his last stand in the top 10 rankings against grizzled veteran and fan favorite Dan Henderson. Don't expect him to win the crowd, but that's nothing new these days. Evans has already defeated four UFC hall-of-famers, as well as four ex-light heavyweight champions. At this weekend's UFC 161 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which takes place on June 15, 2013 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, he can make it five. For more on his upcoming fight against "Hendo" click here.

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UFC light heavyweight Dan Henderson has put a lot of tough competitors away with the assistance of his patented “H-Bomb” including Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, and Fedor Emelianenko. However, UFC 161 opponent Rashad Evans isn’t intimidated by the prospect of eating one of Henderson’s punches. Evans spoke about their June 15 fight to Fuel TV during the coverage for UFC on Fuel 10, saying he’d obviously try to avoid the strike but not to the point it would keep him from implementing his own attack. “I can’t be afraid to get hit by it. If you’re afraid of it, you’ll probably get hit by it harder than you think,” said Evans. “I’ve fought a lot of guys with big right hands – Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell, so I know that I can get caught by a big right hand and keep fighting. I’m not going to make his big right hand a big deal.” “With that being said, I’m not going to circle to the wrong side. I’m going to avoid it as much as possible,” he added. Evans has only been knocked out once in a 21-fight career, seeing his title taken at the hands of Lyoto Machida in 2009. Comparably, the 29-9 Henderson has never suffered a strike-based stoppage. The post Rashad Evans isn’t afraid of Dan Henderson’s right hand appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Take a closer look at the top of the main card of UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson in this extended video preview. Hear from former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson, Stipe Miocic, and all of your favorite UFC analysts as they breakdown the card. UFC 161 takes place on June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Courtesy of the UFC: The post UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson Extended Preview (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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The UFC returns to Canada on June 15th, but they're headed somewhere they've never held an event before - Winnipeg, Manitoba. Unfortunately for Canadian fans, the card has been decimated by injuries and no longer resembles what it looked like just a few weeks ago. Instead of a bantamweight title fight on top, a light heavyweight bout between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans will now headline the card, with the co-main event being a heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic. Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac has been bumped up to the main card, joining Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton and Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan on the five-five PPV broadcast. Here's a look at the current card: Main Card:Rashad Evans vs. Dan HendersonStipe Miocic vs. Roy NelsonAlexis Davis vs. Rosi SextonPat Barry vs. Shawn JordanRyan Jimmo vs. Igor PokrajacFX Card:Jake Shields vs. Tyron WoodleyJames Krause vs. Sam StoutSean Pierson vs. Kenny RobertsonRoland Delorme vs. Edwin FigueroaFacebook card:Mitch Clarke vs. John MaguireYves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague Latest From Our Partners Greatest Underdog Stories (BR) Looking Back at TUF 1 Cast (BR) New Nicknames for UFC's Top Stars (BR) Weirdest Moments in MMA History (BR) Fighters on Downside of Career (BR) Best Additions to UFC Roster (BR) Bold MMA Predictions for June (BR)

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UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" is just a little over one week away and that means it's time to take an extended look at the event, featuring a light heavyweight contenders bout of Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans went unbeaten in his first 14 pro MMA fighting, with a lone draw keeping him from a perfect record. After a loss to Lyoto Machida, “Suga” rebounded to win four straight, earning himself a second shot at the UFC title. However, a loss to Jon Jones for the [...]The post UFC161: Rashad Evans Working To Get Back On Winning Side appeared first on MMA Convert.

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When Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans square off in the main event of UFC 161, both fighters will attempt to put February losses in their rear-view mirror. Evans, the former UFC light heavyweight titleholder, looked surprisingly listless in a one-sided loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156. Henderson, the former PRIDE multi-weight class and Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, lost a debatable split decision to Lyoto Machida at UFC 157. For his part, Henderson said the defeat was the end result of his inability to figure out a non-engaging opponent. Speaking on a Tuesday media teleconference promoting the June 15 event at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Henderson said of Machida, "It's hard to fight a guy who doesn't want to fight you." "Lyoto is definitely a different fighter than most everybody else who fights in the UFC, Henderson added. "I know, I didn't really perform to my best ... I was disappointed in myself, I knew I could have done some things differently, but you live and learn.' Evans, meanwhile, never got untracked against "Li'l Nog," dropping across-the-board 29-28 scores in Las Vegas. For his part, Evans said he can't take the time to dwell on what went down. "I've addressed the issues where I felt I was wrong," Evans said. "For the most part, you have to have a short memory on that sort of thing. If you hold onto it for too long, it can happen again. I've lost before, I know I have to go out there and do it to the best of my abilities. Second-guessing myself won't get me any closer to fighting to the best of my capabilities. I'm over that performance, and I am ready to move put on the fight I trained for, and my preparation for this fight has been great." It almost goes without saying that this meeting has major implications for both fighters' future. The winner very likely stays in the at the top of the 205-pound weight class, while the loser is just as likely to drop off the radar for potential challengers to champion Jon Jones. Evans says he's not going to let himself think that far ahead. "The whole title shot is not on my mind," Evans (17-3-1) said. "I just want to go and fight and whatever happens after that happens. I don't really care." Hendo, though, wasn't afraid to admit he still wants a piece of the champion, in the wake of their infamous, canceled UFC 151 bout. "Obviously, it was something that was supposed to happen last year and didn't," Henderson (29-9) said. "I'd like to fight Jon Jones. I feel like I have unfinished business there, but I'm 100 percent focused on this fight. Rashad is extremely tough and dangerous. I need to make sure I'm focused."

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold a media conference call today (Jun 4, 2013) in advance of UFC 161: "Evans vs Henderson" which will take place next weekend (June 15) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadal. The conference call will begin at 4 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening: Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic as well as UFC Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright. Both Evans and Henderson are coming off disappointing losses which knocked them out of immediate title contentions. Evans was upset by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via lackluster decision while Henderson came up short in a number one contender match against Lyoto Machida. Both men have reached the pinnacle of the sport and are looking for an opportunity to return there.. Roy Nelson has been on a spectacular run of late, winning three straight fights all via first round knockout. "Big Country" has climbed back into the top 10 and is hoping one more impressive showing will place him among the top title contenders in the UFC heavyweight division. His opponent, Stipe Miocic, was a top prospect at heavyweight before suffering the first loss of his career to Stefan Struve last year. He accepted the fight on short notice against Nelson when no one else would and is hoping ot rebound in a big way. Both Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mauricio Rua were expected to participate in the call, but with the injury to Nogueiraand with "Shogun" being unable to find a suitable replacement capable of competing in Canada on time, the bout has been removed from the event. Brian Hemminger here. The conference call will begin at 4 p.m. ET.

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Machida vs Evans -------- Belfort vs Silva -------- Baroni vs Menne -------- Vovchanchyn vs Bueno -------- Edwards vs Thompson -------- Evans vs Salmon -------- Penn vs Uno -------- Kongo vs Barry -------- Irvin vs Martin -------- Rampage vs Silva 3 -------- Williams vs Coleman -------- Machida vs Couture -------- Evans vs liddell -------- Ortiz vs Tanner -------- Franklin vs Quarry -------- Rampage vs Arona -------- Henderson vs Silva -------- Cro Cop vs Vovchanchyn -------- Shogun vs Machida 2 -------- Silva vs Rampage 2 -------- Hughes vs Newton -------- Liddell vs Couture 2 -------- Henderson vs Bisping -------- Gonzaga vs Cro Cop -------- Barboza vs Etim -------- Silva vs Belfort submitted by undead420 [link] [comment]

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans doesn’t know what it feels like to lose three straight fights. When he steps inside the Octagon against fellow former world champion Dan Henderson, Evans will be fighting to keep from experiencing that feeling. The two collide in the new main event of UFC 161 later this month [...]

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After a disappointing effort against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last February, questions started to surface surrounding UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans’ passion for pugilism. And, to hear the former champion speak about it, the criticism may have been well-placed. However, while Evans is willing to admit he did not live up to his own standards in the scrap, he has offered up assurance the same won’t be true when he faces Dan Henderson in a couple of weeks at UFC 161. “In my last fight, especially, I’ve never felt so calm and relaxed, and I just could not find that switch to be like, ‘All right – I’m about to tear this dude.’ I couldn’t find that switch. I couldn’t find it. That’s one of the things I had to go back and look at to see what happened. Why wasn’t I able to find that when I wanted to? I’ve got a lot of issues that allow me to always tap into that feeling of rage, and I wasn’t able to tap into anything,” explained Evans in a recent interview with MMAJunkie. “If you’re in shape and know how to fight, you have to put it together on fight night. But I didn’t put it together and I didn’t have the right mindset to go in there and compete. You’ve just got to be ready to fight. Throw technique and all that aside – it’s a fight. When you forget to make it a fight, you’re already losing a big advantage.” This time around, Evans has abandoned any notions of a future title-fight and instead tapped into the same forces motivating him at the start of his career. “Honestly, I just want to go out there and fight and love fighting. When you fight from that place, it brings me back to when I first started fighting. I would go and fight in these tournaments and get paid $500 to fight three guys, and I didn’t care. It was all because I liked to fight and it was fun. When you start to make it all about a title and all that stuff, it gets to the point where you feel like if you’re not fighting for a belt or a chance to fight for the belt, it’s not really worth it,” he admitted. “But you know what? It’s time to make fighting just about fighting. If you go out there and fight hard enough and put enough work in, you’re going to get a title shot. So I’m just going to let it take care of itself. I’m 33 years old, I’m still young in the sport, and I’m just going to do me and have fun in the sport. I’m not tired of fighting – I want to fight.” Evans’ loss to Nogueira dropped his record down to 17-3-1. Prior to the stumble he’d gone 4-1 in his five previous fights with the only stumble coming to champion Jon Jones. The post Rashad Evans: “It’s time to make fighting just about fighting.” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua is set to take on Antônio Rogério Nogueira at UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson, and after his first round loss to Alexander Gustafsson at UFC On FOX he decided to go back to focussing on his striking. Rua has hired esteemed boxing trainer Freddie Roach to come in and sharpen up his punches, and according to Roach its paying off. Roach even says if he lands flush on Nogueira he is getting knocked out. You can watch both Shogun and Roach talk about it below. UFC 161: Evans Vs Henderson takes place on June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In the main event, Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans will take on former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson in a three round affair. UFC 161 will be the first time the UFC has held an event in Winnipeg. Courtesy of the UFC Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The post Freddie Roach: ‘Shogun’s Improved Left Hook Will Knock You Out If It Lands’ appeared first on Fighters.com.

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While Rashad Evans is busy trying to score 50 takedowns on former Greco Roman Olympic wrestler Dan Henderson, the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champ will look to knockout "Suga" in the main event of UFC 161, which takes place at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on June 15, 2013 Or at least knock him "silly." That's a pretty high goal "Hendo" has set for himself as Evans has only been knocked out once in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. That credit goes to former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 205-pound champion Lyoto Machida back at UFC 98. But, if anyone can do it again, it's Henderson, who has demonstrated throughout his storied combat sports career he has the heavy hands to floor the best of them, boasting the highlight reels knockouts of Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva and Fedor Emelianenko, among others, to prove it. Henderson (via UFC.com) lays out his prediction: "I'm going to use the best tools that I have to try to win this fight and knocking him out is one of those things, one of my best tools. I'm definitely going to at least try to knock him silly, put him on his back that way, take him down, put him on his back there and try to wear him out. Rashad is dangerous, he's a good wrestler. He's able to just come at you and be real solid. He's good on his feet, he's solid everywhere. Rashad's accomplished a lot in MMA and it's going to be a battle. It's one of the things I absolutely love about this sport and that's why I do it, the challenge that different opponents bring. He's a different challenge than anyone I've fought, so I'm really looking forward to that. That's what gets me excited about this fight. Will I defeat Rashad Evans? Absolutely. I'm going to do everything in my power to make that happen. I'm definitely capable and I'm going to be training my ass off to make sure I can do it. As long as I'm in shape, there's nobody that can beat me." The former dual Pride FC champion (Middleweight, Welterweight) is coming off a lackluster split-decision loss to the aforementioned Machida at UFC 157 earlier this year. Prior to his bout against "The Dragon," Henderson was riding high with a four-fight win streak that included his legendary battle (and win) over Mauricio Rua at UFC 139. Evans, meanwhile, has dropped two straight decisions to current Light Heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones at UFC 145 and most recently to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156. A third straight loss inside the Octagon for Evans, who ruled the 205-pound weight class just four years ago, could spell doom. Especially if Henderson delivers on his bad fight-ending intentions on fight night.

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UFC> light heavyweight Rashad Evans is on the first losing streak of his career after dropping consecutive decisions to champion Jon Jones and, in an upset, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Evans has a chance to avoid the dreaded three-fight slide on June 15 at UFC 161 but will have to overcome a major challenge to do so, fighting Dan Henderson in the card’s headliner. Though a test as stiff as the seasoned Henderson might intimidate some, Evans is excited about proving his doubters wrong once again by beating a legend in the Octagon and already has a good idea on how to do so. “I’m excited about the opportunity to fight against Dan Henderson. He’s definitely on the top of that list of some of the best, some of the Hall of Famers that I’ve competed against,” admitted Evans in an interview with the UFC. When it comes to defeating Henderson it appears Evans’ gameplan won’t involve trading strikes but rather neutralizing his foe’s fierce fists with speed and takedown attempts. “I know what I need to do to get the results that I want to get,” said Evans. “Take down, ground and pound, and roll up our sleeves, get dirty, and go to work. I’m gonna try like fifty takedowns this fight. Fifty. If I get him down on the ground I want to ground and pound him until he’s done.” “I’m not gonna stand in front of him and try to bang it out, hope to God I don’t get hit with that big right hand. I’m gonna be smart,” he concluded. “He’s gonna wanna knock me out. Its not gonna happen. He’s not knocking me out.” The full interview with Evans can be seen below: The post Rashad Evans: “I know what I need to do to get the results that I want to get.” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans has been knocked out a single time in his 21-fight career and doesn’t plan on the second instance occurring on June 15 at UFC 161 despite opponent Dan Henderson’s notorious power. Though Evans isn’t afraid to stand with Henderson, trusting in his own ability to turn his lights out, it appears he’ll only be relying on stand-up to a certain extent. Evans recently spoke about the scrap in an interview with the UFC where he laid out his gameplan in relative detail. “I know what I need to do to get the results that I want to get…Take down, ground and pound, and roll up our sleeves, get dirty, and go to work. I’m gonna try like fifty takedowns this fight. Fifty. If I get him down on the ground I want to ground and pound him until he’s done.” “Dan’s right hand is very dangerous. I mean he just knocks them out like HARD. Like he just knocks em the hell out and they sleep for a long time.” “Let’s not confuse this whole situation, now. I’m not gonna stand in front of him and try to bang it out, hope to God I don’t get hit with that big right hand. I’m gonna be smart. He’s gonna wanna knock me out. Its not gonna happen. He’s not knocking me out.” Check out the full conversation with Evans below: SOURCE: UFC PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The post Rashad Evans: “He’s not knocking me out.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

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UFC light heavyweight Dan Henderson has faced a number of the best MMA has to offer in past pairings including a handful of fighters who formerly held divisional gold. However, he’s never crossed paths with Rashad Evans who he’ll collide with in a few weeks at UFC 161. Though Evans may have come up short in his last scrap, Henderson knows the Ultimate Fighter winner is a fierce foe and is approaching him as such even though he’s confident in his own ability to end Evans’ evening with a few well-placed strikes. “Rashad’s accomplished a lot and it’s gonna be a battle,” said Henderson in an interview with the UFC. “Those are the things I absolutely love about this sport. That’s why I do it, the challenge that different opponents bring.” When it comes to beating Evans, “Hendo” had no problem offering insight into his attack. “I’m gonna use the best tools that I have to win this fight and knocking him out is one of my best tools,” explained Henderson, saying he’d be happy to work on the ground too if one of his punches knocked Evans “silly”. “Will I defeat Rashad Evans? Absolutely,” he concluded. “As long as I’m in shape there’s nobody that’s gonna beat me.” Henderson is 29-9 and would have been in line for a title-shot had he not fallen via Split Decision to Lyoto Machida a few months back. Comparably, Evans is 17-3-1 but also lost on the scorecards in his last scrap. The full interview with Henderson can be seen below: The post Dan Henderson: “Will I defeat Rashad Evans? Absolutely.” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Legends will clash at the MTS Centre, as former champions Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson meet in the main event at UFC 161. MMAFrenzy.com

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans is not interested in getting KTFO by Dan Henderson when they go to war in the main event of UFC 161, which takes place on June 15, 2013 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Why take that chance when you can break this record by scoring 50 takedowns instead? That's the fairly lofty goal Evans has set for himself as he tries to rebound from his first-ever two-fight losing streak, which may propel him into a possible bout against the surging Glover Teixeira on his way back into 205-pound title contention. Says "Suga:" "I had a chance to compete against some of the best mixed martial artists of all-time: Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Machida, Rampage Jackson, Tito Ortiz, Jon Jones, now Dan Henderson. I'm excited about the opportunity to fight Dan Henderson. He's definitely on the top of that list of some of the best and some of the hall-of-famers I've competed against. I know what I want to do to get the results that I want to get: Trust in myself and gettin' it done. Takedown, ground and pound, roll up our sleeves and get dirty and go to work. I'm gonna try to get 50 takedowns this fight. 50. If get him down on the ground, I want to ground and pound him until he's done. Dan's right hand is very dangerous. He knocks everybody out with it, hard. He just knocks them the hell out and they sleep for a long time. I don't think it'll be a mistake to trade with him, I've got some power too. Let's not confuse this whole situation. I'm not going to go in there and stand in front of him and try to bang it out and hope to God I don't get hit with that big right hand. I'm going to be smart. He's gonna want to knock me out. It's not gonna happen. He's not knocking me out. I'm not going anywhere. I may have stumbled a little bit, fell down, but I get myself back up, dust myself off. I'm a top competitor. I deserve a chance to fight for the belt." "Hendo" has some work to do himself. The former PRIDE and Strikeforce champ is coming off a dreadful split-decision loss to Lyoto Machida in the UFC 157 co-main event earlier this year in Anaheim, California. Henderson spent most of the 15-minute bout trying to hunt down the elusive "Dragon," but the Brazilian stuck-and-moved his way to victory, much to the chagrin of MMA fans clamoring for a big finish. All will be forgiven if he can secure one against Evans. To see the entire UFC 161 fight card and line up click here and for all the news, notes and other items of interest for "Henderson vs. Evans" click here.

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Dan Henderson survey’s Rashad Evan’s strengths and weakness. Henderson and Evans will meet in the main event of UFC 161 coming live from Canada

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Renan Barao is getting some company on the injured reserves. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Isaac Vallie-Flagg has been injured and forced to withdraw from his UFC 161 prelims bout opposite Sam Stout, scheduled for the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on June 15, 2013. Stepping in to take his place is World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran James Krause. Krause (19-4) is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak and was last seen outpointing Toby Imada in the main event of Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) 6 last January. Stout (19-8-1), meanwhile, will look to make it two in a row after his split decision win over Caros Fodor at UFC 157 back in February. Giddy up. UFC 161 will feature former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, as he looks to rebound from his career-worst two-fight losing streak when he takes on former two-division PRIDE champion Dan Henderson in a high-stakes affair. The night's co-main event will see two more of the world's top 205-pound fighters go to war, as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira looks to build momentum from his UFC 156 upset over Evans when he takes on former division champion Mauricio Rua in a rematch of their 2005 "Fight of the Year," which "Shogun" won by decision. Also added to the card at the last minute was a heavyweight contest between The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10 winner Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic. Good stuff. For more news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" click here.

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In just a few short weeks, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will make its second venture north of the border in 2013, and to a new city at that, with a card carried by some of the world's top light heavyweight talent. Renan Barao was supposed to defend his interim bantamweight title against Eddie Wineland at the event, but unfortunately the Brazilian suffered a foot injury and was forced to withdraw from the card. With that said, UFC 161 is still a loaded fight card, so when and where does it all go down? The pay-per-view (PPV) fight card is set to go down from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on June 15, 2013. In the new main event, former UFC 205-pound champion Rashad Evans looks to rebound from his career-worst two-fight losing streak when he takes on former two-division Pride champion Dan Henderson in a high-stakes 205-pound affair. The night's co-main event will see two more of the world's top 205-pound fighters go to war, as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira looks to build momentum from his UFC 156 upset over Evans when he takes on former UFC champion Mauricio Rua in a rematch of the 2005 "Fight of the Year," which "Shogun" won by decision. Also added to the card at the last minute was a heavyweight contest between The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10 winner Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic. Good stuff. For more news and notes on UFC 161: "Evans vs. Henderson" click here.

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Interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao was confirmed as being officially off UFC 161 on Tuesday, where he was to headline in a title defense against Eddie Wineland. The previous co-main event, pitting light heavyweights Dan Henderson (29-9) against Rashad Evans (22-3-1) has been moved into the main event slot according to an announcement by UFC. Because the change was made after contracts for the bout had been signed, UFC President Dana White confirmed it would remain a three-round fight. According to the UFC's media rankings panel, Henderson is currently ranked as No. 3 contender behind Lyoto Machida and Alexander Gustafsson. Evans is ranked No. 7. Barao (30-1, 1 no contest) suffered torn ligaments in his right foot. Over the weekend White had said he believed it was probable he'd have to miss the June 15 show at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the company's debut in what has been a strong pay-per-view market. He was scheduled to defend his title against Eddie Wineland (20-8-1). There is still no word on whether Wineland would remain on the show, or they would attempt to book the fight later in the year. There has also been no timetable announced as to when Barao would be able to defend the title. Evans had one of the best records of current UFC headliners, before suffering decision losses to Jon Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last two fights, the latter on Feb. 2 in Las Vegas. The 42-year-old Henderson is a legend of the sport, and is coming off a decision loss to Lyoto Machida on the Feb. 23 show in Anaheim, Calif. Before the loss, Henderson was considered one of the potential top contenders for Jones' title, and was set for a title match on Sept. 1 before a knee injury forced him out of the later-canceled UFC 151 show. Generally, losing a championship less than a month out would be a major blow to a card. In this case, it's probably not going to make a major difference. While not the advertised main event, Evans vs. Henderson, being two long standing stars, would have likely had more interest than the title match in a main event position. Another light heavyweight fight, pitting former champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (21-7) against Nogueira (21-5), ranked No. 7 and No. 5 respectively, moves to the co-feature spot.

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As reported on Fighters.com, Renan Barao is out his main event bout with Eddie Wineland. The UFC has announced that light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson is the new main event of UFC 161 scheduled for June 15. The UFC has also announced that the bout will be a three round fight, and they are still uncertain if they are going to get Wineland another opponent. Barao is out of #UFC161 with an injury. Main event for 161 is now Evans vs Henderson. — UFC (@ufc) May 21, 2013   Photo  Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The post Rashad Evans Vs Dan Henderson Is Your New Main Event For UFC 161 appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Well, that didn't take very long, now did it? Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has a new main event for its upcoming UFC 161 pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 15, 2013. Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans. The two light heavyweight title contenders were promoted to the headlining spot when Renan Barao, who was originally slated to take on Eddie Wineland for the Interim Bantamweight Championship, tore a few ligaments in his foot and withdrew from the event. See all the gory details here. Henderson is coming off a dreadful split decision loss to Lyoto Machida in the UFC 157 co-main event earlier this year in Anaheim, California. "Hendo" spent most of the 15-minute bout trying to hunt down the elusive "Dragon," but the Brazilian stuck-and-moved his way to victory, punching his title shot ticket for sometime later in 2013 in the process. We think. Evans, meanwhile, dropped a lackluster decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156, allegedly "losing the desire and drive to compete," according to UFC President White. "Suga" chalked up the puzzling performance to a "mental issue," vowing to return stronger in his next appearance. Somebody gets one step closer to the 205-pound title while the other goes to the back of the division line, perhaps for good. Who ya' got? To see the entire UFC 161 fight card and line up click here and for all the news, notes and other items of interest for "Henderson vs. Evans" click here.

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It has been confirmed by the UFC that interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao is out with a previously reported foot injury. With Barao's title defense against Eddie Wineland at UFC 161 now off, the UFC has decided that light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson will be the new main event of the evening. Barao is out of #UFC161 with an injury. Main event for 161 is now Evans vs Henderson. — UFC (@ufc) May 21, 2013 No word yet on whether Wineland will still fight on the card or if he'll be removed entirely. The co-main event of Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will remain as such, but presumably they will bump one of the preliminary card bouts from FX to the PPV broadcast if Wineland does not receive a new opponent. Evans is on a two fight losing streak with a loss to Jon Jones for the LHW title and a horrendously boring unanimous decision to Lil' Nog at UFC 156. Three weeks after Rashad's defeat, Hendo came up short against Lyoto Machida in the UFC 157 co-main event. This marks the first non-title fight PPV main event since UFC 153, when Anderson Silva TKOed Stephan Bonnar in a makeshift main event following the removal of Jose Aldo from the original headlining spot. Evans/Hendo will remain a three rounder instead of a five round fight. UFC 161 is June 15th in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The main card airs live on PPV with prelims on FX and Facebook. SBN coverage of UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson

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Former UFC light heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans takes on former Pride Champion Dan Henderson at UFC 161 on June 15, and Evans knows what he has to do to win.

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Former UFC light heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans takes on former Pride Champion Dan Henderson at UFC 161 on June 15, and Evans knows what he has to do to win.

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Rashad Evans knows what it takes to work to the top of the UFC’s 205-pound division. After claiming a title on The Ultimate Fighter, “Suga” defeated Forrest Griffin to become the UFC light heavyweight champion. Since dropping the belt to Lyoto Machida, though, Evans has had troubles inside the Octagon, including recent back-to-back losses to [...]

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans was expected to come out triumphant in his February fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as a former champion and Top 3 competitor. Of course, MMA is an unpredictable sport, and Evans ultimately went on to not only lose a decision to Nogueira but look bad enough in the bout to draw questions about his desire to keep competing. Evans has heard the criticism and wants fans to know he’s confident he’ll be turning in a much better performance on June 15 when he faces Dan Henderson at UFC 161. According to an interview with MMAJunkie, Evans is clearly eager to prove his doubters wrong and prove he still belongs to be in the hunt for a title-shot. “It’s one of those things that make you come back hungrier and stronger,” said Evans. “There’s a lot of things that needed to settle in my life. I feel like I’ve settled a lot of things, and I’ll compete the way I know I can compete, and that’s just worry-free. My next fight is going to be a really good fight.” While Evans thinks he’ll be on point in the pairing with Henderson, that’s not to say he isn’t working his tail off in the gym to increase his odds of victory. “This is really a game that you never really master. There’s always a little thing that you can do better. There’s always something to learn,” Evans explained of his approach to training. “You stop learning, and you’re finished.” The 17-3-1 Evans is on the only losing streak of his career, falling to champion Jon Jones prior to the stumble against Nogueira. Similarly, Henderson is coming off a disappointing decision defeat to Lyoto Machida though he’d won four fights in a row prior to the misstep. PHOTO CREDIT – MMAWEEKLY The post Rashad Evans expects return to form for summer fight with Dan Henderson appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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It wasn't too long ago that Rashad Evans was considered the best light heavyweight fighter on the planet. "Suga" fed off a fire burning deep within him, striving to improve himself with every fight and that helped him knock out Chuck Liddell and then take the title from Forrest Griffin to become UFC champion. The same fire burned bright after losing the belt and helped him go on a solid four fight run with victories over Quinton Jackson, Phil Davis and Tito Ortiz. But since then, things haven't quite been the same for The Ultimate Fighter season two winner. Evans put forth a spirited effort against former teammate Jon Jones a year ago, the only man to last five rounds against the current champion. In his return bout against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Evans was a heavy favorite but admits he just couldn't find his rhythm, competing in a "mental fog" and losing a lackluster decision to the veteran. Now, the pressure is on for Evans, who needs to prove to his bosses that he still has the desire to be great and he can put on the type of performances fans around the world will pay to see. The former champion will battle Dan Henderson at the upcoming (June 15, 2013) UFC 161 event in Toronto and he spoke to MMAmania.com about his role as a Fuel TV analyst, getting that competitive fire back and big changes in the Blackzilian gym in this exclusive interview. Check it out: Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): You said on "UFC Tonight" that you think Alexander Gustafsson made a big mistake by going to the Swedish Commission right away when he got the cut over near his eye in training just over a week before the Mousasi fight. Could you elaborate on that? Rashad Evans: The thing is like this, people go into a fight with different things. Maybe they freaked out, but I don't think they should have gone to the commission right away. I mean, I do give him the fact that there was a chance that at the last minute, the fight could get cancelled, you're giving them a chance to replace the main event so I give them that. At the same time, you've got a little cut. Put super glue in there and get into the fight, you know? Vitor before he fought Bisping, he got cut real bad, he needed a couple stitches in his head to have it taken care of. It wasn't like it happened two weeks before the fight so in that week he wouldn't be able to train and he'd feel insecure about going into the fight. It happened just over a week before in his last training session. I would have rested it and healed up. It would have been worse if it happened a month ago. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): I can understand his and his team's concern though. We saw what happened to Dan Henderson when he didn't reveal his injury and that ended up being a complete disaster with UFC 151. Granted, a three stitch cut over your eye is different than a knee injury. Rashad Evans: Yeah, a knee injury is something different. That affects your mobility for the fight. I guess a cut puts you in a scary situation. If you've got a cut over your eye and you get punched in the eye and that gets split open again, now you're bleeding into your eye and just thinking about that could get you to fight differently. You might be rushing techniques a bit. From what I've heard, he cut himself, they told the commission and that was it. If they'd told the UFC, then UFC probably would have told him which steps to take and they'd go from there. UFC always tells us that whenever anything fight-related happens, "just call us. Call us." I think that was the mistake they made because they didn't call UFC first. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): There next questions are more centered around you. Training probably gets to be a grind, especially at this point in your career. Is it a nice change of pace to head out to the Fuel TV studios and be an analyst for an event? Rashad Evans: Yeah, it does man. I got into this sport because I'm a fan of the sport. Being in the role of the analyst I get to be a fan again. You're watching, breaking down fights and that helps you recharge and remember this is an awesome sport and it gets you excited to compete in the sport again. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): You mentioned in a recent interview that you weren't really having fun in your last training camp, that it was monotonous and it wasn't like your early days where you were still learning. What steps have you taken to help yourself have fun again in training? Rashad Evans: It's a lot of things and it comes from personal things on my end, but for the most part, it's the training environment and my training partners. Having and doing the kind of training that makes my game on point, you go through these ebbs and flows sometimes where you feel like you've been doing it so long and you just get by doing what you've been doing and it kinda gets old. After a while, you're putting it off a bit, not paying attention and not being on point and not being where you should be and after a while, it becomes a problem. I think that's something I faced more than anything, just doing something for so long and it didn't feel like what I needed to do in my heart at that point. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): Considering you've been to the top and you've been around the game for a long time now with so much experience, it probably gets hard trying to find things you can still learn and still help yourself get that much better too, right? Rashad Evans: Yeah, it does. That's what I've learned more than anything. You want to learn, to stay ahead of the curve because everyone knows all about the guys at the top of the weight class and at the same time, it's all about perfecting your style. I can't be a striker like the guy who's always been striking, but I can be my version of it. I can be my version of it and put my flair on it. I can mix in my takedown ability and my ground and pound and things like that. That's what I have to do. I'm a wrestler at heart, this is what I do. It doesn't matter who I'm fighting. I need to remember that and stick to the gameplan no matter what. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): You brought up the training environment being a key factor for you. Did the morale go up for the team when you had the 3-1 week with WSOF and Glory 5? Rashad Evans: Yeah, on a team it kind of goes like that. You have ups and downs as a team and you fight through it. The guys at the gym are training hard because they want to set us up in the right direction. We have a good team and we're all tuned in. Whoever's got a fight coming up, we rally around them, "You're next, it's time to kill it!" We dropped a couple at UFC 156 and everyone takes representing the Blackzilians so seriously. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): You guys have had a lot of coaching shifts as well and I don't think this point has been brought up enough. Van Arsdale unfortunately left and then Spierry couldn't stick around and they had to rotate in a bunch of different coaches. Do you feel like you've got some stability now that they've brought in a new wrestling coach? Rashad Evans: That was one thing we'd been missing. We didn't have a wrestling coach after we lost Mike Van Arsdale so we were missing that element of the sport in our fight game. Now we've got Kenny and it's all about everyone working together and the cohesiveness of the whole group. We have different coaches and all these different athletes. It's hard to make sure everyone's on the same page. When you find what everyone's good with, I think that's what we have right now. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): That sounds great. I interviewed Danillo Villefort before his WSOF 2 fight and he mentioned that when Van Arsdale left, the wrestling went down a lot at the gym. Rashad Evans: Yeah, Mike Van Arsdale was one of the best coaches I ever had a chance to train under. I think that Kenny can definitely put us in the right direction again. That's the flow of the fight. You have to have the ability to take the fight where you want to take the fight. If you have good jiu-jitsu, you want to take the guy down. If it's the opposite, you want to keep it standing and bang. It's so important in MMA and now that Kenny's here, I think we'll be good again. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): Do you think that will be huge for you especially because your'e facing a guy in Dan Henderson who has that Olympic level wrestling background? Granted, he doesn't use it as much as he used to but it's still something he has in his back pocket. Rashad Evans: Yeah, it's gonna be really good for me especially because I've gotten away from my wrestling. It'll be good to get back to it be able to take the fight where I want to take the fight. If I want to take him down, then I'll take him down whenever I want. My wrestling is getting strong. It's only been a couple practices and my wrestling is already starting to get back up to a good category again. Brian Hemminger (MMAmamania.com): Pressure is something people bring up with fighters pretty often and you mentioned that your back is against the wall with this fight and you fight better that way. What was a situation before where you felt like your back was against the wall and you rose to the occasion? Rashad Evans: Oh man, before I even got to be in the sport for as long as I was, my back was against the wall because I wasn't really liked in the UFC. I needed to get every chance to move up the ladder and I had that chip on my shoulder thinking like, "I have to win this fight," and it was such a pressure that I put on myself and I felt like people were rooting against me so I felt like my back was against the wall. That's where I've always competed at my best. I just had to do it. This is where I like to be. I like being in a position where everyone's counting me out and I'd like to rise to the occasion again. Rashad would like to thank his team, The Blackzilians, his management team ASM and Jaco Training Center. You can follow him on Twitter @SugaRashadEvans.

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When Ilir Latifi was announced as the replacement for injured Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 9 this weekend (April 6, 2013), the most common reaction from fans was "who?" While many are already chalking up an easy first UFC win for Latifi's opponent, former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi, one of Latifi's former teammates is singing a completely different tune. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans was a former teammate of Latifi's, who trained with the Blackzilians for several months when the team first started and he has a unique perspective on "The Sledgehammer." Evans will be breaking down Saturday's Stockholm event as a member of the Fuel TV analyst crew and he tells MMAmania.com that Latifi has more than a fair chance against "The Dreamcatcher." "He trained here for three months and he's a rough Greco guy. He has great transitions, can go from the ground to the stand-up easily. He has a lot of power and he's really strong. He's very strong. That's one thing I remember, 'Man, he's strong.' We would go at it. We'd go hard. If he's in shape, Mousasi will have his hands full." Latifi does have a strong wrestling background and he's a completely different opponent than what Mousasi originally prepared for. Unlike the 6'5 Gustafsson who's primarily a striker, Latifi is a stocky 5'10 wrestler and that could play right into what many consider Mousasi's weaknesses. Evans agrees. "I'll you what, if [Latifi's] in shape, he will shock everybody. When you watch Mousasi, in the fight's he's won, he's been the guy who can take people down and control the pace of the fight. At the same time, he has trouble against people who push the pace and can take him down." Now just how in shape Latifi is, no one really knows. The Swedish Albanian had to cut 26 pounds to make weight for the main event tomorrow. One thing Evans wants everyone to remember is you can never count a fighter out who's got nothing to lose. "This guy is fighting in his hometown and he's got nothing to lose. He's got a very dangerous opponent in front of him and he's got nothing to lose. This one could be a big surprise."

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Despite two straight losses, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is unfazed by any talk of his release should he fail to defeat Dan Henderson later this year. Evans, who was unable to get on track vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira earlier this year, talked about his loss on UFC Tonight earlier this week. I [...]

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is coming off one of the most disappointing performances of his MMA career. Despite being heavily favored heading into his bout against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Evans gave up a lackluster decision to him at UFC 156. The loss was only the third of Evans career, but pushed him back out of title contention in both the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions. He'll have a chance to redeem himself in June when he's scheduled to face former Pride FC champion Dan Henderson at UFC 161. On Tuesday's UFC Tonight, Ariel Helwani inquired about his plans if he's unable to defeat Hendo: If I lose my next fight, I would consider dropping down a weight class. If I drop down to 185 and things weren't going right, then I would think about retiring. While suffering 3 consecutive losses would be devastating to Rashad, a move to 185 lbs. would promise a lot of exciting matches and possibly a chance at Anderson Silva's title. First, he'll fight Henderson as the co-main of the June 15 event. The headlining bout will feature Renan Barao's second chance to defend his interim Bantamweight title in the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. Latest From Our Partners GSP's Top 10 Fights (BR) Best UFC Fights So Far in 2013 (BR) Worst Advice Offered to MMA Fighters (BR) Top Apps Every MMA Fan Needs to Own (BR) Worst Chins in the UFC Today (BR) MMA Fighters Poised to Make Comebacks (BR) Five Fights for Forrest Griffin's Return (BR)

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The upcoming UFC 161 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 15, 2013, could be the last time we see former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans competing at 205 pounds. That all depends on the success (or failure) of his opponent on fight night, fellow division stalwart Dan Henderson. While he's still an impressive 17-3, Evans has now dropped back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. "Suga" tells UFC Tonight a third straight may not be enough to get him shit-canned, but it would definitely warrant a move down to a lower weight class. "I watched a little bit of the (Nogueira) fight. It was a lackluster performance on my part. It was one of those life lessons. You watch a fight like that, and it's like, ‘What was I thinking? Where was my head?' It took me weeks to get my head around what I did. Dan Henderson is no secret. The power of Dan Henderson is in his huge right hand. He has great take down offensive, he has a wrestling background and he will get you on the ground and do ground-and-pound. For me, what I need to do is fight my fight. I need to have my transitions, from my punches to my takedowns, and they need to be sharp. No lazy half-shots. No pitty-pat punching. I need hard punching and hard takedowns. No, I'm not worried about losing my job. I put in a lot of good fights at the UFC and I'm confident that I'm not going to lose my next fight. If I lose my next fight, I would consider dropping down a weight class. If I drop down to 185 and things weren't going right, then I would think about retiring." Has the sport passed him by? After graduating as a heavyweight from season two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Evans dropped to 205 pounds and went on an 8-0-1 tear, culminating in a technical knockout win over Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 to claim the division title. He was subsequently upended by Lyoto Machida in his very next fight and since then, has gone 4-2. Evans failed to secure a finish in all but one of those recent victories and has also been plagued with injuries. That means the stakes have never been higher for the 33 year-old wrestler, who may not get another chance to be part of the "mix" if "Hendo" can get the better of him on fight night. Heck, he may not get another chance to do anything, if you look at what happened to the last high-profile fighter who was on a career "downside." Predictions?

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The stakes have never been higher. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will eliminate one top light heavyweight from the "mix" when Dan Henderson takes on Rashad Evans at the upcoming UFC 161 pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 15, 2013. Who is the odds-on favorite to win the fight? Nobody. Well, at least not in the eyes of the bookies (see their breakdown here), who have both fighters deadlocked at -115. I'm sure our fight fans would have a thing or two to say about that, despite the fact that both competitors have seen better days. Henderson is coming off a dreadful split decision loss to Lyoto Machida in the UFC 157 co-main event last month in Anaheim, California. "Hendo" spent most of the 15-minute bout trying to hunt down the elusive "Dragon," but the Brazilian stuck-and-moved his way to victory, punching his title shot ticket for sometime later in 2013 in the process. We think. Evans, meanwhile, dropped a lackluster decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156, allegedly "losing the desire and drive to compete," according to UFC President White. "Suga" chalked up the puzzling performance to a "mental issue," vowing to return stronger in his next appearance. The bookies are not convinced. Are you? To see the entire UFC 161 fight card and line up click here and for all the news, notes and other items of interest for UFC 161 click here.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans didn’t seem like himself during a recent loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Now, in an interview with ESPN, “Suga” is letting it be known that he wasn’t the same entering the fight. Evans will get his chance to snap a two-fight losing skid later this year when he [...]

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After former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, looking less than spectacular in the process as well, questions began to surface about how much fuel was left in the 33-year old’s tank. Evans has since come forward to admit he was feeling drained leading up to the February fight with Nogueira, allowing the pressures of real life to interfere with his commitment to MMA. Now, with a shot at beating a legend like Dan Henderson this June, Evans is feeling more passionate about his pugilistic endeavors. The 17-3-1 star recently sat down with ESPN and offered up some insight into his mindset regarding his UFC 161 scrap with “Hendo”. “It’s good to get in there with somebody like Dan and answer a lot of critics and to show everybody that I am still one of the best guys in the weight class. I couldn’t find my rhythm against Nogueira; I couldn’t find my timing. It was just one of those things. It was like I was in a mental fog.” “I must admit I did get to a point where I wasn’t having fun and went through the motions. And that’s where I am right now. “When I started fighting I enjoyed everything part of it: I enjoyed training so much, I enjoyed learning. But lately it had gotten to the point where it was something that I had to do, it’d become somewhat monotonous.” “This is the type of fight that keeps you up at night, because you want to do well. My back is against the wall. And this is when I perform at my best.” SOURCE: ESPN PHOTO CREDIT: UFC The post Rashad Evans Out to Prove He Still Belongs by Beating Dan Henderson appeared first on Fighters.com.

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If UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans looked like a shell of his former self in February when he fell by decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, it’s because he was. Evans endured a number of personal issues in 2012 including the end of his marriage and, by his own admission, lost some of his love for Mixed Martial Arts. However, with a challenge like Dan Henderson on the horizon, Evans has rekindled the spark he was lacking leading up to the bout with Nogueira and feels fans should see a “Suga” ‘Shad they’re far more familiar with. “Having the chance to fight somebody like Dan is a big deal, especially after not having the performance I would have liked [against Nogueira],” explained Evans in an interview with ESPN. “It’s good to get in there with somebody like Dan and answer a lot of critics and to show everybody that I am still one of the best guys in the weight class. I couldn’t find my rhythm against Nogueira; I couldn’t find my timing. It was just one of those things. It was like I was in a mental fog.” “When I started fighting I enjoyed everything part of it: I enjoyed training so much, I enjoyed learning. But lately it had gotten to the point where it was something that I had to do, it’d become somewhat monotonous,” concluded Evans. “This is the type of fight that keeps you up at night, because you want to do well. My back is against the wall. And this is when I perform at my best.” The 33-year old Evans is currently on the only losing streak of his career, coming up short against champion Jon Jones prior to facing Nogueira. He holds an overall record of 17-3-1 with past success against the likes of Thiago Silva, Forrest Griffin, and Quinton Jackson. Evans-Henderson is scheduled for June 15 in Winnipeg at UFC 161. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/MMAWEEKLY The post Rashad Evans: “My back is against the wall. And this is when I perform at my best.” appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans have been relatively quiet since his upset defeat to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 on Super Bowl Saturday last month. "Suga" was a heavy favorite over the Brazilian going into the fight; however, once both men were in the cage, Evans fought unlike himself by not engaging on the feet or the ground with any real sense of urgency. Fortunately for the 33-year-old, he will get the chance to wipe the poor performance from everyone's memory this June when takes on former Pride and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson in a highly anticipated 205-pound contest at UFC 161. Evans knew he had to get back in the cage quickly after the somewhat humiliating defeat, and taking to ESPN about the match up with "Hendo," Evans seems to believe it's a good match up to help him get over the defeat and "mental fog" he suffered from in his last outing. His words: "I'm happy about this fight [against Henderson]...Having the chance to fight somebody like Dan is a big deal, especially after not having the performance I would have liked [against Nogueira]. It's good to get in there with somebody like Dan and answer a lot of critics and to show everybody that I am still one of the best guys in the weight class. I couldn't find my rhythm against Nogueira; I couldn't find my timing. It was just one of those things. It was like I was in a mental fog." What is this "mental fog" that Evans speaks of? According to the Team Blackzilians product, training in Florida every day away from his family in Chicago put a strain on his relationship with his children that he had a hard time dealing with. "Having a failed marriage and not being able to see your kids on a daily basis, that's what hurts me every single day...I feel like I failed in my marriage and I failed my kids by not being in their lives on a daily basis. It's because they live in Chicago and in order for me to train I live in South Florida for the most part. I have a place in Chicago, but I'm rarely ever there because I'm always trying to train. It bothers me and I can't say that it doesn't." Coming off of back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career, Evans could be in a do-or-die situation when the Octagon travels to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, for the first time in history this summer. Evans knows three-straight defeats would do near irreparable damage to his career, and perhaps even end it. That's why he is looking at this match up as a defining point in his career. "This is the type of fight that keeps you up at night, because you want to do well... My back is against the wall. And this is when I perform at my best. In the fight business, you're only as good as your next fight. If you lose two or three then you're done. My manager Bill Robinson always says, ‘You're either one fight away from getting a title shot and becoming champion or you're two losses away from being cut from UFC.'" UFC 161: "Barao vs. Wineland" goes down June 15, 2013, from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Along with Evans vs. Henderson, Mauricio Rua takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira while Renan Barao puts his interim bantamweight title on the line for the second time against Eddie Wineland. For complete news and notes on UFC 161 check out our event archive, click here.

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UFC 161 goes down on June 15th in Winnipeg, and while the main event is a title fight where the champion is heavily favored, the other two featured bouts announced thus far are very close odds-wise. The first one is a battle between former Pride and Strikeforce champ Dan Henderson and former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Both are coming off of losses, and it appears the betting line is exactly even at the moment. There are six sites offering lines, and all of them are dead even. I can't remember the last time I saw that. The other big fight is a rematch between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mauricio Rua, and Shogun is the early favorite (but not by much): I would probably lean towards betting on Evans and Shogun right now. Rashad looked horrible in his last fight, but he's got better wrestling than Hendo and can probably avoid the H-Bomb if he fights smart. And Shogun is just a great bet at -150. He didn't look bad against Gustafsson who is way bigger than him, and Nogueira didn't really have to do much to beat Rashad. Anything under -200 for Shogun is a steal in my eyes.

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has taken a public stand in support of gay marriage. According to a report from OutSports, Evans is the latest professional athlete to sign a brief started by NFL players Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo that urges the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn any and all bans on same-sex marriage. Evans (17-3-1), who is a 33-year-old American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, wants to live in a country where equality is widespread to all avenues of life and felt supporting the brief was a step in the right direction. Evans talked to OutSports and passionately explained exactly why he felt the need to speak out in favor of gay marriage. Here's what "Suga" had to say: "I've never been a homophobe, never understood what that is all about. I knew some people who were gay and never cared about their sexuality. But at the same time, I didn't fully understand the issues around gay people until my friend BA started telling me about his full public support for gay marriage. We talked about the issue and I decided its not enough to not be against a minority, if you want things to go better for them you have to speak up with them. "I'm a UFC fighter, a macho-type sport. I am a heterosexual guy in a tough macho sport, which is exactly the reason I feel a duty to say I support gay marriage and gay rights. "I have nothing to gain personally from supporting this issue, and that's the point. Society as a whole is better when there is equality, and I want to live in a country where everyone has the same rights because we all benefit from that. "What people overlook is that is isn't a sex issue, its a love issue. There's no justifiable reason for trying to get in the way of two people who love each other. "I have kids. I don't want them growing up in a society where they, or their friends, could be second class citizens based on which person they fall in love with or who they want to be happy with." Regardless of it you love or hate The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 2 winner, he makes a number of impactful statements in his explanation of why he supports gay marriage and with such coherent, level-headed comments, Evans is proving why he is a great representative for the sport. According to the report, Ayanbadejo says NFLPA head Dominique Foxworth and Patrick Nero, George Washington University athletic director, will also sign the brief, which can be read right here.

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Rashad Evans is unsure what’s next for him, but he is sure that UFC 159′s Main Event will be a good fight. He feels Chael Sonnen has the tools needed to even the playing field against the current champion Jon Jones.

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The UFC is in the process of putting together a star-studded lineup for a summer stop in Winnipeg, Manitoba and recently confirmed a number of clashes attached to the event including a recently rumored rumble between light heavyweights Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans. However, as it turns out, the bout between Henderson-Evans won’t serve as the evening’s top tilt. No word was given on what sort of scrap will headline the affair other than to say an announcement was in the works. Of course, if Henderson-Evans doesn’t cut the mustard as a main event it stands to reason a title-fight will likely fill the slot. Also made official for the June 15 lineup were fights featuring Soa Palelei-Stipe Miocic and Mauricio Rua-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Dan Henderson-Rashad Evans confirmed for UFC 161 but not as main event appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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A matchup pitting a former PRIDE champ vs. a former UFC champ has been added to UFC 161, as Dan Henderson has been cleared to fight Rashad Evans at the event. The UFC confirmed the matchup on Tuesday night. It had been discussed for days, but required Henderson's medical clearance, a hurdle which has apparently been bypassed. Both fighters will be looking to rebound into the win column. At UFC 157, "Hendo" returned after more than a year away to a knee injury but lost a split-decision to Lyoto Machida. The defeat not only snapped his four-fight win streak, but also took him out of the running for the division's top contender spot. Meanwhile, Evans (17-3-1) is looking to snap a two-fight losing skid, with decision defeats to current 205-pound champion Jon Jones, and more recently, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. The two light-heavyweights are among two other matches that have been officially announced by the promotion. One is another light-heavyweight fight that will pit Mauricio "Shogun" Rua against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and the other is a heavyweight matchup of Stipe Miocic against newly signed Soa Palelei. UFC 161 will mark the promotion's first-ever trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The event will take place on June 15 at the MTS Centre.

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A key match-up from the 2005 PRIDE middleweight tournament will be contested again, as UFC light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua are set to face off on the main card of UFC 161. That event is planned for the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 15. USA Today reported the news overnight, which came from statements made by UFC President Dana White. Winnipeg now becomes the fifth Canadian city to host a UFC event, behind Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. Rua, 31, defeated Nogueira in 2005 in the quarterfinals by unanimous decision and ultimately won the entire famed tournament. He has been up and down in his UFC run, however, going 5-5 inside the Octagon. He earned the UFC light heavyweight title in defeating Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 in May of 2010. He surrendered it in his next bout, however, losing to current champion Jon Jones at UFC 128 in March of 2011. His current MMA record stands at 21-7. Nogueira, 36, is 4-2 in the UFC. He most recently defeated former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 156 in February of this year by unanimous decision. He holds a MMA record of 21-5. According to the report, a light heavyweight bout between Dan Henderson and Evans is also being targeted for UFC 161, pending medical approval for Henderson. Henderson, 42, most recently competed at UFC 157 in February where he lost a split decision to Machida. He is 6-3 in the Octagon during his three different stints in the organization and 29-9 in professional mixed martial arts. Evans, 33, has lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his career. In addition to his most recent loss to Nogueira, the former UFC light heavyweight champion dropped a unanimous decision to Jones at UFC 145 in April of 2012. Evans is 17-3-1 in professional MMA.

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You know those two blockbuster fights we've been yapping about for the past week or so? Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has found them a home, penciling in the Light Heavyweight match-ups between Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the UFC 161 pay-per-view (PPV) event from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 15, 2013. USA Today confirmed the bookings earlier today. Of the four, Nogueira is the only fighter coming off a win. It's two wins, actually, After beating the brakes off Tito Ortiz in late 2011, he outboxed Evans at UFC 156 just last month. "Suga" is no longer in the 205-pound "mix," which is why he's the perfect fit for Henderson (more on their upcoming fight here). "Hendo" was unable to convince the judges he was better than Lyoto Machida at UFC 157 in Anaheim. That leaves us with Rua, who like Evans, has already held the division strap. Unfortunately it's all been hit-or-miss for "Shogun" after that and the Brazilian is a mediocre 5-5 in his Octagon career. Naturally, that can all change with a win against "Little Nog" in a rematch from their PRIDE FC bout back in 2005 (details here). With the exception of a possible Tyron Woodley vs. Jake Shields bout, no other match-ups have been announced for the UFC 161 fight card; however, keep it locked in to MMAmania.com for all the latest and greatest updates as they become available.

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When UFC President Dana White pointed to the likelihood of a bout between highly-ranked light heavyweights Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans there was no doubt the duel was essentially a done deal. Now the two talented 205ers have a probable date and location for their fight. According to TATAME, Henderson and Evans are set to square off at UFC 161. The card is expected to take place on June 15 in Winnipeg. MMAJunkie also confirmed the possible pairing, saying Henderson still needs to be medically cleared from his clash with Lyoto Machida before the outing becomes official. Henderson came up short on the scorecards to Machida last month at UFC 157. The loss laid waste to a four-fight run for the fan-favorite including victories over Fedor Emelianenko and Mauricio Rua. He holds an overall record of 29-9 with fifteen finishes. Evans (17-3-1) also suffered a stumble in his last fight, losing to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in early February. The performance was a far cry from far more impressive showings in the past such as those against Quinton Jackson, Tito Ortiz, and Forrest Griffin. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Dan Henderson-Rashad Evans targeted for UFC 161 in Canada appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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A pair of interesting light heavyweight fights are in the works for the UFC’s scheduled Canadian card in June, according to Tatame.com. Dan Henderson would meet Rashad Evans, while Mauricio “Shogun” Rua gets Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 161. Henderson (29-9) is coming off a loss to Lyoto Machida last month, while Evans (17-3-1) was [...]

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UFC president Dana White shot down Rashad Evans’ recent request to meet Mauricio “Shogun” Rua during an appearance on UFC Tonight. “No, that fight’s probably not going to happen. If any fight happens, it would probably be Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson,” White said. Evans made reference to facing the fellow former UFC light heavyweight [...]

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Two exceptionally talented light heavyweights in need of a win could see action against each other in the near future, as UFC President Dana White recently revealed his matchmaking team is considering a clash between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. Evans suffered a surprising decision loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156, while Henderson’s effort against Lyoto Machida last weekend wasn’t quite enough to land him the judges’ nod. Evans expressed interest in mixing it up with Mauricio Rua during Fuel TV’s coverage of UFC 157, though White dismissed the possibility before pointing to Henderson as the more likely option. Henderson (29-9) had won four fights in a row before falling on the scorecards to Machida and owns past victories over the likes of Rua, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Rich Franklin, and Fedor Emelianenko. Comparably, Evans is 17-3-1 with notable triumphs against Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Quinton Jackson. SOURCE: Fuel TV PHOTO CREDIT: UFC The post UFC Looking at Bout Between Rashad Evans-Dan Henderson appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Over the weekend, UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans expressed interest in a match-up with fellow former champ Mauricio Rua. As intriguing as the pairing may be, it looks like the meeting is unlikely to materialize anytime soon as the UFC matchmaking team has a different outing in mind for Evans. UFC President Dana White addressed the matter this week on UFC Tonight where he explained Rua wasn’t being targeted for Evans, instead pointing to Dan Henderson as the leading candidate for the clash. Both Henderson and Evans are coming off disappointing decision losses, putting each in need a significant win if hoping to make a run towards the title in 2013. Evans has dropped his last two tilts, falling to champion Jon Jones last April and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira earlier this month. He holds an overall record of 17-3-1 with past wins over the likes of Tito Ortiz, Phil Davis, Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, and Quinton Jackson. The 29-9 Henderson’s loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 157 snapped a four-fight winning streak including success against Rua and Fedor Emelianenko. Fifteen of his victories have involved some form of finish with thirteen TKOs to his credit. No date/event were mentioned in relation to the potential rumble. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Rashad Evans’ next opponent likely Dan Henderson, not Mauricio Rua appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight kingpin, Rashad Evans, and former Pride FC dual champion, Dan Henderson, could soon find themselves locked inside a cage together, fighting to avoid back-to-back losing streaks. UFC President Dana White revealed the possible 205-pound mixed martial arts (MMA) match on tonight's edition of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV; however, nothing is official at this time. That means that no potential event, date nor venue are known, either. Henderson is coming off an "action-packed" (serious sarcasm) split decision loss to Lyoto Machida in the UFC 157 co-main event this past weekend (Feb. 23, 2013) in Anaheim, California. "Hendo" spent most of the 15-minute bout trying to hunt down the elusive "Dragon," but the Brazilian dinged and darted his way to victory, punching his title shot ticket for sometime later in 2013 in the process. To add insult to injury, Henderson's good friend and training partner, Chael Sonnen, had to lick Evans' shoe (see the pic here) on live television for losing an on-air bet. Evans, meanwhile, dropped a lackluster decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 earlier this month. "Suga" was teed up for a possible 185-pound title fight against Middleweight champion Anderson Silva next; however, he allegedly "lost the desire and drive to compete," according to White. Evans, meanwhile, chalked up the puzzling performance to a "mental issue," vowing to return stronger in his next appearance. And that could very well come against Henderson -- not Mauricio Rua who his FUEL TV co-hosts Sonnen and Kenny Florian suggested to White on the broadcast this evening -- if the promotion can get the talented pair to ink bout agreements for a date and time to be determined in the very near future. Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, henderson, mauricio rua, evan, injury hendersons

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Rashad Evans has experienced two straight losses for the first time in his career, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion isn’t planning on leaving the sport anytime soon. Evans, who was defeated by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira earlier this month, was part of the FUEL TV weigh-in show for UFC 157 Friday, and made sure [...]

Posted in: ufc, loss, rashad, rashad evans, evan

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President Obama doesn't have large shoes to fill. The guy is like a size 9. Bigfoot Silva has large shoes to fill -- that's the reason why he's actually named 'Bigfoot.' His feet would be magically delicious if he could place purple horse shoes on and soak them in milk so they can get all soggy. It would be pretty hilarious if Bigfoot Silva underwent the process of binding his feet like women do in traditional China. Actually that ritual is just an archaic method of physical deformation, as evidenced by this picture. Although it can't be any different than Western cultures adapting the African ritual of ear lobe stretching. Now imagine Bigfoot Silva getting his ear stretched -- that thing could replace Saturn's ring. Rashad Evans may have large shoes to fill, but it's Chael Sonnen's job to lick them. That's right, Sonnen made a bet with Evans that if Dan Henderson lost to Lyoto Machida at UFC 157, he would lick Rashad's shoes -- and my god he really did it. Check out the video below of the saliva-filled antics.

Posted in: dan henderson, evan, bigfoot, shoe, bigfoot silva

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Prior to UFC 157, UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen stated that he would lick the shoe of Rashad Evans if his former teammate, Dan Henderson, lost to Lyoto Machida. Sure enough, Henderson would drop a decision to Machida and Sonnen stayed true to his word and licked the shoe of Evans in the Post-UFC 157 post-fight show on FUEL TV. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, rashad evans, evan, lyoto machida, shoe

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans looked off in his last outing, dropping a decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 and subsequently suffering the first losing streak of his career as a result. While Evans’ stock may have gone down some based on the lackluster showing, the former champion’s spirits remain high as does his confidence level. Both qualities were on display last night during Fuel TV’s coverage of UFC 157 when Evans used the platform to call out Mauricio Rua. “It would be a great fight and something to see. ‘Shogun’, where you at? Call your manager, call Dana White. It’s on,” Evans exclaimed. Rua is not currently scheduled for action, making the match-up an actual possibility if “Shogun” is so inclined. The talented 205ers were supposed to fight in March 2011 for the Brazilian’s divisional belt before Evans went down with an injury, opening the door for Jones to step in and ultimately become champion (as he remains today). Evans is 17-3-1 in his career with notable triumphs over Quinton Jackson, Phil Davis, Forrest Griffin, and Chuck Liddell. Comparably, Rua is 21-7 with eighteen knockouts including those over Griffin, Liddell, Jackson, Lyoto Machida, and Alistair Overeem. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Rashad Evans interested in shot at “Shogun” Rua appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans may be on the first two-fight skid of his nine-year career, but "Suga" wants to assure his supporters that he will be back better than ever. After suffering an upset loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156: "Aldo vs. Edgar" earlier this month on Super Bowl Saturday, many fans were left wondering what happened to the 33-year-old. He was a huge betting favorite coming into the fight, but his performance didn't show anything to resemble it as his Brazilian opponent outpointed him en route to a unanimous decision win. Evans (17-3-1) was extremely tentative going into the fight and his lack of aggression was surprising to most, especially considering the fact he was coming off a significant defeat to current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and had a massive fight against Anderson Silva in his sights. The Niagara Falls born fighter has been quiet in the weeks following just the third loss of his career; however, on Friday's (Feb. 22, 2013) UFC 157: "Rousey vs. Carmouche" weigh-in show, Evans served as an analyst and opened up on the fight for the first time. His words: "Wow, wow! I thought I was going to do the whole show without someone bringing up that ... why!?!?!? But, since you brought it up, it was a hard fight for me, one that I lost. It was a mental fight for me and I lost it mentally-speaking. I had a great training camp, but no matter how far you are -- and no matter how long you have been in this sport -- it happens and you have to make sure you are ready to fight on all levels. But, I'm going to be back! [points to camera]." Evans said prior to UFC 156 that he had been mulling over the idea of retirement as of late, and while he may not have said exactly what he meant by losing the "mental fight," it seems likely that a lack of focus is what cost him a win. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 2 winner did not go into details regarding when he would like to get back into the Octagon, or any potential opponents, but he did enthusiastically assure fans he will be back in top form.

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By the time he stepped foot inside the Octagon as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight number one contender, enigmatic karateka Lyoto Machida already boasted wins over three former UFC champions, including Rich Franklin, B.J. Penn and Tito Ortiz. And he knocked out Stephan Bonnar just for shits and giggles. Little was known about the Brazilian's true potential following his ZUFFA debut in early 2007 and despite a cool-sounding nickname like "The Dragon," he failed to light a fire under the asses of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans, thanks to three consecutive unanimous decision wins over mediocre competition. In short, he was boring. Most of his fights were heavy on footwork and light on action. Opponents found it difficult to engage the fleet-footed urine drinker and outside of a submission win over power-punching Cameroonian Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, there was little reason to expect anything different when he went head-to-head with another undefeated Brazilian in Thiago Silva. Machida was a -260 favorite heading into their UFC 94 co-main event. If a knockout was coming, most expected it to be from Silva, who was also 13-0, but ended 12 of his 13 wins by way of violent finish -- nine in the first round. But, as is often the case in combat sports, what's predicted can often be the exact opposite of what transpires. Silva was knocked clean out with just one second left in the first round at the same event that featured a 21-year-old Jon Jones making his mark against "The American Psycho" in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now, the only thing that stood between Machida and the 205-pound strap was Rashad Evans. The former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 champion had abandoned his post at heavyweight to test his might in the 205-pound class. "Suga" knocked out Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin en route to the division's summit, thanks to a volatile combination of speed and power. Despite those credentials, the champion still entered his main event title fight against Machida, held at UFC 98 on May 23, 2009 in "Sin City," as a +150 underdog. Here's why. Referee Mario Yamasaki gets the action underway and there will be no touch of gloves as Evans bobs and weaves before getting on his merry-go-round and circling left. Machida creeps in with a wide stance, hands held high. Neither fighter appears to be in any kind of hurry to close the distance. A full minute goes by with no action and the boo birds begin to take flight. Evans telegraphs a low kick that sails wide. Another minute expires and that's the only offense to speak of. "This is a battle of patience," explains UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. Before broadcast partner and play-by-play man Mike Goldberg can expound, Machida uncorks a left high kick that sends Evans in reverse and right into the fence. "Suga" retaliates with his version of the E. Honda hundred-hand slap. Seconds tick away as the champion paws at the lead hand of Machida, who cracks him with a body kick. Evans fires back with one of his own and just misses being swept by the challenger. Another kick from "The Dragon" and they briefly tie up but then push off and reset. With 60 seconds left to fight in the opening frame, Machida opens up and floors him with a left to the kisser. Evans tries to scramble but the Brazilian is in beserker mode, unloading with ground and pound and looking to finish. The champion finds his feet and returns himself to the upright position, but is on rubber legs. Machida chases him around the cage with kicks before time expires and Evans will live to see another round. At the start of the second stanza, the crowd erupts into an impromptu chant of 'MACHIDA! MACHIDA!' The new king of Las Vegas thanks them with a hard kick to the body followed by a deceptively quick body lock that drives Evans into the cage. "The Dragon" pushes off and Evans nearly connects with an uppercut. They meet in the center and Machida unleashes a furious combo, but is forced to retreat when the champion proves he can give as good as he gets. The challenger resets and they exchange body kicks. The clock moves at a snails pace as Rogan explains the history of karate. Then, disaster strikes. Evans tries to close the distance and Machida takes his legs from him with a left to the chin. "Suga" gets back to his feet on mere instinct and falls backwards into the cage with the challenger in pursuit. "The Dragon" ends the fight with a violent flurry that stiffens his prey, stripping him of the belt in the process. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Machida era," exclaims Rogan. While it would prove to be more error than era, with a 3-3 record following the highlight of his career, the Brazilian can once again try to reclaim the throne by defeating fellow top contender Dan Henderson, who will make his own case for a 205-pound title shot in the co-main event of UFC 157 this Saturday night (Feb. 23, 2013) in Anaheim, California. Will it be the dawn of a new "Era?"

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans did not look like his old self during a recent loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Evans, who has lost just three times in his MMA career, did not make any excuses for the performance. He did, however, vow to return in a post he wrote on Instagram recently. [...]

Posted in: ufc, rashad evans, return, evan, mma career

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Rashad Evans has lost back-to-back fights and UFC president Dana White believes the former light heavyweight champion has lost his drive.

Posted in: rashad, rashad evans, evan, drive, backtoback fights

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Dana White gives his opinion on the reasons behind Rashad Evans' lackluster performance at UFC 156.

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MMA Junkie reports the salaries for UFC 156.  Despite losing on Saturday night, Rashad Evans and Alistair Overeem top the list of fighters as the UFC had a payroll over $1.7 million. Via MMA Junkie: Jose Aldo: $240,000 (includes $120,000 win bonus) def. Frankie Edgar: $120,000 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: $174,000 (includes $67,000 win bonus) def. Rashad Evans: $300,000 Antonio Silva: $70,000 (includes no win bonus) def. Alistair Overeem: $285,714.29 Demian Maia: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Jon Fitch: $66,000 Joseph Benavidez: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Ian McCall: $9,000 Evan Dunham: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Gleison Tibau: $33,000 Tyron Woodley: $87,000 (includes $43,500 win bonus) def. Jay Hieron: $12,000 Bobby Green: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Jacob Volkmann: $22,000 Isaac Vallie-Flagg: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Yves Edwards: $21,000 Dustin Kimura: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Chico Camus: $8,000   Payout Perspective: Interesting that Edgar and Aldo make the same base amount.  Evans is a draw and his salary reflects it.  It will be interesting to see what happens when/if his fight contract ends to see what the UFC will do in terms of restructuring (read:  lower).  In addition, Overeem’s $286K (rounding up) purse will include ⅓ of his $1 million signing bonus.  So, Overeem will make approximately $619K for Saturday night.  Its not known if any of his purse/bonus would be paid to Golden Glory as part of that settlement.  We still list Evans as the top paid for the card based on the reported payouts excluding any other bonuses not reported. An interesting fact is that 7 out of 20 or 35% of the fighters had $10K/$10K (show/win) or lower fight contracts and 4 out of 20 or 20% of the fighters had $100K/$100K contracts. (via MMA Supremacy).

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Despite a very disappointing loss on Saturday night, Rashad Evans earned the biggest reported payday at UFC 156 with $300,000.

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The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the payroll for this past Saturday’s UFC 156 fight card. Fighters Alistair Overeem and Rashad Evans may have been on the receiving end of the night’s most shocking upsets, but their hefty paydays are sure to soften the blow of their respective losses. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo ranked third among the highest paid fighters. As always, these numbers are just the base pay for fighters and do not reflect additional money paid towards the fighters like signing bonuses or performance bonuses. Full UFC 156 Payouts: Jose Aldo: $240,000 (includes $120,000 win bonus) Frankie Edgar: $120,000 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: $174,000 (includes $67,000 win bonus) Rashad Evans: $300,000 Antonio Silva: $70,000 (includes no win bonus) Alistair Overeem: $285,714.29 Demian Maia: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) Jon Fitch: $66,000 Joseph Benavidez: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) Ian McCall: $9,000 Evan Dunham: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) Gleison Tibau: $33,000 Tyron Woodley: $87,000 (includes $43,500 win bonus) Jay Hieron: $12,000 Bobby Green: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) Jacob Volkmann: $22,000 Isaac Vallie-Flagg: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) Yves Edwards: $21,000 Dustin Kimura: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) Chico Camus: $8,000 Francisco Rivera: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) Edwin Figueroa: $10,000 MMAFrenzy.com

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Rashad Evans earned $300,000 for his co-main event loss at UFC 156 this past Saturday night. Evans, who was defeated by Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, earned the largest paycheck from the card. Jose Aldo picked up $240,000 for his main event win over Frankie Edgar. Aldo successfully defended his UFC featherweight title. Complete fighter salaries, which [...]

Posted in: ufc, event, evan, fighter salaries, aldo

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As it turns out, Rashad Evans was actually contemplating retirement earlier this year. That may or may not surprise some mixed martial arts (MMA) fans. After all, "Suga" has done well for himself since winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 2 as a Heavyweight, crushing Forrest Griffin for the 205-pound strap and racking up wins over the likes of Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell and Phil Davis. Now he's licking his wounds after back-to-back unanimous decision losses. The most recent of which came at the hands of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who outstruck Evans for the better part of three rounds at the UFC 156 pay-per-view (PPV) event last Saturday night (Feb. 2, 2013) in Las Vegas, Nevada, drawing an interesting critique from UFC President Dana White in the process. "I like Rashad a lot. He's a good guy, a smart guy. But he's lost that hunger. He's lost that desire and drive, and he needs to get it back. There's no doubt about it. He needs to get hungry again. Back in the day, he used to get a little paranoid. He was always a little paranoid. But he would always do the right thing. He needs to get that fire back. He doesn't have that fire. He needs to get it. Rashad used to train like a beast. Rashad never used to get tired. The only time you saw Rashad get tired was when he first came into the UFC and fought Tito (Ortiz) in that first fight. Then after that he turned into an absolute beast. He's gotta get it back. If that word (retired) even comes out of your mouth in this business, it's a negative. It's bad. The fact that he even said the 'R' word shows you where his head is at and what he's thinking." See the rest of White's comments here (skip to 09:30). Evans may have lost some of that fire after dropping a unanimous decision to nemesis Jon Jones last year in Atlanta. "Suga" and "Bones" had a personal relationship turn sour under the tutelage of Greg Jackson, but the Blackzilian was unable to exact revenge at UFC 145 and failed to reclaim the division title in the process. And now he's out of the "mix" for the foreseeable future. How about it, Maniacs, does anyone think Evans is floundering in the prime of his career? Or does he just need to take some time off and find himself again? See what else happened at UFC 146 in our live results and recap thread by clicking here.

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Rashad Evans was the top earner of a star-studded UFC 156 field, taking home $300,000 in a losing effort against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira ($174,000) in Saturday’s co-main event.

Posted in: ufc, event, rashad, evan, home

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Rashad Evans and Alistair Overeem were both the big winners and the big losers at UFC 156, taking home the night's biggest purses but also losing out on the biggest bonuses as well as likely title shots. Evans, the former UFC light-heavyweight champion who probably would have been offered a chance to drop to middleweight and face Anderson Silva if he had won, had the night's largest guaranteed purse, earning $300,000 in his unanimous decision loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira according to numbers released to MMA Fighting through the Nevada state athletic commission. Overeem's purse was the very specific amount of $285,714.29. How costly were the losses for both men? Evans lost out on a cool $215,000 win bonus, while Overeem could have earned an additional $142,857.14 if he had won. The defeat will also keep Overeem from facing heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez. Event headliner and featherweight champion Jose Aldo pocketed $240,000 total for his unanimous decision win over Frankie Edgar at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Aldo earned a $120,000 purse and the same-sized win bonus for defending his belt for the sixth straight time. Full UFC 156 salary information is below. Jose Aldo - $240,000 ($120,000 purse/$120,000 win bonus)Frankie Edgar - $120,000 Rashad Evans - $300,000Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - $167,000 ($107,000/$67,000) Antonio Silva - $70,000 ($70,000 purse/$0 win bonus)Alistair Overeem - $285,714.29 Demian Maia - $120,000 ($60,000/$60,000)Jon Fitch - $66,000 Joseph Benavidez - $60,000 ($30,000/$30,000)Ian McCall - $9,000 Evan Dunham $46,000 ($23,000/$23,000)Gleison Tibau - $33,000 Tyron Woodley - $87,000 ($43,500/$43,500)Jay Hieron - $12,000 Bobby Green - $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000)Jacob Volkmann - $22,000 Isaac Vallie-Flagg - $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000)Yves Edwards - $21,000 Dustin Kimura - $16,000 ($8,000/$8,000)Chico Camus - $8,000 Francisco Rivera - $16,000 ($8,000/$8,000)Edwin Figueroa - $10,000 Note: The above numbers only reflect guaranteed amounts, and do not include any bonuses including pay-per-view revenue earned by some of the promotion's biggest names. For example, Aldo and Edgar each earned another $50,000 apiece after their bout was pegged as the Fight of the Night. So did Silva and Green, who won Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night, respectively.

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Most folks expected light heavyweight Rashad Evans to notch a victory on Saturday night against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, emerging as either a continued threat at 205 pounds or a top contender if able to successfully drop to middleweight. However, Evans suffered the first losing streak of his career thanks to a decision defeat to “Little Nog” at UFC 156, falling on the scorecards after failing to land the type of offense previously earning him a reputation as one of the division’s top stars. UFC President Dana White was amongst the group expect Evans to win and was more than willing to share his surprise when asked about the tilt by MMAJunkie. “To be honest with you, Rashad and I have a good relationship. I like Rashad a lot. He’s a good guy, a smart guy. But he has lost that hunger. He’s lost that desire and drive, and he needs to get it back. There’s no doubt about it,” stated White. “He needs to get hungry again.” “Back in the day, he used to get a little – what’s the word I’m looking for? Paranoid. He was always a little paranoid. But he always did the right thing. He needs to get that fire back. He doesn’t have that fire. He needs to get it,” he concluded on Evans’ uninspired outing this past weekend. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Dana White disappointed with Rashad Evans’ performance at UFC 156 appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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UFC President Dana White was clearly unhappy with the way the co main event played out at UFC 156: Aldo Vs Edgar, and he made a rather cryptic statement about former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Evans lost the uneventful bout with Antonio Rogerio “Minotouro” Nogueira, and at the post-fight press conference White said he thought Evans lost the fire to compete in the octagon. Check out the video below of Evans talking about this very subject from the media event before the fight. Evans also talks about realizing his mortality as a fighter, and that one day in a few years this will all be over.  Courtesy of MMAHeat: The post Rashad Evans Talks About Regaining His Love For Fighting Before His UFC 156 Loss appeared first on Fighters.com.

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In the co-main event of UFC 156, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira took advantage of an unusually sluggish Rashad Evans and managed to pick up a unanimous decision win. The bout was certainly slow, with Evans trying to stop Nogueira's jab by playing pattycake with him and not really initiating his own striking that often. He spent forever setting up his huge right, and when he finally landed it and Nogueira was still there, Evans looked a little helpless. Evans didn't bring his vaunted wrestling to the matchup either. He did get one takedown, but most of his five attempts were lethargic at best and easily avoided by Lil Nog. In the end, Rogerio was able to find a home for his jab and landed enough kicks to take two rounds. All three judges had it 29-28 for the Brazilian fighter. What was the high point of the fight? There wasn't one. It was a pretty dreadful bout overall. Where do they go from here? Nogueira just beat one of the top light heavyweight fighters in the world, and is probably in the top five now. But can he actually hang with the very top of the division, or did Evans just have a really bad night? With most of the division booked up, the only real option for Lil Nog if he wants to fight again relatively soon is to meet Glover Teixeira. Evans looked brutal, and it was easily the worst performance of his UFC career. It cost him a possible middleweight title shot, and probably a ton of credibility. Nonetheless, he's still a draw and should probably meet Mauricio "Shogun" Rua next. Watch now, later, or never? Never. Between Evans' not really fighting, Nogueira being happy to land what he could, and Rogan's grating commentary, the bout was the definite lowlight of an otherwise entertaining card.

Posted in: bout, nogueira, lil nog, evan, nogueiras jab

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Despite having a bitter history with former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans is sad to see "Rampage" go, especially because "Suga" believes his former nemesis never lived up to his full potential inside the Octagon. Jackson had a messy falling out with UFC management prior to the final fight of his contract, which took place against Glover Teixeira last month at UFC on FOX 6. The Tennessee native made his displeasures with the organization very well known; making it very unlikely he is going to mend his relationship with the UFC brass. That's disappointing news to the ears of Evans, who shared his thoughts on Jackson at the UFC 156 "Ultimate Media Day" event, saying he is sad to see "Rampage" go and believes he is a fighter who never truly realized how talented he was during his time with the UFC. His words: "I'm going to miss ‘Rampage' man, I'm going to miss him a lot man. He was a great talent. And the sad part for me with ‘Rampage' is I don't think he ever realized how talented he was, you know? And that's one thing I wish that he would have realized how talented he was. I hope that he rediscovers some things for himself and find out that he is all fighter and that this is - he needs to be fighting on the biggest stage right now, and that's with the UFC, you know, and I hope that him and Dana [White] and the UFC make up and he comes back. I would love to see him compete again he's one of my favorite fighters, he's one of those fighters who inspired me to start training, so for him to come back and to really rediscover the fighter that he is and realize the potential, for me it would be great." After a heated rivalry as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10, Evans and Jackson squared off in one of the most anticipated light heavyweight fights in UFC history at UFC 114 in May 2010. Evans came out of the fight as the winner by way of the decision, arguably triggering the beginning of Jackson's downward spin. Following the loss to Evans, "Rampage" went on to lose three of his next five fights with the two victories over Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill coming in lackluster fashion. Jackson is currently in the midst of a 30-day freeze period following the conclusion of his contract, but once that is complete he will be able to begin negotiating with any possible suitors interested in his services. However, according to UFC President Dana White, the UFC has the right to match any contract offers for up to three months. Following his defeat to Teixeira at UFC on FOX 6, Jackson admitted he doesn't know if he "can compete with the top people anymore," leaving even further doubt about a return to the UFC. Will the 34-year-old ever step foot inside the Octagon again? It doesn't look that way. And Evans sees that as a real shame, because he believes Jackson still has what it takes to defeat the best fighters in the world.

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Two long-time light heavyweight veterans clashed for the first time last night (Feb. 2, 2013) as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira took on former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans in the co-main event of UFC 156 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Evans had a ton on the line, potentially an opportunity to drop down to 185 pounds and challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight title, but he had to get through Nogueira first. But that wasn't nearly as easy as the over 5-1 odds for Evans suggested. In all honesty, this fight was atrocious and the less said about it the better. Regardless..... Early on, Evans pressed the action, flashing a jab in Nogueira's face while looking for the killshot. He wasn't able to score the huge knockout blow, or even hurt Nogueira, but he was able to land enough to keep "Little Nog" on his heels in the opening round, including scoring a brief takedown. By the second round, Nogueira had caught on to Evans' game. Since "Suga" wanted to simply keep it standing, Nogueira realized he could just go to work with his boxing, keeping his distance and throwing just enough jabs and straight left hands to outpoint the former champ. Evans refused to aggressively pursue the takedown like Nogueira's previous opponents who had defeated him and he made it easy. With the fight in the balance, Evans just continued to stay overly patient, playing patty cake with Nogueira via his lead left hand popping out over and over. The killshot he'd been looking for never came and by the time the fight was over, Nogueira had done enough in rounds two and three to win a unanimous decision 29-28 across the boards. For complete UFC 156 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here and here.

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There weren’t many people picking Antonio Rogerio Nogueira to beat Rashad Evans last night at UFC 156 outside of the Brazilian’s camp and fanbase, but MMA is a funny sport in that it rarely delivers the expected result. When the smoke cleared, Nogueira’s standup looked superior to Evans’ and he was rarely threatened with takedowns, opening the door for “Minotoro” to score a decision victory over the former light heavyweight champion. UFC President Dana White was asked to assess Evans’ outing shortly after the event’s conclusion, telling MMAJunkie he’s gotten the impression the Ultimate Fighter winner’s heart is no longer in it. “To be honest with you, Rashad and I have a good relationship. I like Rashad a lot. He’s a good guy, a smart guy. But he has lost that hunger. He’s lost that desire and drive, and he needs to get it back. There’s no doubt about it.” “He needs to get hungry again.” “Back in the day, he used to get a little – what’s the word I’m looking for? – paranoid. He was always a little paranoid. But he always did the right thing. He needs to get that fire back. He doesn’t have that fire. He needs to get it.” SOURCE: MMAJunkie PHOTO CREDIT: UFC The post Dana White Believes Rashad Evans Has Lost His Desire to Fight appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Last night’s lineup for UFC 156 was a roller-coaster ride UFC President Dana White was happy to be on. The evening was full of finishes and featured a few unexpected results including Antonio Silva and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira taking out Alistair Overeem and Rashad Evans respectively. Shortly after the show’s conclusion the elated executive spoke with Fuel TV where he reflected on the PPV match-ups. White explained he had featherweight champion Jose Aldo beating Frankie Edgar on the scorecards in their hard-fought headliner, giving “The Answer” credit for his performance but also stating, “I don’t think it grants an automatic rematch.” “I like him a lot better at 145,” White continued on Edgar. “When he’s in there with those 155 pounders, he’s the ‘Rocky’….he’s the ‘Gatti’. He takes those shots. Taking those shots, while we respect it, it’s not a good thing long term. I’d rather see him in there with guys that are his own weight.” As far as Nogueira’s win over Evans, White was not necessarily shocked by the Brazilian’s ability to come out victorious so much as the lack of offense from Evans. “He looked terrible. I’ve never seen Rashad look as bad as he looked (against Nogueira),” assessed White, later criticizing Evans’ teammate Overeem for a similarly strange showing against Silva. The full conversation can be seen below including White talking about a potential title-shot for Silva, Demian Maia’s dominance over Jon Fitch, and more: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Dana White comments on main card clashes at UFC 156 appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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LAS VEGAS -- You only had to see Frankie Edgar's face to know what disappointment looks like. As he always does, Edgar gave his everything in pursuit of victory, but for the third straight time in a title fight, he lost. After completing his post-fight medicals, but before a likely trip to the hospital to get checked out, he walked into the UFC 156 post-fight press conference about two-thirds of the way through it, owing nothing to anyone but appearing out of a sense of duty. This is part of what makes Edgar great. He is accountable for his actions, whether in the gym, in victory or in defeat. It was painful for him to be there, that much was clear. He sat down and stared ahead blankly until Demian Maia tapped him on the leg. That seemed to briefly awaken Edgar, who turned and shook his hand, glumly offering congratulations to the victorious Brazilian that sat alongside him. Then he turned back towards the media and fell into the same trance. He wore a black sweatshirt with a hood over his head, and covered his mouth with his right hand, but he could not hide his chagrin or the damage. There was the swollen left eye, and cuts and bruises, and strained pride. Edgar answered each question that came his way in his typically condensed speaking style, saying all the right things. That there was no point in second-guessing the judges' decision. That he felt fine as a featherweight. That Aldo was a deserving champion. And then as soon as the press conference ended, he was the first one to dart off the stage. It was that kind of night, one in which you left the arena or turned off your television only to ask, "What just happened?" Did Demian Maia easily out-grapple Jon Fitch? Did Antonio Silva really knock Alistair Overeem's block off? Did Antonio Rogerio Nogueira just upset Rashad Evans? Yes, yes and yes, and that wasn't nearly all of it. In 10 fights with legitimate betting favorites, underdogs won six times. Debuting Strikeforce fighters went 3-0 against UFC veterans. Brazil went 4-0 on the main card. Tyron Woodley had a 36-second starching of Jay Hieron and didn't even win a Knockout of the Night bonus.What just happened? How about a night of surprises, lost opportunities and chaos.In the arena, the night's most electric moment came courtesy of the heavyweights when Silva brutalized Overeem, folded him right in half with some brutal strikes against the cage. Partly due to his superhero build, Overeem had seemed prime to become a superstar in the UFC. He had already crushed Brock Lesnar, and fans had little issue with forgiving him for his suspension for elevated testosterone levels a few months later. He got a star reaction when he walked out to the cage, and a win would have set up a major money matchup against Cain Velasquez. But Overeem was fairly flat in the first two rounds, even though he won both on all three judges' scorecards. It looked as though he'd cruise to a unanimous decision when Silva caught him with a giant right hand early in the third and mauled him until the finish, leaving Overeem crumpled on the floor and the division in tatters."When he punches, he’s a lion. When I punch him, he’s a cat," Silva said. Of course the quiet Brazilian guy who has spoken English the shortest amount of time got off the line of the night. Of course he did.Overeem wasn't the only one to lose out on a major fight due to an unexpected loss. His teammate Rashad Evans suffered a similar fate when he was upset by the biggest underdog on the card, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Before the fight, Dana White said that Evans could move on to fight Anderson Silva. All he had to do was win. But if Overeem was flat, Evans was downright bad in a performance that was incongruous with his talent level. Over 15 minutes of action, Evans landed only 22 strikes. "Rashad looked worse than I’ve ever seen him tonight," White said. "He looked terrible."It doesn't help that Evans' performance came on the heels of a mini-bombshell he revealed days ago, that he considered retirement in the wake of his loss to Jon Jones because he'd struggled to rediscover his passion for the sport. "The fact that he even said the 'R' word, it shows you where his head is at and what he's thinking," White said.Who knows what lies ahead now? We're now living in a world where Edgar is no longer a title contender, Overeem's aura is shattered, and Evans could suddenly be over the hill at age 33. To be fair, there was the good news, too. Aldo wrote another chapter in his blossoming legacy, Nogueira earned a signature win, and Silva came off as the most lovably scary giant since Fezzik in "The Princess Bride." But the best-laid plans? Those were shattered. No record-tying second divisional title for Aldo. No Overeem-Velasquez mega-match. No Evans vs. Silva. What comes next? Who knows, right Frankie? "I don't know what I'm doing, man," he said. "To be honest with you, it's just too soon." The disappointment was reflected on his swollen face. At that moment, staring back at him were a sea of faces that registered a similar feeling: confusion. The rest of us are going to need time to digest it, too, the night that the answers led to more questions.

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Rashad Evans and Alistair Overeem were each upset on the main card of UFC 156 on Saturday evening.

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LAS VEGAS -- No camp had more to gain at UFC 156 than the Blackzilians. And as it turned out, none had more to lose. Alistair Overeem lost out on a UFC heavyweight championship fight when he was knocked out by Antonio Silva, and in the very next fight, the potential of Rashad Evans moving to middleweight to fight kingpin Anderson Silva went up in flames after he was upset by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. All three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Nogueira. The Brazilian came into the night as the biggest underdog on the card, as Evans was nearly a 6-to-1 favorite in the closing line of the sportsbook at the host Mandalay Bay. But it was Nogueira's superior hands that got the job done, along with a vastly improved wrestling game. Evans was only able to complete one of five takedowns, but only held down Nogueira for a few seconds before he popped back up and made the fight a striking contest again. In that world, Nogueira used a crisp jab and an accurate, straight left to score points, while Evans struggled to find his target. Evans fell to 17-3-1 with the first two-fight losing streak of his career. Nogueira is now 21-5.

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Well, that wasn't what anyone expected. Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira were placed in the co-main event of UFC 156 because Zuffa thought it would probably be a good fight. Well it wasn't. In fact, it was pretty horrible. Evans looked nothing like he usually does, throwing lethargic strikes and putting nothing behind his patented takedowns. Nogueira wasn't exactly awesome either, but he did enough with his jab and some kicks to take a unanimous decision. All three judges had it 29-28 for the Brazilian. The pace was very measured early, with both men playing a version of pattycake to establish their range. Nogueira looked to establish his jab while Rashad was setting up a home run shot. He landed his big right after setting it up for over three minutes, but only staggered Nog a bit with it. He got a takedown near the end of the round, but Nogueira got up immediately. The second round was pretty tepid as well. The two men couldn't really establish any rhythm or sustained striking, and just exchanged single shots throughout. Rashad was stopping Nogueira from firing his jab most of the time, but it still got through now and again. Evans went for a takedown once again and got Nog to his butt, but he got right back up. Evans landed a nice right hook with a minute to go, which was probably the best strike of the round. Evans closed with a high kick that Nogueira blocked. Nogueira appeared to be the more active fighter over the first half of the last round, getting his jab to connect with more frequency. Evens poked Nogueira in the eye, but it didn't change the momentum much for Evans. Rashad finally showed some urgency late, but he he couldn't get a takedown or connect with anything appreciable.

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Although it was lacking in the same hype as the heavyweight slugfest that took place before it, the co-main event of UFC 156: "Aldo vs. Edgar" tonight (Sat., Feb. 2, 2013) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featured a compelling contest of two light heavyweights who have just sort of been floating around in space. Rashad Evans had gone nearly a year without fighting, rearranging his entire career after his decision loss to Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones back at UFC 145. His opponent, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, dealt with injuries over the last year and had missed even more time than "Suga." Something had to give. Right? It didn't seem like it would after a couple rounds. Evans likely took the first but his general malaise led to his likely dropping the second, though to be clear, neither fighter was overly aggressive and the pace was relatively slow throughout. In fact, one could argue for any manner of scoring. The third round featured more of the same, as Evans failed to land the punches he was throwing while "Lil' Nog" stayed on the outside and occasionally jumped in for a jab or two and a kick from distance. Rashad's late takedown attempt failed and the boo birds came out to shower the two with a chorus of disrespect for a bizarre contest between two usually great fighters. Then again, UFC 156: "Aldo vs. Edgar" might as well have been known as UFC 156: "Bizarro." When the horn sounded, both fighters raised their hands while the crowd cheered only for the merciful end. The judges came in with a verdict in favor of Nogueira by way of 29-28 scores across the board. Huh. For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage from UFC 156 click here.

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The Evan Dunham gas tank went a little too deep for Gleison Tibau.

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The co-main event at UFC 156 takes place in the Light Heavyweight division. Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (17-2-1 MMA; 12-2-1 UFC) faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5 MMA; 3-2 UFC). This is the fourth of five PPV main card fights. UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar airs live from Las Vegas this Saturday night, February 2, with the PPV main card beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. This is an interesting fight, though perhaps more intellectually than in actual practice. These are two very technically skilled, intelligent fighters. Both are capable of winning the fight in different ways, and have faced the sport's elite. Expect them to show off those technical skills in a classic MMA human chess match style of fight. The question is - how fast paced and exciting will that chess match be? For that answer, we'll have to wait until Saturday night. How do these two stack up? Evans: 33 years old | 5'11" | 75" reachNogueira: 36 years old | 6'2" | 75" reach What have these two done recently? Evans: L - Jon Jones (UD) | W - Phil Davis (UD) | W - Tito Ortiz (TKO)Nogueira: W - Tito Ortiz (TKO) | L - Phil Davis (UD) | L - Ryan Bader (UD) How did these two get here? Suga Rashad Evans had a tremendous rise through the UFC ranks, winning the Light Heavyweight title as an undefeated fighter in 2008. But since losing the belt to Lyoto Machida, he has had a weird road, definied primarily by feuds with Jon Jones and Rampage Jackson, and serious periods of inactivity. Evans sat out the majority of 2009, had a layoff of over a year from mid 2010 to mid 2011, and is now coming in off yet another 9 month gap. He's still one of the best in the world, but seems lost right now, with all of the momentum from his title run vanished. There's talk of him dropping down to 185 to face Anderson Silva - it will be worth watching to see if that comes up tonight. More on UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, or Lil' Nog as he has long been known to hardcore fans, is a decorated Pride veteran. Like his twin brother Minotauro Nogueira, Rogerio is a jiu jitsu expert, though he has also developed a strong boxing centric stand-up game. His UFC run has been largely uneventful, with a decent but overall forgettable 3-2 run that has been primarily defined by his losses to a younger generation of wrestler. His last fight was a win over Tito Ortiz in December 2011. Nogueira is a great fighter, but how much longer will he keep on? Why should you care? I'm interested to see how this one plays out, but admittedly, it will likely be a more technical battle, and could end up being a bit more dull, especially compared to some of the other fights on this main card. Still, I'm interested to see how Rashad does, and what Nog has left in the tank. Latest From Our Partners Worst MMA Moments of 2012 (BR) Most Heated Rivalries of 2012 (BR) Top Unsung Heroes of 2012 (BR) Most Popular Fighters of 2012 (BR) Best Gyms/Trainers of 2012 (BR) MMA's Biggest Losers of 2012 (BR)

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The past few days have featured talk from UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans, as well as UFC President Dana White, regarding the possibility of Evans dropping down to middleweight and challenging champion Anderson Silva. Of course, to receive true consideration for the task, Evans has to defeat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira tonight at UFC 156. As such, Evans hasn’t lost sight of his actual scrap in favor of one that may or may not materialize in the future. The former 205-pound champion reiterated that point during a conversation with Fuel TV after weigh-ins where he made it clear he’s taking his career one tilt at a time. “There’s no extra pressure for me because the fight remains what is. Not until this fight is done can we even talk about (Silva), talk about everything that comes along with it as far as making weight too,” explained Evans after being asked about his recent attachment to potential action against the pound-for-pound great. Evans also assured fans he’s as hungry now as he’s ever been despite talk last year about retiring from MMA with gas left in the tank. “I just get tired of everything that comes along with fighting but being away from the sport helped me get that fire back; helped me appreciate and understand why I do this,” confirmed the 33-year old who hasn’t fought since a loss to Jon Jones last April. Nogueira-Evans is set to serve as this evening’s co-headliner. As usual, the PPV broadcast starts at 10:00 PM EST and Five Ounces of Pain will be providing live results for readers unable to watch. The complete interview with Evans can be viewed below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Rashad Evans not thinking about Anderson Silva entering UFC 156 appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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The UFC 156 co-main event tonight (Feb. 2, 2013) between Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a mixed martial arts (MMA) match up between two of the better 205-pound fighters on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster. However, it is an odd duck because a 185-pound title shot could result from it for "Suga" should he win impressively (read more on that here). After an impressive Octagon debut where he brilliantly dissected Luis Cane via knockout, Nogueira's problem with power grapplers became a recurring factor in performances. Struggling to a razor-thin decision win over Jason Brilz, he was then decisioned by Ryan Bader and Phil Davis, with the same issues apparent -- mileage in the game, modest takedown defense and the relative resistance of opponents to submissions, compared to his earlier days in Pride FC, limited his success. However, Nog remains a durable veteran with solid boxing and tons of experience; Evans' task is to dictate the action and win rounds in such a fashion as to capitalize on the buzz he'd create if he dropped to Middleweight. It's a matchup that completely favors Evans, whose blend of wrestling and striking give him options aplenty to dictate the pace and style of the bout. Check out a complete breakdown of the UFC 156 co-main event between Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira below: The Breakdown Nog has been off since his Dec. 2011 stoppage of the faded Tito Ortiz, recovering from a knee injury, which are always tough, particularly at 36 years old after a long career. Evans' return after his five-round domination at the hands of division champion Jon Jones brings some questions, too. How well will he perform having been completely whitewashed last April? Evans has always been once of the best gameplanners in the sport, as his smart blend of tactics have given him considerable success that outweights his relatively modest wrestling credentials. He's also always in top condition, which will be key for him to register a big performance against what could be a Nog that fades down the stretch. For Nog, he's definitely aware that this is a bubble fight for him to keep himself from being relegated several notches down the light-heavyweight pile. Will he take risks if he falls behind? Will he open up his strikes if he's outwrestled early and clearly loses rounds? It won't be enough to put together a modest performance -- it's almost certain that Evans will surge ahead early, forcing a meaningful response from Nog if he's to get the win. The Pick Evans' striking is probably good enough to stay at least even with Nog, and maybe even hurt him. His ability to land solid shots on minimal openings is excellent, and his quickness and footwork are really solid assets. He'll flit in and out and use angles, establishing his stand up while wearing down Nog; the Brazilian has shown improved takedown defense in recent bouts, but Evans will simply keep mixing in strikes and tie-ups en route to getting it to the mat. From there, by mid-fight, Evans will be landing hurtful ground-and-pound enough to build a clear lead on judges' cards. By the third, he'll have stunned Nog enough to mount a big closing flurry that will prompt a referee stoppage. Evans via third-round knockout Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the UFC 156 PPV main card action, which is slated to start promptly at 10 p.m. ET. Up-to-the-minute updates and fight-by-fight coverage will begin to flow earlier than that, however, around 6:30 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook and FX. Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst.

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Rashad Evans has been added to the debate for Anderson Silva's next opponent. UFC President Dana White thinks he is the no. 1 contender if he wins his fight against Lil' Nog and decides to drop to...

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Poor Little Nog. I'm not being a smart-ass wise-cracker either ... my heart sincerely goes out to lovable Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). The light-heavyweight is a sibling and mirror image of former Pride and UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira but, despite his best efforts and intentions, he's been unable to mirror his brother's greatness. Don't worry -- no one could ever really do that. You might find legends with better records or bigger wins throughout the history of MMA, but you won't a find a legend with a bigger heart than Big Nog. Unfortunately, you might not find a fighter who's endured a longer list of more stylistically unfriendly opposition than Rogerio has in the UFC. The brawl-prone southpaw cemented his rep as an ultra-exciting fighter overseas, mostly in the Pride FC ring, with electrifying wins, such as his genuinely epic war with former UFC 205-pound champ Mauricio Rua, which is still a staple on "Best Fights Ever" lists, or his arm-bar win over top UFC light-heavyweight contender Dan Henderson, or the TKO stoppages over UFC heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Vladimir Matyushenko. UFC match-maker Joe Silva has been a consistent behind-the-scenes catalyst for the organization. The man is brilliant. Yet, beyond his debut opponent, Luiz Cane, Little Nog hasn't seen an inch of daylight from the man shuffling the cards, who stacked the deck with stiff wrestling competition in the following order. D2 college wrestler Jason Brilz: ehh, do-able. (Nogueira was out-wrestled but won a controversial split-decision.) 2-time D1 All-American wrestler Ryan Bader: sheesh, OK. Don't make it a habit. (Nogueira was out-wrestled and lost a semi-controversial decision.) 4-time D1 All-American Phil Davis: c'mon son. Seriously? (Nogueira was out-wrestled and lost a unanimous decision that few had the basis or energy to dispute.) Hall of Famer and record holding (most consecutive light-heavyweight title defenses) ground-and-pound master Tito Ortiz: thanks for the shotgun instead of the bazooka. (Nogueira exhibited ideal wrestling defense by stuffed a takedown and finishing with a 1st-round flurry of punches and elbows.) And now, in the co-main event of UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar: aww, nice win in that last one, Little Nog! Good job. Here. Fight former champ and elite takedown artist Rashad Evans (17-2-1). Feel better. The icing on the cake is that, in the phone book of stellar wrestlers Nogueira's encountered, "Suga" Rashad is the most polished and threatening on the feet of the whole bunch, not the mention the most fluid in blending his striking and takedowns. And with the best submission defense. And with the most experience, against better competition. Oh, and he might get a title shot at untouchable middleweight champ Anderson Silva a weight class south with a win on Saturday, so this is also a quasi-title-shot for the loftily elevated Evans as well. So, while Noguiera's plate was already quite full with youthfully exuberant, up-and-coming wrestling phenoms with average to good striking, he'll have to make room for the smartest, the most complete, the most accomplished and, overall, the best and most formidable wrestle-boxer he's ever faced. The significant advantage in striking that Nogueira, a bronze and gold medalist boxer at the South American Games, enjoyed over his previous opponents will shrink too. Regardless of technique or fundamentals, Evans is shockingly silky on the feet for a wrestling-based fighter, enough so that "wrestling-based fighter" might no longer be an apt description. Since the footwork and stance of MMA striking contrasts sharply with that of wrestling, adding functional striking prowess to the ol' arsenal can be a tedious chore for a wrestler, and few have made the transition as fluently as Rashad. Evan's boxing finesse could be good or bad. On one hand, it could mean Rashad won't be as desperate to force predictable takedown attempts, and will spring with well-timed and explosive level changes to catch Nogueira by surprise. Or, it could also mean that Nogueira will finally have an opponent willing to trade with him, which will offer more opportunities to connect with his scorching overhand left, or hooks with either hand that are violently delivered in rhythm after an artful slip or parry. Nogueira is a heavily experienced and highly polished boxer as well, and the only fighter to ever finish Rashad by TKO -- or really even out-strike him on the feet besides a 3rd-round spurt by Thiago Silva -- is Nogueira's stablemate and fellow southpaw Lyoto Machida. I don't expect Nogueira to mimic the quantum physics of Machida's movement or footwork, but wreaking some of the same havoc Machida did by rifling straight lefts down the pipe is a viable reality. The interplay of lead-foot position between an orthodox-stanced fighter and a southpaw can be crucial. The key for Machida was the way he harpooned his straight left down the pocket but bolted off in a hard-right pivot upon the release rather than planting his feet and staying centered. Machida was also successful with left kicks: he landed a few low kicks, but mixed in some of his voodoo trickery on occasion by turning the kick into more of a foot sweep that off-balanced Evans when he checked it; this ploy later opened up the door for Machida to go higher and blast Rashad's body with mid-range kicks. Evans has a distinctly heavy front-leg stance, which could also be a target for inside low kicks. The catch is that Evans' front leg protrudes that way because he's crouched low and ready to spring for a takedown when his opponent plants his feet and commits to a strike, which makes any type of kick a risky option. Overall, Nogueira is a tough-as-nails veteran with extremely potent boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His grappling has been geared almost solely on defense against strong wrestlers, as he has trouble threatening with legit submissions without the ability to control posture and most opponents respected his grappling skill and didn't engage him for too long on the mat. Evans has been excellent on top, he's never been submitted and he definitely isn't easy to sweep (even though Little Nog has one of the best half-guard sweeps around). It's no surprise that Evans, for all the reasons listed herein, comes in as a hefty favorite on the betting lines. However, even though I'll end up giving him the nod, the odds don't reflect how dangerous and diverse Nogueira still is. He's a technical and powerful boxer, his clinch knees and dirty boxing can be hazardous, he's tough to hold down and he can end the fight on the feet, in the clinch or on the floor. And even though takedowns decided his fate recently, he still definitively warded off more takedowns than he allowed and his takedown defense is quite sound. My Prediction: Rashad Evans by decision. Poll Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Evans Little Nog   2 votes | Results

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Rashad Evans says fans will see a new fighter Saturday filled with a passion he has for his new team, one he refers to as family.

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Jose Aldo vs. Frankie EdgarBrent Brookhouse: Edgar has good boxing, Aldo has VERY good striking. Edgar has to work a wrestling game while also not getting hit, and not getting hit is something he isn’t very good at. Edgar is a legitimate top tier fighter but this just seems like a bad fight for him. Maybe Aldo is very rusty, or maybe I’m underestimating Edgar, but I think tendencies favor Aldo and I think he can do it early. Jose Aldo by TKO, round 1.Tim Burke: Edgar’s speed advantage is gone. Aldo’s takedown defense is extremely good. Apparently Aldo has a cut over his eye that might get opened up, but I don’t have a lot of concern of his time out of the cage. Cage rust does affect some fighters for sure, but Aldo’s just too athletic to succumb to that in my eyes. Yes, Edgar is perennially undervalued. But I think there’s a solid case for Aldo finishing this fight, and that’s what I expect to see. Jose Aldo by TKO, round 2.KJ Gould: Jose Aldo’s time off is the main concern for anyone who’s a fan of his or thinking about putting money down on him. He’s fortunate in a sense that an infection is easier to overcome than a knee ligament ailment that requires precise surgery to correct, but we have seen his stamina wane in his fight against Mark Hominick. Edgar is as durable as they come, and cardio has never been an issue. While on the countdown Aldo claimed Edgar would be coming in weaker because of the weight cut, I don’t buy that Edgar and his team would cut weight that badly. We have though, seen Aldo cut weight badly if the behind the scenes videos of him struggling are anything to go by, so I wonder if Aldo was projecting when he said that. Edgar just doesn’t get the respect he deserves as a fighter, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he shocks the world again against a rusty Jose Aldo. I also fear the refereeing and judging may have more impact in this fight than it has any right to. Frankie Edgar by Decision / Jose Aldo by Mazzagatti early stoppage.Mookie Alexander: If Aldo’s health wasn’t a question mark I’d pick him without hesitation. I’m still picking him to win, but with a little bit of doubt in my mind. Edgar is a great fighter and definitely the better wrestler, but I don’t think that the obvious flaws he has magically disappear by dropping 10 lbs. He is very hittable, and while he can take a hell of a shot, Gray Maynard hasn’t finished anyone in 6 years. Ben Henderson hasn’t recorded a finish in his last 6 fights. When Jose Aldo has you hurt, you’re practically doomed. Edgar’s best chance of winning the fight is essentially repeating his performance against BJ Penn (the rematch), because there is pretty much zero reason to believe he can finish Jose. Aldo is a younger, more dynamic fighter and a totally different style than Penn, and I see him turning on the jets in the middle of the 2nd round with a bevy of kicks and punches to send Edgar to his first career stoppage defeat. Jose Aldo by TKO (kick and punches), round 2.Fraser Coffeen: Oh man, this fight. So very hard to call here. I wrote up a whole thing about why Edgar would win - he’s got the superior wrestling, he can take a shot and keep coming, and he’s skilled on the feet. And logically, I think he has every reason to win this. But at the end of the day, I just can’t envision it happening in my head. So I’ll go with Aldo outpointing him, though probably not to the point of stoppage, though I imagine I will second guess this pick right up until fight time. Jose Aldo by decisionT.P. Grant: To parrot Fraser, oh man this fight. So many points to go back and forth with. Edgar has strength, wrestling, decent enough boxing, and can take a punch. However questions abound, how will the cut effect his cardio and his speed? Ben Henderson showed that you can work leg kicks on him, Maynard showed he can be hit by a competent striker and Aldo is more than competent. And Jose Aldo isn’t without questions heading into this fight, how will he respond against a large, strong wrestler? How will he look after over a year away from fighting? How will his weight cut go, because Aldo has had bad cuts in the past and he sure as heck isn’t getting any smaller. I’ve gone back and forth on this fight, but in the end I feel Frankie Edgar struggles with guys when he can’t dictate the takedown game and while Aldo is actually a pretty good wrestler, so was B.J. Penn. I’ll take Edgar by a very slim margin. Frankie Edgar by Decision. David Castillo: Like everyone else, I’m not sure how to assess this scrap. Aldo is not immune to looking lackluster, whereas Edgar always looks to be in stellar shape. He’s also been in with much better competition, and his strengths will benefit him here he’ll get Aldo to the ground. The problem here for Edgar is that Aldo is a beast in the scramble, and so long as he can successfully limp leg his way out of tight spots, he’ll land punches and get to Edgar over the course of five rounds. I think Aldo’s knees will be the difference here. Edgar needs to land often over 25 minutes. Aldo just needs to land one. The "five rounds favors the more dynamic fighter" principle is the difference in this one. Jose Aldo by Decision. Chris Hall: T.P brought up a great point the other day about Aldo’s history of injuries. He’s yet to have a UFC fight scheduled that wasn’t moved due to injury. Chances are that eventually that will catch up to him, but I doubt that will happen tomorrow. Aldo is a terrible stylistic match Edgar. His devastating striking and takedown defense should allow him to succeed where Gray Maynard failed. Jose Aldo by TKOStaff picking Aldo: Fraser, Mookie, David, Chris, Tim, BrookhouseStaff picking Edgar: Grant, KJ, Stephie, DallasRashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio NogueiraBrent Brookhouse: Nogueira has had trouble with fighters much worse than Evans in the past. Evans can probably win this on the feet with relative ease and can probably just get takedowns and win it from the top with even more ease. Nogueira has some pop though and maybe he can catch him. Rashad Evans by decision.Tim Burke: Seriously, how can Lil Nog win this fight? A knockout is the only somewhat-possible scenario, and that’s extremely unlikely. Rashad’s wrestling and sub defense are going to keep him out of any danger. A finish would be impressive, but I think we’re just going to see a pedestrian 15 minute light heavyweight fight. Rashad Evans by decision.KJ Gould: It’s hard to see this go any other way than for Evans. Nogueira looked surprisingly crisp when he finally got into the UFC, but has consistently struggled against athletic wrestlers. Evans striking is good but his transitions between striking and takedowns are among the best in the game, and he’s experienced enough to not be troubled by Nogueira’s guard game. The question for me is, can Evans finish Nogueira, or will it go to a decision? Rashad Evans by decision.Mookie Alexander: I really didn’t like this fight when it was booked, and I definitely fear it will be a lopsided but non-exciting 15 minutes. Rashad is still an elite LHW and he really only has to gameplan for Lil Nog’s left hook, and I think he’s improved enough as a striker not to get caught with that. He’ll probably score takedowns in all 3 rounds, display positional dominance, and land enough ground-and-pound to ensure he wins 30-27. I just hope that after this fight is over, Joe Silva can give Lil’ Nog nothing but strikers so he can finish his UFC career with fun fights. Rashad Evans by unanimous decision.Fraser Coffeen: This pick reminds me of last week’s Rampage vs. Teixeira fight - I have no doubt who wins this, but the question is how? At this point in their careers, Evans is just flat out better than Nog in nearly every aspect. The one place Nog has an advantage is in the submission game, but Rashad is no dummy, and won’t let himself get drawn into that game. Evans does have the heavy duty KO in him, and he’s shown it at times, but against a Nogueira? Unlikely. Rashad Evans by decision T.P. Grant: This one is pretty straight forward. Evans is going to win short of a miracle punch or submission by Nogueira. Evans losses to Machida and Jones came when he couldn’t control the distance of the fight and clinch when he wanted to, and I see nothing in the flat footed boxing of Slightly Smaller Nog that will give Evans that sort of trouble. Evans tends to get tired late in fights, but so does Nog, so I don’t see that being a huge issue for Evans. I think Evans reminds everyone that he does have some power and speed in his hands and lands a clean punch for the finish. Rashad Evans by TKO, Round 2. David Castillo: I doubt Evans scores a finish, but Rashad takes this one comfortably. Diet-Nog is too flat footed, and plodding to make Evans uncomfortable. Rashad will find his rhythm, landing punches, hitting double legs, and win the decision. Rashad Evans by Decision. Chris Hall: The odds pretty much say everything about this on. Rashad is pushing being a 5:1 favorite over Lil Nog and with good reason. Aside from his victory over Tito, Nog just has not looked great in the UFC. On top of that, he’s coming in off an even longer layoff than Evans. That said, the Nogueira’s are known for their ability to absorb incredible beatings so he should see the final bell. Rashad Evans by Decision.Staff picking Evans: Fraser, Grant, Mookie, KJ, David, Stephie, Chris, Tim, Dallas, BrookhouseStaff picking Nogueira:Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio SilvaBrent Brookhouse: This is what it is. Silva got a win over Browne and that’s enough to position him in this fight. Overeem SHOULD have to win a fight after his suspension rather than just be put into a title fight, and this is as safe of a legitimate fight as there is for him. Nothing wrong with the fight, but it’s pretty clear how this one goes. ...but wouldn’t it be crazy if we were all wrong? Alistair Overeem by TKO, round 1.Tim Burke: Silva hits hard, but he’s totally outclassed on the feet here. Overeem’s so much faster it’s not even funny. And if Silva tries to take it down, he probably gets his huge head stuck in a guillotine. All Reem, all the way. Alistair Overeem by TKO, round 1.KJ Gould: This is a gift fight for Overeem. Nothing can convince me otherwise, and Silva is to be sacrificed so Overeem can show off his destructive capabilities and ‘earn’ his title shot. I don’t see Silva pulling off the upset, but should Overeem balls up his opportunity -- especially given his nonsense behaviour surrounding his drug testing and licensing for UFC fights thus far -- he’ll be one of the biggest busts UFC have ever had. Alistair Overeem by TKO.Mookie Alexander: Silva is clearly a top 10 HW so I shouldn’t say he doesn’t have a chance in this one … but he doesn’t have a chance in this one. This fight is tailor-made for Overeem to look impressive against a credible opponent so he can get a title shot. Overeem busts Bigfoot up on the feet and finishes him with a knee to his leee-ver. Alistair Overeem by TKO, round 1.Fraser Coffeen: I’m the first one writing my picks, so will be fascinated to see if there any arguments why this isn’t a Reem 1st round win. So, does he do it by strikes, or with his superb guillotine? We’ll go with the former, preferably by Ubereem knee of death. Alistair Overeem by KO, round 1T.P Grant: Well Fraser wants to know how this isn’t a first round win for the Reem, and all I’ll say is he better win all of his UFC fights in the first round because even by MMA Heavyweight standards the Reem gasses hard. Silva has shown that guys who can stop his takedowns who also have hand speed and power are his bane, and that pretty much fits the bill in Overeem. But I don’t think Silva is a dead dog, Overeem gets hit and, historically speaking, doesn’t tend to like it. His boxing guard is rather porous, as Werdum was able to put hands on him with regularity and Silva has power. Reem should win, but a Silva punch or a successful takedown followed by some ground and pound could have the wheels come off the Reem train real quick. Alistair Overeem by TKO, Round 1. David Castillo: I’ll be the skeptic and say that Overeem, minus the steady diet of horsemeat and banned substances, doesn’t kill Silva until the second round. Silva is too hittable (by design) to avoid one of Overeem’s right hand, so he’s going down to be sure. Still, I can see how Silva would look like a dangerous opponent on paper, in retrospect should he win. He’s talented, and despite his KO/TKO losses, mostly durable; the kind of guy I’d pick to win going into the 3rd round against someone like Overeem. Not that it’s gonna happen this time. Alistair Overeem by TKO, round 2. Chris Hall: We all knew what this was when the fight was originally announced. It’s a chance for the UFC to give Reem a respectable win before sending him on his way to a title fight. And that’s exactly what will happen here. Bigfoot’s chin won’t be able to handle the power striking from Overeem and he’ll get put down early. Alistair Overeem by KO, Round 1Staff picking Overeem: Fraser, Grant, KJ, David, Mookie, Chris, Stephie, Tim, Dallas, BrookhouseStaff picking Silva:Jon Fitch vs. Demian MaiaBrent Brookhouse: Great matchmaking again here. Maia has two finishes in a row, but one was a fluke injury thing against Kim. So really he has a finish in his last fight, a badass neck crank of Rick Story. Still, before that it was eight fights in a row, dating back to 2009, since he got a finish. Fitch is not an easy guy to finish which means this almost certainly goes long and Maia does tend to fade against guys who fight like Fitch. I imagine Maia is going to get tired after one round and get beat up for the next two. Jon Fitch by decision.Tim Burke: In case you didn’t know this, I LOVE THIS FIGHT. This is my main event. I’m so torn on how to pick it though. Fitch’s wrestling seems to be the thing that the fight hinges on, but Maia has the ability not not get laid on. His bout with Mark Munoz (a much bigger wrestler) was very close. And Fitch kinda scared me when he got stick in an Erick Silva RNC. I’m going to lean Fitch, but I honestly don’t care who wins. I just hope it’s awesome. Jon Fitch by decision.KJ Gould: Probably the closest fight to call outside of the main event, but there’s the risk this becomes bad kickboxing if neither fighter can get it to the mat. Which for grappling purists would be bitterly disappointing. Or it could end up with Fitch Wall’n’Stalling if Maia can’t reverse him or get the best angle to pull guard from. I’ve just bummed myself out with this fight. Jon Fitch by decision.Mookie Alexander: This fight is either going to be awesome grappling or absolutely terrible. There is no in-between. The key thing for me is cardio, which Fitch has plenty of. If Fitch gets Maia on the ground and starts "Fitching" early, Maia will get worn down and it will become increasingly difficult for him to even set up a submission attempt (likely off of his back). Fitch’s ground skills are fantastic, and add in his strength and cardio and I see Jon winning this one from bell-to-bell. Jon Fitch by 30-27 decision.Fraser Coffeen: It’s an almost knee jerk reaction to pick Fitch by decision, and I’m doing it again here, but there’s a reason. I see Maia as a tough challenge, but I also don’t envision how he wins. Certainly not on the feet - a kickboxing Maia is a bad Maia. On the mat, Fitch won’t spend much time on his back, and while Maia will certainly threaten from the bottom, Fitch will avoid those attempts and punch Maia in the face in return. Fitch showed more aggression last time out, but even if he doesn’t, we know how fighters score fights where a wrestler is on top, and a submission guy is trying from his back. Jon Fitch by decisionT.P. Grant: Uggggh this fight. I’ve agonized over this pick for the better part of a week. Additionally I’m horrified we might get 15 minutes of these two boxing. Fitch has said he intends to grapple Maia and Maia has made grappling his A-game at welterweight, so I’m hopeful we see some masterful mat work. Maia is much better at takedowns than people give him credit for and at Welterweight Maia is one of the larger fighters in the division. The big thing is that Maia is not content to lay on his back and play for submissions, he actively works for sweeps and creates scrambles. If he sweeps Fitch or gets a dominant position on Fitch I think that very well may be all they wrote from the Purdue Boilermaker. But Fitch is no slouch on the ground, but there is also the question how often have we seen him on the ground against an elite grappler? Not really, unless you count a 2011 version of B.J. Penn. Cutting to the case, Fitch isn’t going to finish Maia. His game is going to be to control Maia for 15 minutes, which he might be able to do, but larger wrestlers like Sonnen and Munoz struggled mightily with that and it only takes one mistake, but this is what Fitch does and he does it very well. So I’m going to do the stupid thing and go with my heart instead of my head and take Maia. Demian Maia by Submission, Round 1. David Castillo: I could be wrong, but I think this fight is pretty easy to call. Fitch is still a grinder on the feet, whereas Maia has cleaned up his boxing. I’m not praising Maia’s striking, since we all remember his head over heels loss to Marquardt, but Fitch should be more worried about Demian’s boxing than Demian about Fitch’s boxing, and if it goes to the ground, I know who I’m picking. Plus I doubt Fitch ever ends up in top control. Maia’s strength at WW is for real, and I think Fitch will find that out when he gets outmuscled everywhere the fight takes place. Just don’t expect this fight to be pretty. Demian Maia by Decision.Chris Hall: Typically in a wrestler vs. BJJ specialist matchup I’d choose the wrestler. But Fitch isn’t just any wrestler and Maia isn’t just any BJJ fighter. Fitch’s takedowns and control are relentless, but he tends to leave openings for grapplers. If he gets caught in an RNC like he did against Silva, or a triangle like he did against Sanchez, I don’t see him getting loose regardless of his "black belt challenge". Demian Maia by SubmissionStaff picking Fitch: Fraser, Mookie, KJ, Stephie, Tim, BrookhouseStaff picking Maia: Grant, David, Chris, DallasJoseph Benavidez vs. Ian McCallBrent Brookhouse: I want to pick McCall but I can’t bring myself to. Benavidez is a bad fight for him and McCall has all kinds of other distractions. I’m going with the guy who can win though being relentless. Joseph Benavidez by decision.Tim Burke: I still think McCall is underrated. He can wrestle with Benavidez, and I really don’t think Joe B. can overwhelm him with speed. McCall’s bigger and stronger in my eyes, and I’m going off the rails and saying Uncle Creepy takes a super-close decision. Ian McCall by split decision.KJ Gould: It seems unfair to dismiss McCall as formerly the best Flyweight in the world only because there was virtually no one of note in his division, but now the UFC has taken on board Flyweights and really good Bantamweights are dropping down, I think more people may come to this realisation. Benavidez has more big fight experience, and is as well rounded as they come, McCall is exciting and unorthodox but I don’t think has any tools that will particularly bother Benavidez. Benavidez also has legit fight stopping power, and all Alpha Male guys seem to work their guillotines like sharpened weapons. It could be a bad night for Uncle Creepy fans. Joseph Benavidez by TKO.Mookie Alexander: Joe B will spam that fastball right hand and work his wrestling to get a dominant victory. I don’t like playing the "head games" card when making predictions, but that’s essentially what is preventing me from believing McCall can make this a closer fight. Joseph Benavidez by decision.Fraser Coffeen: Another good fight - man this card is incredible. Benavidez is, at this point, the best fighter out of Team Alpha Male. He gave Johnson a go (as did McCall), but also has more big fight experience and more variety to his game. I would lean towards Benavidez no matter what, but recently, it’s seemed like McCall may not be in the best headspace for this one, which seals it for me. Joseph Benavidez by decisionT.P. Grant: This should be a fun fight. Flyweight is a tough division to pick fights in because so many of the top fighters have yet to meet and we have yet to see how their styles really match up. Both are fantastic fighters and have good wrestling, McCall with the size advantage and Benavidez with the speed. Coming from Team Alpha Male, Benavidez has that sweet front head lock series typical of fighters from that camp. I think Benavidez has the edge in technical wrestling and submissions, and on top of that we don’t know how in the game McCall is mentally right now. Joseph Benavidez by Submission, Round 3. David Castillo: McCall is the type of fighter that can be easily frustrated, whereas Benavidez will keep moving forward. Expect Ian to take a round, but I don’t think he’ll be able to find his rhythm on the feet, despite being the technically better striker. My only problem with this fight is that it’s happening so soon. I’d much rather see Benavidez fight a Darrell Montague with McCall fighting some random Shooto veteran. Joseph Benavidez by Decision. Staff picking Benavidez: Fraser, KJ, Mookie, Grant, David, Stephie, Chris, BrookhouseStaff picking McCall: TimEvan Dunham vs. Gleison TibauBrent Brookhouse: Tibau: big. Dunham: better. Fight: good. Evan Dunham by decision.Tim Burke: I love this fight too. Dunham’s loss to T.J. Grant surprised me, and made me think that I’m overrating him a bit. Tibau’s obviously huge, but Dunham has a speed advantage for sure. I’ve gone back and forth on this, and I’ve decided that I’m just going to pick the guy I’ll actually be rooting for. Evan Dunham by decision.KJ Gould: Tibau is a solid mid-level gatekeeper in the Lightweight shark tank, and Dunham gets the opportunity to bounce back from his fight of the night decision loss to TJ Grant. Should Dunham lose to Tibau though, it’s hard to know what to do with him since it would appear he can only compete at a certain level. Given the mass Tibau carries around at Lightweight, Dunham should be able to push a pace that will wear out the Brazilian quickly, though he might not be able to do enough to get a finish. Evan Dunham by Decision.Mookie Alexander: Dunham is going to outstrike him and work for takedowns late against a worn out Tibau. But I’m still just trying to wrap my head around Gleison Tibau being 29 years old. Dunham doesn’t look 31, and it feels like Tibau is 36. Evan Dunham by unanimous decision.T.P. Grant: This one seems like a solid win for Dunham. Tibau is a massive Lightweight and Dunham is more that capable of taking him down. Once he is on the mat, I expect this one to be all Dunham. Evan Dunham by Decision. David Castillo: Tibau is 29? Wow. Anyway. It’s always hard to judge a Tibau fight. On some days he actually knows what to do with his massive size advantage, and on other days, he’ll barely make it past a Kurt Pellegrino. Still, I can’t pick Dunham. I feel like he’s just gonna get taken down, and might even be stung on the feet. The kid has taken punishment over his last several fights, and I suspect Tibau catches him, despite his size never manifesting itself in KO’s. Call it a hunch I guess. Gleison Tibau by Decision. Staff picking Dunham: Mookie, Grant, KJ, Chris, Tim, BrookhouseStaff picking Tibau: Fraser, David, StephieJay Hieron vs. Tyron WoodleyBrent Brookhouse: Sometimes I find myself too hung up on Woodley’s fight with Nathan Coy back in 2010, but that’s far enough in the past that I need to forget it. But I haven’t forgotten Hieron’s fight with Ben Askren. I think Hieron has a lot of the tools it takes to beat Woodley so I’m picking him. Jay Hieron by TKO, round 3.Tim Burke: I’m going against the crowd here. I think Hieron can wrestle with Woodley, and he’s definitely got better standup. I’ve never been sold on Woodley and have picked against him in most of his fights, and the trend continues here. Hieron gets to his chin early and gets a finish. Jay Hieron by TKO, round 1.KJ Gould: Woodley is younger and appears a better MMA wrestler than Jay Hieron. I don’t think Hieron can compete with the young lions of MMA any more, though he surprised people with how competitive he made his title fight with Ben Askren in Bellator over a year ago. Woodley is your more typical power wrestler than Askren’s funk wrestler, and I just seem him beating Hieron at every phase Hieron is typically good at other than Hieron’s boxing. I don’t think that will be enough to win this fight though. Tyron Woodley by Decision.Mookie Alexander: I really really really hope this fight doesn’t turn out as boring as your typical Tyron Woodley win, but that’s pretty much how I see the outcome of this one. Tyron Woodley by unanimous decision.T.P. Grant: I think Woodley is going to make a lot of MMA fans upset here, because I think he is gonna get the win here. I’m hoping to see a little more from Woodley offensively here, not because his fights are ungodly boring, but because it is a shame to see a talented fighter like Woodley regress skillswise. Hieron is a tough veteran, but I expect this to look something like his close loss to Ben Askren. Tyron Woodley by Decision. David Castillo: While I think Marquardt’s aggression made him look more adventurous than usual, I do think Woodley is getting a little bit more comfortable with his hands. When he wants to, and decides to sit down on his punches, he can look relatively dangerous. I think with the UFC spotlight, and a favorable matchup, he’ll shock some people by being more aggressive than usual. Hieron hides his crackable chin well these days, however, so it still goes to a decision. Tyron Woodley by Decision. Staff picking Hieron: Fraser, Chris, Tim, BrookhouseStaff picking Woodley: Mookie, Grant, David, StephieBobby Green vs. Jacob VolkmannBrent Brookhouse: Takedowns, grinding, maybe a finish? probably not though. A dumb joke in the post-fight? Absolutely. Jacob Volkmann by decision.Tim Burke: King of the Cage gets subbed by the guy nobody likes. Jacob Volkmann by submission, round 1.KJ Gould: Jacob Volkmann will shock the world and get a submission. One day. He’s certainly learning from talented enough coaches to. Edit: He submitted Roller, yet it didn’t leave a lasting impression. That’s telling, since I typically like Greg Nelson fighters. Jacob Volkmann by … decision.Mookie Alexander: KJ, Volkmann did just submit Shane Roller into retirement, so the upset already happened. Twice in a row in the UFC? That’d be miraculous.I just hope that when Volkmann wins he isn’t interviewed. Jacob Volkmann by decision.T.P. Grant: This one seems pretty straight forward, Volkmann is going to wrestle Green into the ground. Jacob Volkmann by Decision. Staff picking Green:Staff picking Volkmann: Fraser, Mookie, Grant, KJ, David, Stephie, Chris, Tim, Brookhouse Yves Edwards vs. Isaac Vallie-FlaggBrent Brookhouse:Sometimes I watch Yves and I think "that dude is done." And then he shows up all classically violent against a Jeremy Stephens and I have to reassess. I don’t know that Vallie-Flagg can handle all of Yves’ tricks though. Yves Edwards by TKO, round 2.Tim Burke: IVF is bigger than Edwards, but Yves is too crafty for him. Unlike everyone else though, I think he finishes the fight by submission this time. Yves Edwards by submission, round 1.KJ Gould: Yves Edwards continues his career resurgence with another impressive stoppage. Yves Edwards by KO.Mookie Alexander: I have lobbied to make it an SB Nation-wide rule that rooting against Yves Edwards should be a bannable offense. It has failed. Yves Edwards by KO, round 1.Fraser Coffeen: Yves Edwards rules. That is all. Yves Edwards by KO, round 1Staff picking Edwards: Fraser, Mookie, KJ, Stephie, Chris, Tim, BrookhouseStaff picking Vallie-Flagg:Chico Camus vs. Dustin KimuraTim Burke: It’s too bad Steve Americana had to back out of this fight. Dustin Kimura by submission, round 1Mookie Alexander: Chico Camus by decision.Staff picking Camus: Fraser, Mookie, Stephie, Chris, BrookhouseStaff picking Kimura: KJ, TimEdwin Figueroa vs. Francisco RiveraTim Burke: Someone’s getting knocked out. Figueroa can take a hell of a beating, but Rivera hits really hard. I’ve gotta go with Cisco. Francisco Rivera by TKO, round 2Mookie Alexander: Haven’t been remotely impressed with Figueroa in either of his wins, and somehow impressed with his loss to Michael McDonald. Rivera’s striking revolves around his right hand, he’s got stinging power, and I think he sends Figueroa to sleep. Francisco Rivera by KO (punches), round 2.Staff picking Figueroa: Fraser, KJStaff picking Rivera: Mookie, Stephie, Chris, Tim, Brookhouse

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UFC 156: Aldo Vs Edgar takes place tomorrow night in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Mandalay Bay for their annual Superbowl Weekend card, and we will find out once and for all if the main is a superfight  or just another title fight in the featherweight division. In the main event, Jose Aldo will defend his title against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, and  in the co-main event Rashad Evans takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Below you will find the predictions and breakdowns for all the planned bouts on the main card. Joseph Benavidez (16-3) vs. Ian McCall (11-3-1) I can think of a dozen reasons to pick Benavidez in this fight over McCall, and can only think of one way McCall wins this fight. Benavidez happens to be very good at all the things that gave McCall problems in both of his fights with champion Demetrious Johnson, and when you add in all of the public personal issues McCall has had this past six months, its hard for me to assume he  will be 100% focused on Benavidez. Yes, they both lost to Johnson by basically the same way – they were  outstruck and out grappled over the course of the three fights. The key to this one will the be takedowns and scrambles from Benavidez. He is an expert in transitions and is able to sneak around into submissions to take fighters by surprise. I think this is going to keep McCall preoccupied in this fight, and Benavidez will do enough to take the decision. McCall is going to make a true test out of this, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get the  upset win, but its a really steep uphill battle in my opinion. Prediction: Joseph Benavidez unanimous decision Jon Fitch (24-4-1) vs Demian Maia (17-4-0) While Maia has looked like a whole new fighter in the welterweight division, his main obstacle will be the pristine position grappling of Fitch. Maia is definitely schooled enough to pull something off that Fitch won’t be expecting, but Fitch is so good at using his BJJ too stay out of submissions that he will have to pull of something very unorthodox to catch him.  That said, Maia will find out exactly where he stands at welterweight tomorrow night as he faces one of the divisions many wrestlers he will have to deal with in his hunt for the belt. That’s what I think this fight will be for Maia, and as such I expect him to win a round though Fitch will ultimately take the victory home via decision. Prediction: Jon Fitch split decision Alistair Overeem (36-11) vs. Antonio Silva (17-4) Overeem is calling this fight a warm up fight for a title fight, but he should definitely not be looking past “Bigfoot”. The last guy who did that was Fedor Emelianenko, and that worked out terribly for him. Overeem has the tools to beat Silva nine times out of ten, but his confidence leading up to this should be checked as I have a hard time believing he is going to finish Silva quick. I think Silva’s chances increase the longer the fight lasts, as I think he could get some serious damage in he gets on top of Overeem. Its a possibility, but not a likely one in my opinion. Prediction: Alistair Overeem TKO round 1 Rashad Evans (17-2-1) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5) This is a really tough fight for Nogueira, and if he can  pull off a win here he will turn the top of the light heavyweight division on its head. Nogueira’s only real way to win this fight is to knock out Evans, and while Evans has been knocked out in the past, its not something that happens a lot. Lets not forget how much Evans’ striking has improved since his run on The Ultimate Fighter, where he went in as a heavyweight wrestler and is now a former champion who still has a good chance at getting back in the title hunt. I think Evans will play on the feet a little bit with Nogueira, and if he is doing well I expect him to stay there until the end of rounds where he will secure points with takedowns. Nogueira will probably do little to defend them, as he is able to fight off his back, but I expect Evans to stay out of submissions and do more than enough damage on the ground to secure the win. Prediction: Rashad Evans Unanimous Decision Jose Aldo (21-1) vs. Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) Edgar has done well in recent fights by being very durable come showtime. His ability to recover from punches and stay in fights has been a joy to watch, but eventually he is going to meet someone who has the power to put him away with strikes. I think that person is Aldo. Edgar has been using his speed advantage to keep his opponents on their heal, but I don’t think that is going to work on Aldo. I think Aldo is quicker than Edgar, and especially when it comes to his responses in quick transitions.  His match-up with Chad Mendes is a perfect example, as the timing on the knee that put him away was perfect, and it was instinct/twitch reflexes that landed that strike. Only a few people are that quick with throwing strikes in the UFC and Aldo is one of them. I see Aldo neutralizing the speed advantage of Edgar, going on to finish him in the fourth round. Prediction: Jose Aldo TKO round 4  The post UFC 156 Breakdown And Predictions: Main Card appeared first on Fighters.com.

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LAS VEGAS -- Thursday's UFC 156 media day was a first for the UFC in practice, as the six fighters in the top three bouts on the card fielded questions for upwards of one hour apiece. As you can imagine, after several weeks of interviews leading up to the fight, answering many of the same questions again isn't exactly an exciting prospect for them, and let's just say that some of them handled it better than others.Rashad Evans, the personable and affable former light-heavyweight champion, seemed to enjoy the process the most, offering his thoughts on multiple topics, including candidly discussing his interest in fighting Anderson Silva. Looking ahead to what might come is something fighters routinely resist out of a caution for maintaing focus. But let's be real: talk is talk, and Evans gets it. It doesn't mean that anything can or will happen. It's just what could. And in a sport where "next" is a magic word, at least Evans is interested in charting a plan for himself, which as we have seen is something the UFC seems to like.Athletes who bang their own drum often generate the most headlines and interest, and the company notices that. It seems clear that if Evans wins impressively over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, he will be approached about a title bout with Silva (which by the way, is something I advocated right after Michael Bisping's loss).And for the record, Evans said he saw a second-round ground and pound win in his future.Media day was filled with news and notes. Here's a list of some other things we learned.Everyone's a winner on TUFIn the early days of The Ultimate Fighter, it seemed that everyone got a real chance to make it in the UFC. Winners certainly got precedence, but even losers would routinely find themselves placed on the roster with another chance to live out their dream. Among the list of those who failed to win the show but still found a path to the octagon includes Kenny Florian, Chris Leben, Keith Jardine, Matt Hamill and Gray Maynard.In recent years, those numbers have waned as the ballooning size of the UFC roster has made it more difficult for the promotion to offer such opportunities. But according to UFC president Dana White, this season's fights are so good and so competitive, he couldn't bring himself to cut a single competitor. Not one. When the season finishes airing on FX, each man will get at least one more chance to compete in the UFC."This season is so f------ good, and I was so happy with the guys, I told them, every one of you guys are going to fight. You're going to get one more chance in the UFC," White said. "Every guy here is going to get one more chance in the UFC. [Matchmaker] Joe Silva wants to f------ kill me. 'It's impossible. It mathematically doesn't work.' I said, 'Mathematically make it work.'"White said whatever the UFC would have to do to make it happen, they would do, including adding one extra fight on each card until each contestant gets his opportunity.So while that make take away some of the drama of the show, at least it's one sign that the finished product is indeed better than last season's version.Quote of the dayFrankie Edgar in talking about taking away Jose Aldo's kicking game: "If you're a carpenter and I say you can't use a hammer, you're going to be in trouble." Quote of the day, part IIAlistair Overeem on his detractors: "A lion doesn't bother about the pain of sheep."UFC closing in on deal with Josh BarnettThe relationship that was fractured for years seems to continue on the path to total repair. UFC president Dana White said talks remain ongoing with the longtime heavyweight star, and even though he's not involved, he's hopeful of getting a deal done."Joe Silva is doing it," he said. "From what I hear, we're close. We'll see what happens."Anderson Silva's 10-fight extension still not yet completedThere are still a few details to be ironed out before the ink hits the paper, but White said he was confident that it would be completed very soon. One good sign in his favor? Silva's manager Ed Soares sat around waiting to speak to White yesterday afternoon."We'll get it done," White said.Title talkAlistair Overeem is guaranteed a title shot if he beats Antonio Silva on Saturday night. If he doesn't, there is no backup plan in place.The next highest-ranked heavyweight contenders are Junior dos Santos, who obviously just lost the belt to Cain Velasquez and is likely not in line for an immediate rematch, and Daniel Cormier, who is scheduled to fight Frank Mir in April, and who happens to be Velasquez's teammate, so that is a no go. So if Silva manages the upset, the UFC may be stuck to find a worthy challenger. Heavy concernsOvereem did not seem to enjoy the new media day format as much as some others, at one point getting off his chair and beginning to walk off until changing his mind and continuing on. During his session, the former Strikeforce champion was asked by Sports Illustrated reporter Melissa Segura about his recent suspension for elevated testosterone levels, and he refused to answer the questions, saying, "next interview, please." Since this is his first fight back since then, it's a question he probably should have been expecting. In a more candid moment, he did say that he had some work to do repair his image. "A clean slate? Let me just get through a couple fights without any issues," he said. "Things go away in time. But I think still it's kind of fresh to talk about a clean slate." White still struggling after ear surgeryJust about two weeks out of surgery to treat a case of Meniere's Disease, an ear disorder that causes episodes of vertigo and other issues, Dana White is still on the mend, and expects to be so for the foreseeable future. White said he was actually feeling worse than he was before he had surgery, but said that was to be expected because of the trauma done to the ear during the invasive surgery. White said it often feels like he's underwater, but plans to work his way through the pain."It's tough to hear," he said. "It's been a pain in the ass, but I've got to deal with it."Super Bowl predictionsFrankie Edgar: RavensJose Aldo: RavensRashad Evans: RavensYves Edwards: 49ersDana White: 49ers Super relocationAnd speaking of the Super Bowl, this might be the end of the UFC's Las Vegas Super Bowl streak, which began in 2004. The tentative plan for 2014 is to do the Super Bowl weekend show in the New York area. The UFC's broadcast partner FOX has television rights to the championship game next year, and the plan is to blow up a huge sports weekend with a major UFC event and the NFL's big game on back-to-back nights in the same market.

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Rashad Evans discusses how prepared he is for the boxing of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in this brief interview.

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LAS VEGAS -- There was a time when Rashad Evans didn't want to do it anymore. There was a time when no matter what was in front of him, he couldn't find the motivation and passion that would fuel him for what was to come. The amazing thing is that this time wasn't years ago when Evans was struggling to make any money. It was much more recent than that. In fact, it was as he prepared for the biggest fight of his career, a grudge match with a championship on the line against his former teammate and friend, Jon Jones. While most of the fight world excitedly awaited the clash, Evans felt himself flatly going through the motions.The problem persisted into the match itself. When Evans and Jones exchanged for the first time, he noticed Jones, who threw the first punches, was slower than usual. And then when he tried to fire off his counters, he was even slower. "It was like one of those things where we were both happy just to have it over," he said.It was the first time in his career he'd ever experienced the phenomenon. Though he'd previously had highly charged bouts in the past, including one with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, this one quickly spiraled out of his control. The story line of former friends turned enemies took hold of the sport's observers and never went away. It was constant and all-encompassing. It pervaded everything in his life until there was no escaping it. Wherever he went, wherever he was recognized, the rivalry followed him.Add in the fact that Evans barely had any time off between his bout with Phil Davis and the Jones fight, and it was just too much."I did feel like I was losing passion," said Evans, who called it no excuse for losing. "Having the camps back to back and having the whole back story, it was a lot to digest. It was like, 'F---, I just want to fight.' That fight wasn't about fighting. Or, leading up to it wasn't about fighting. It was about everything else. Fighting I could do all day everyday, because I love to fight. But it's the other part that gets hard to deal with at times."That circumstance is difficult to imagine for anyone who hasn't experienced it. Here was Evans with a high-profile fight, with something tangible (a championship) and intangible (bragging rights over Jones) on the line. And he couldn't generate the passion necessary to enthusiastically hammer his way through camp? The pressure-cooker is not something so easily understood, even to Evans. After the bout, he stepped back from his career, electing to take some time off, chase some personal interests and reassess his fight career. He thought about what had gone wrong, but he also wondered about what was to come, and namely, if he could even muster the necessary energy and motivation to continue on. While 33 seems a bit premature for retirement, Evans needed to see how badly he missed the sport when the future lied in flux. Eventually, he found that he missed it all. Missed the training and the camaraderie in the gym, and most of all, missed the prospect of fighting again.The internal struggle is common within the athletic world. As pros make money and ascend in their field and gain widespread acceptance for their excellence, there is a tendency to grow complacent. But somewhere within that athlete, there lies the same hunger that drove them them to such an elite level.When Evans first got to the UFC, he was fighting to prove something. It was the same story that had pushed him through his collegiate wrestling career. When he was being recruited by Division III Ithaca College, the team's coach told Evans he would never start if he chose to attend and compete for a Division I school. That was all Evans had to hear. Even though he had only one conversation with a Michigan State recruiter, he showed up at the campus at freshman orientation with no promise of a slot on the team, hellbent on proving the Ithaca coach wrong. That's the feeling Evans is trying to summon again in a UFC 156 fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. He has said that the time away has done that for him. He's hungry again and fighting to again prove his critics wrong. All along the way, he's had people tell him what he couldn't do or who he couldn't be, and here he is again, in a fight of major significance, with a reward dangling in the near-distance. If Evans wins, he may be offered a chance to move down to middleweight and fight pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva. It's a bout that Evans has said he'll entertain, and it's certainly one which will require every ounce of his passion."I've got a lot of respect for Nogueira, and I feel like he's a great opponent," Evans said, "but I'm rising to a level where I'm just starting to come into me and my new era of dominance."

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It looks like UFC middleweight Chris Weidman may not be next in line for a crack at Anderson Silva’s championship as previously believed. Though far from a done deal, UFC President Dana White recently confirmed the company is considering former light heavyweight title-holder Rashad Evans for a fight with Silva depending on how he fares tomorrow night at UFC 156 when he faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Evans would also have to slim down to 185 pounds for obvious reasons, a move he believes he can make but has yet to attempt. He has also gone on record as saying he is certain he has the ability to become the first person to hand Silva a loss inside the Octagon. “A lot of people think Chris Weidman is the #1 contender right now. If Rashad made a move from 205 down to 185, it’d be safe to say he’s now #1,” said White to reporters gathered for UFC 156. “If Rashad won on Saturday night and wanted to go to 185, we would consider that.” MMAJunkie was on hand and able to capture the comments. White also added that if “The Spider” is indeed booked against Weidman the bout won’t take place in Brazil as Silva’s camp had recently requested. The 17-2-1 Evans won UFC gold in 2008 when he beat Forrest Griffin, falling to Lyoto Machida in his next match-up before stringing together four wins in a row. This weekend’s bout with Nogueira will mark Evans’ first fight since losing to champion Jon Jones last April. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Dana White willing to consider Rashad Evans for middleweight title-shot appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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Former UFC champion Rashad Evans has been out of the Octagon for several months. He says he needed time to step away and miss fighting to remind himself what he loves about his chosen vocation.

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It's good to not have options. With Georges St. Pierre unwilling to participate in a super fight (for now), three of the top Middleweight contenders (Michael Bisping, Alan Belcher and Tim Boetsch) all sustaining recent losses, Cung Le nothing but "crazy" talk and Chris Weidman not having a big enough "name," Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is looking rather lonely these days. However, that could all change if Rashad Evans defeats Antonio Rogerio Nogueira this Saturday night (Feb. 2, 2013) at UFC 156, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Maybe. "I would consider Rashad," said UFC President Dana White when asked about the possibility during the UFC 156 media day (via MMAFighting.com). "If Rashad won on Saturday night and wanted to go to 185, we would consider that.... I'm considering it." White mentioned earlier this week on the most recent edition of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV that he was going to wait and see (read more on that here) how the mixed martial arts (MMA) action unfolded this Super Bowl weekend in "Sin City" before he made a decision on who "The Spider" would fight next. It seems odd that Silva and the promotion would consider "Suga," a former 205-pound champion who used to compete at Heavyweight for his next 185-pound title defense, but aside from Weidman (who also happens to be injured), there is not another Middleweight title fight that makes sense. And we know all too well that Silva has "nothing to gain" from a fight with the "All American" -- even if he is doing everything in his power to bait the Brazilian -- and will likely only fight him as a last resort. Evans is a sexy option because even though he has fallen in love a bit too much with his stand up, his strong wrestling, all-around skills and prestige as a former champion could make for an intriguing match up. Evans is a major player at the box office, too. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 winner is also really confident in his ability, saying he feels he has the ability to beat Silva, but he's just not sure about how he would perform 20 pounds lighter (read more on that here). On its surface, Anderson Silva vs. Rashad Evans might sound like a bizarre choice. However, given the circumstances, including Silva's desire to close-out his illustrious career with meaningful fights (even if he doesn't consider Weidman one of them just yet) and Evans kind of stuck in the division with a relatively fresh loss to Jon Jones, it might just work. It did, kind of, for Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen, two fighters who were recently awarded with title shots outside their normal divisions. And it might just happen again if Evans can defeat "Lil' Nog" impressively at UFC 156.

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Two long-time veteran light heavyweights will finally meet this Saturday night (Feb. 2, 2013) as Rashad Evans battles Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the co-main event of UFC 156 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Evans has competed since losing a unanimous decision to former friend and teammate Jon Jones last April, the only fighter to go the distance with Jones since he made his run to become champion. "Suga" has hinted a potential move to middleweight and challenging Anderson Silva, but he'll have to get past Nogueira first before that's even a possibility. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has had mixed results since moving to the UFC back in 2009. He's gone 3-2 while fighting irregularly, but is hoping that he can score by far his most significant victory inside the Octagon this Saturday night to potentially make a run towards the top of the division. Will Evans secure his spot as one of the top dogs at both 205 and 185 pounds? Can Nogueira rise to the occasion and play spoiler? What's the key to victory for both men? Rashad Evans Record: 17-1-1 overall, 12-1-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Quinton Jackson (UFC 114), Phil Davis (UFC on FOX 2), Forrest Griffin (UFC 92) Key Losses: Jon Jones (UFC 145), Lyoto Machida (UFC 98) How he got here: After a respectable career wrestling at Michigan State, Rashad Evans, under the wing of former UFC tournament champion Dan Severn, won his first five professional fights. This earned him an opportunity to compete on season two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Despite fighting at a weight class heavier than normal, Evans tore through the heavyweights on the show, eventually working his way to the finale where he earned a split decision victory over the significantly larger Brad Imes to become The Ultimate Fighter season two champion. After some less than dominant split and majority decision victories over Sam Hoger and Stephan Bonnar, Evans finally found his groove, earning a technical knockout (TKO) over Jason Lambert with ground and pound and then scoring one of the UFC's all time nastiest finishes with the head kick knockout of Sean Salmon. Evans would go on to have his now infamous draw with Tito Ortiz and would follow it up by defeating Michael Bisping via decision, sending him to the middleweight division. The victory would earn "Suga" a number one contender match against former champion Chuck Liddell and one massive overhand right would change his life forever, flooring Liddell, earning "Knockout of the Year," and earning him his first title shot against champion Forrest Griffin. After a shaky first couple rounds against Griffin at UFC 92, Evans took advantage of a slip, pounced and pummeled his way to victory to take the title and standing atop the division. His title reign would be short, though, halted by Lyoto Machida in his first defense just five months later. Since losing the championship, Evans rebounded nicely by defeating Thiago Silva and "Rampage" Jackson via decision, but an ill-advised choice to sit on the sidelines and wait for Mauricio Rua's knee to recover cost him badly. After nine months of waiting, "Suga" injured his knee while training and had to watch teammate Jon Jones crush "Shogun" and win the belt he'd had his eyes on for over a year. Evans rolled through both Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis to earn a shot at his now former teammate, but would lose a decision to "Bones" last April. Now, he's got a potential opportunity to drop to middleweight and take on Anderson Silva should be defeat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. How he gets it done: Evans' secret weapon ever since losing his title was going back to his roots in the wrestling department. He was able to utilize it very effectively against Thiago Silva, Quinton Jackson and even former national champion Phil Davis, although he stepped off the gas against Jones. Evans can also back up his wrestling with power. His ferocious knockouts of Liddell, Salmon and his title victory over Griffin should be a testament to that. Expect "Suga" to dance around Nogueira early, utilizing his speed and movement and looking to land the power. The key for Evans is to get Nogueira to second guess. He needs to throw his hands when Nogueira is expecting a takedown and then shoot when "Little Nog" is expecting punches. If Rashad can take Nogueira down, he needs to not only keep him down, but also to try and score some damage with strikes. He should be cautious to avoid the half guard sweep, but as long as he does that, he should be able fine. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Record: 20-5 overall, 3-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Tito Ortiz (UFC 140), Vladimir Matyushenko (Affliction: Day of Reckoning), Alistair Overeem 2x (Pride Critical Countdown Absolute, Pride 29) Key Losses: Phil Davis (UFC Fight Night 24), Ryan Bader (UFC 119), Mauricio Rua (Pride Critical Countdown 2005) How he got here: Being the brother of one of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history has its perks, and it didn't hurt if you're a very talented fighter as well. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was competing in Pride Fighting Championships in just his third professional bout and he would win his first seven fights in the promotion, scoring significant victories over Kazushi Sakuraba, Alistair Overeem and Dan Henderson in the process. He'd finally have his momentum halted by Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in one of the most exciting back-and-forth battles of 2005 and then would fall victim to one of the biggest upsets of 2007 when he was knocked out by Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in just 23 seconds. "Lil Nog" would get back on track, winning fights with Affliction, Sengoku and even Jungle Fights in Brazil before signing with the UFC and he would make a terrific first impression, knocking Luiz Cane senseless in less than two minutes with his southpaw boxing style. After a controversial victory over Jason Brilz, Nogueira dropped two straight close decisions against tough undefeated (at the time) wrestling prospects Ryan Bader and Phil Davis. He was slated to take on Rich Franklin at UFC 133 but had to back out due to injury. After recuperating, he destroyed Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 and hasn't been heard from since, recovering from injuries in the interim. Now, finally healthy, "Little Nog" is out for blood against Evans to try to really make his mark on the UFC's light heavyweight division. How he gets it done: Nogueira's most obvious advantage against Evans will be his crisp technical boxing. He needs to do whatever it takes to keep this fight standing and stay in the pocket with the former UFC champion. Footwork will be key, and he can't put everything he's got into his strikes or he'll risk giving Evans an opportunity to take him down. Look for Nogueira to keep circling with every strike he throws, avoiding getting cut off against the fence or giving Evans an opening to drive him forward into the cage or with a takedown attempt. If he can keep this fight in his world, he's going to be in very good shape. If Evans takes him down, Nogueira has some of the best half guard play in all of MMA right now. His sweeps are terrific and all it takes is the slightest imbalance and he could reverse position against his veteran opponent. Don't be surprised if he allows Evans to pass to half guard just so he can be more active with his bottom game. Nogueira shouldn't waste time going for submissions against Evans, however. He should just try to escape back to his feet and then go right back to work with his striking, trying to make something happen. Evans gets rocked in many of his fights and it could very well happen here.

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Should he beat Lil Nog Saturday, Rashad Evans says he would gladly fight middleweight champ Anderson Silva but doesn't think Silva would want it.

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In this installment of the MMA Roundtable, Shaun Al-Shatti and yours truly look ahead to UFC 156 to see if a judging disaster awaits us, what other fights we are looking forward to the most on that card, if Rashad Evans can make a case for fighting Anderson Silva and what to make of the loser's and winner's fortune for the UFC 159 bout between Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher. 1. Judge Adalaide Byrd, most notable for her recent 30-27 score in favor of Melvin Guillard over Jamie Varner, was among the three officials selected by the NSAC to judge Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar. Is there any way this won't end badly? Al-Shatti: I really hope it won't. In all seriousness, the fact that Byrd has been commissioned to judge this fight continues to astound me. Hypothetically speaking, let's say you represent a state athletic commission, and let's say your state was selected to host the first true UFC "superfight" since 2009. One side of the match-up features a man known for competing in close, often controversial decisions, of which scorecards are often analyzed and dissected in the ensuing weeks. Just based on common sense alone, wouldn't it be in your best interest to ensure that your commission selects its three most competent, well-respected judges, if only so the likelihood of having to defend a provocative result is drastically reduced. That doesn't seem like too much to ask, right? Or, of course, you could do the complete opposite, and instead select your most notoriously questionable judge to oversee what could likely be a close decision. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It's been repeated ad nauseam by now, but the lack of accountability within state commissions is both bizarre and ridiculous. Let's look at the case of Byrd. Just a few notable examples: she scored Leonard Garcia 29-28 over Nam Phan, Carlos Eduardo Rocha 30-27 over Jake Ellnberger, the first round of Rampage-Griffin (in which Rampage dropped Griffin with an uppercut and also staggered him with power shots) for Griffin 10-9, and most recently, scored Melvin Guillard 30-27 over Jamie Varner in a decision that prompted UFC President Dana White to unload another "You could never watch a fight in your f---ing life and not score that" rant. And that's not even mentioning that countless awful scorecards the boxing world has suffered by her. (Go ahead and watch Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe.) Judging in mixed martial arts has reached the point where we actually feel the need to publicly praise judges if they don't screw everything up, when really that should be the expectation. Few other realms in life allow individuals to perform so poorly, so consistently without any fear of culpability. All I can say is this, if the scorecards on Saturday are met with those all-to-familiar incredulous gasps, and Frankie Edgar somehow finds himself booked in yet another rematch, I pity the poor soul who has to comb through the NSAC's inboxes on Monday morning. Thomas: I second everything Shaun is saying here. You won't find me disagreeing with the idea Byrd has serious judgement issues. How she managed to be selected for the UFC's first semi-superfight in 2013 is beyond me or anyone else with the capacity to reason or take accountability seriously. One note, though, about Byrd that troubles me. If you look at the number of bouts she judges, she isn't universally wrong. In aggregate, most of her decisions fall in line with what educated observers are fair conclusions. The issue is that when she's wrong, she's really wrong. When she botches a score, she really botches a score. And it tends to happen in fights where it's bizarrely unexpected. We aren't talking about cases like Clay Guida vs. Hatsu Hioki where one is asking a judge to score offense from the bottom. We're often talking about examples where a bout is a striking contest and there's an obvious winner. The issue there is that if past is prologue, she's liable to have an outrageously indefensible score. And if that's the case, either someone's going to get robbed or we'll have to have another unnecessary rematch. 2. Other than the main event, which fight are you most interested in ahead of Saturday night? Al-Shatti: I never thought I'd say it, but even with the allure of comic book sized heavyweights calling my name, I can't help but eye UFC 156's main card welterweight pairing -- Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia -- with great anticipation. Maia thus far has looked like a wholly revitalized fighter at 170 pounds, and his brutal victory at UFC 153 cannot be overstated. Say whatever you will about Rick Story, but the man had faced a murder's row of welterweight finishers and never been stopped, until Maia literally juiced crimson liquid out of his head with what my friend over here dubbed a Rear Naked Torque. Likewise Fitch seems to have undergone a career reshaping since calling his shot for ‘Fight of the Night' at UFC 153, then turning in the most electrifying performance of his life with a harrowing victory over Erick Silva. Prior to the bout Fitch had essentially been thrown to the curb, even closing as the underdog on Las Vegas sportsbooks, but the 34-year-old came out like a man on fire, hunting for finishes while reminding everyone that he once went 13-1 over a 14-fight stretch inside the UFC. The ground work when these two men meet should be fascinating theater. Plus, if nothing else, the winner will rocket into an already crowded upper echelon of the welterweight division, one that is buzzing with potentially salacious match-ups. Thomas: I'd say the return of Alistair Overeem and his heavyweight bout with Antonio Silva. On the one hand, I'm excited to see contenders develop and line up to face current champion Cain Velasquez. No one who hasn't already faced Velasquez is more intriguing and could do bigger business than Overeem. On the other hand, one wonders if a train wreck is coming. Daniel Cormier says he won't fight Velasquez and the champion says the same thing. Even with a win over Overeem, Silva is not an obvious contender since he was positively smashed to pieces by Velasquez in May. That means an Overeem loss would force Cormier to reconsider (unlikely), force a rematch with Junior dos Santos (too early) or force Velasquez to take a fight against an undeserving contender. I'm not praying for chaos and I don't see Silva winning as the most likely possibility, but I can't rule it out either. And what a show that would be. 3. Let's say Rashad Evans wins on Saturday. Will fans demand he face Anderson Silva next or work towards a rematch with Jon Jones? Thomas: Evans has a unique opportunity. He can beat someone who is a legitimate challenge (but is very beatable) at light heavyweight and then move to middleweight. The door is open right now at 185 pounds. Chris Weidman is floating around out there, but I've had the same surgery he had (torn labrum). The recovery is slower than one realizes it's going to be. That means there's time. The champion himself is slow to take on a challenge in Weidman that no one knows, so he's reduced to calling at the Cung Le's of the world. With his fight being Saturday, a turnaround spot to give Silva the fight in the Spring he's looking for is entirely possible. Yes, Evans needs to look good on Saturday, but that isn't the central issue. The crux of the matter is Evans needs to open his mouth. He should state without pause or hemming and hawing that he wants to move to middleweight and wants Silva. He should state he's the only one with a real chance to beat Silva and that he's tired of Silva picking his opponents. Finally someone is picking him. In short, he has to be the engineer of his own future. I reject the idea this wouldn't cause a stir and get things moving in that direction. Evans has a style to at least make a bout against Silva intriguing and the star power to make it attractive. Strike while the iron is hot, I say. Al-Shatti: I could be off base here, but the sense I get is that there is very little interest in seeing a Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans rematch. The first bout was relatively one-sided, and a second meeting between the former training partners would likely be more so. On the flip side, I don't see the Anderson Silva vs. Rashad Evans rumblings going anywhere anytime soon unless, A.) Silva finally signs a contract to defend his title against somebody, or B.) Evans publicly says he won't accept the fight. Until either of those options occur, and as long as Evans continues to mull over the idea in every pre- and post-fight interview over the next few weeks, a potential Silva-Evans meeting remains the most lucrative option out there for a reigning middleweight champion holding out for big-money fights. 4. Michael Bisping is set to face Alan Belcher. Both are still contenders, but coming off of losses. Where will the winner of that bout rank after it's over? Thomas: Not too far from where they are now, but that's not that bad. I suspect the winner would get a nice reputational rebound, but still have to win two or three more fights because the words 'title shot' ever came up again the same sentence as their name. Still, it's a credible victory no matter who wins and nothing to dismiss. In fact, I worry more about how far the loser could fall than the winner could climb. Both Bisping and Belcher have been those guys who were good and seen as possibly great, but have fallen short in expectations or achievements. In fact, both recently dropped the ball in convincing losses and not for the first time in their UFC runs. They both stand a lot to gain by beating the other, but they risk losing even more. They'd lose two highly-important bouts in a row and both to credible fighters. Worse, a match between these two sort of defines for good who is the bigger disappointment. The winner can have claimed to stumbled here or there, but on balance availed themselves nicely in their career. The loser risks looking like the guy who only briefly flirted with being anything special and is reduced to prelim card fights or bouts of relatively minimal consequence. That is some tough sledding. Al-Shatti: Luke is absolutely correct with this one. As the old saying goes, a win in April would put either man right back "in the mix." The middleweight division is shallow enough for any top-10 fighter that hasn't already lost to Anderson Silva to quickly climb back up the ladder on the strength of a few impressive wins. And if we're being honest, that fact likely helps to Bisping a bit more than Belcher. Fairly or unfairly, Bisping remains one of the only marketable, big name fighters the UFC has in the upper echelon of the middleweight division without a thrashing from Silva marring his record. As we've seen recently, it's growing easier for discussions of merit to be thrown out the window in favor of marketability when it comes to title shots. If Bisping can get past Belcher, then string together perhaps one or two more high-profile wins, it's not outside of the realm of possibility to see the Brit right back where he was prior to Vitor Belfort bringing down the hammer.

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans (17-2-1) has never lacked confidence, showing swagger from the start of his run in the Octagon still present today seven years later. However, leading up to his fight this weekend with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the 33-year old has stayed relatively quiet about his adversary. As Evans recently explained, he has a great deal of admiration for what Nogueira has accomplished in his career, telling MMAJunkie he’s honored to have an opportunity to face someone like the seasoned Brazilian. “I have huge respect for the Nogueira brothers and the legacies that both of them have created. At the end of the day, when my career is said and done, I want to say that I competed against some of the best guys in the business, and he’s somebody that I consider one of the best guys in the business. He and his brother are both legends, and I’m excited to compete against him,” explained Evans, making it clear he wasn’t overlooking Nogueira despite his status as an underdog. Regarding any future fights, Evans said he simply wants to work his way back up to status as a top contender and get another crack at champion Jon Jones. He and Jones faced off last April with “Bones” picking up a Unanimous Decision win. “I still watch Jon, and I love to see him fight. I love to see his creativity. I still watch him, and I still want to get a chance to fight him again,” said Evans. “I know and I believe that if I fight him again, things will definitely be different. I feel like I’ve got what it takes to beat him. I’ve studied his game, and I know it. I feel like it would be a different fight this time around. Evans also weighed in on the possibility of dipping down to 185 pounds to challenge pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva, another opponent he’s expressed past interest in. “I’m not a good match-up for him. I’m sure he’s not chomping at the bit to fight me. He doesn’t really have anything to gain from fighting me, so I don’t know if he would even want to fight me. I don’t know why he would go out of his way to fight somebody like me. If the UFC is not going to make him fight me, then I don’t see why he would fight me,” admitted Evans. “Besides that, I love Anderson. He’s a great guy outside of the cage, and he’s one of my favorite fighters to watch inside the cage. To me, to fight him would be a little bittersweet because I know I would beat him. I know I would beat him.” Fan can catch Evans’ clash with Nogueira on the PPV portion of UFC 156 when the main card fires up Saturday night at 10:00 PM EST. Evans hasn’t seen action since falling to Jones where he had a four-fight winning streak snapped in the process, while the 20-5 “Minotoro” has been shelved since success over Tito Ortiz in December 2011. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Rashad Evans believes he can beat Jon Jones, Anderson Silva appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.

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It wouldn’t be accurate to say Rashad Evans was miffed when the topic of his fighting legacy was brought up, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion was quick to point out that when you start talking about things like that, your foot may as well be halfway out the door, and “Suga” isn’t ready to leave just yet.“The title’s still a focus for me,” he said. “When it comes down to it, my resume will speak for itself, but now, I just want to focus on climbing that ladder one more time, getting a chance to fight for the belt, and getting it back. I’m only 33 years old, I’m still young and have my best years ahead of me, so I don’t feel there’s a need for me right now for me to start looking at my legacy and what I’ve done because once you do that, I feel like you’re done as a fighter, and I’m not done yet. I don’t want to start reading my press clippings until it’s all said and done, and I can sit back with my kids or my grandchildren and be like ‘look at everything that I’ve done.’ But right now is not the time for that for me.”Fair enough, but before we move forward, a glance at the former Michigan State University wrestler’s UFC resume is in order. And it’s a more than impressive one. The Ultimate Fighter season two winner (at heavyweight no less), a UFC light heavyweight title, wins over two Hall of Famers (Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell), and victories over former champs (Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin), longtime contenders (Michael Bisping, Stephan Bonnar), and promising up and comers (Phil Davis).But after a unanimous decision loss to current 205-pound champion Jon Jones last April, Evans’ quest to regain his title needed a break. So he took one.“Having a break provided me with some time to handle some personal issues as well as let my body heal up,” said Evans, a nine year pro. “I did the Phil Davis and Jon Jones fights back to back (both five rounders), and the Jon Jones fight took a lot out of me mentally and physically speaking, so I needed a break to kinda recalibrate myself.”Watching him against Jones in their highly-anticipated grudge match, it was clear that it wasn’t the usual Rashad Evans in the Octagon. Maybe it was Jones’ unorthodox style or Evans just being unable to pull the trigger against his former training partner, but the bottom line was that the speed, power, wrestling, and striking of the Niagara Falls native just wasn’t there that night in Atlanta.“I just didn’t fight the way that I could have fought,” said Evans. “My training wasn’t what it should have been and in the first couple of rounds I felt pretty good, but then I started to get a little bit tired. I wasn’t able to have my training partner Tyrone Spong there for most of the camp because he had visa issues, so that kinda messed me up a little bit as far as my training and sparring was concerned, but sometimes you just have those nights where it’s not your night. Jon Jones is a great competitor and he’s hard to compete against if you’re having a good night, so if you’re having a bad night, it makes it that much worse.”Ten months later, Evans is back, facing Rogerio Nogueira in the co-main event of UFC 156 in Las Vegas this Saturday. It’s not a fight that will earn him a rematch with Jones if he wins, but it is a fight that will propel him forward and keep his championship dream alive with a victory. He’s not looking at things that way though. In his mind, to climb the mountain once more, he’s got to approach the whole fight game differently.“It does get hard to climb the mountain again,” he said. “You’ve got to reinvent yourself and come back different than you did last time, and that takes a little bit of time to do. It’s sort of frustrating too. You climb the mountain and think that you’ve got it, and then when you get there, you’re not where you need to be or want to be. So next time, I just think I’m not gonna worry so much about getting a title fight. I’m just gonna fight, and then we’ll see what that adds up to. I think too much of my focus was trying to worry about ‘okay, this is the fight that’s gonna get me a title fight,’ instead of just going out there and fighting.”It’s a good approach and one that will come in handy this weekend because, at the very least, Nogueira will give him a fight. “One thing you recognize and you know is that the guy is a gamer,” said Evans of his foe. “He shows up to fight, and you’ve got to respect that. And that’s one thing I always like to see, those guys who once it’s time to fight, they come and they’re ready to fight.”Rashad Evans has always been one of those guys, and on Saturday he plans on reintroducing himself to the UFC faithful at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. It’s a process he’s missed.“I miss the personal growth I get each time it’s time to fight,” he said. “Each time you fight, there’s a different part of yourself that’s challenged, mentally as well as physically, but more mentally and spiritually, and that where I feel I miss and need the growth more than anything. There’s nothing like those 24 hours before the fight, where the biggest opponent is yourself. That’s what I miss, I miss facing myself.”

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Check out the mental and physical tools that will lead Rashad Evans to victory at UFC 156 in Ryan Loco's "Imperfect."

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Well this could make for an interesting time backstage this weekend. UFC flyweight contender Ian McCall isn't one to hold his tongue, regardless of whether or not he might make important people upset. Look no further than former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, who McCall is clearly not a fan of. During his appearance on MMAmania's Verbal Submission podcast, McCall randomly dropped the fact that he not only dislikes Evans, but think he's "a dick." "I've even had run-ins or altercations with Rashad where he was just a dick. He just doesn't connect with fans. Even my nephew was like, 'Wow, that guy's an asshole,' and my nephew's like a kid at the time." When asked if he could elaborate as to why exactly he has these feelings for the season two winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), McCall told a story from back in his WEC days and an off-putting interaction between himself, his brother, his nephew and Evans: "I was fighting in the WEC when I fought Dominick Cruz in San Diego. We were walking to the lobby and my brother and nephew were there with like Jens Pulver and a few other guys. Jens puts his arm around everybody wanting to take a picture. My nephew asked Rashad specifically and he literally stood like 2-3 feet apart from everybody, not engaging with anyone. I don't know where the picture is now but it was a really awkward picture. I've heard from a lot of people that he's just standoffish and kinda rude. You never know, he could be a great person in real life, but I'm just saying what I saw. That's what I saw." While McCall certainly wasn't left with a good impression of "Suga," what makes this more interesting was the fact that he'll be sharing a pay-per-view main card with the current top light heavyweight contender this Saturday night (Feb. 2, 2013) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. McCall will be opening up the PPV event with a very important battle against recent title challenger Joseph Benavidez while, two fights later, Evans will be taking on veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Hopefully, it won't be too awkward for "Uncle Creepy" backstage, especially if he has to share a locker room with the former champ.

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If Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had his choice to rematch any fighter he has beat in the past, it would be former friend and training partner Rashad Evans. Why Evans? The answer is simple. "Suga" is the one man since Jones captured the 205-pound title in March 2011 to make it to the final bell without being submitted or knocked out. By no means is "Bones" pleading for another fight against Evans, but when asked who he'd take on for a second time if he had to give a past opponent another crack at his belt, the 25-year-old replied it would be Evans. "I'd give Rashad Evans a rematch," Jones said at a Q&A session with UFC Fight Club members prior to Friday's UFC on FOX 6 weigh ins in Chicago. "So I could finish him this time." Jones (17-1) and Evans (17-2-1) first met in a highly anticipated bout for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 145 in April 2012. Jones dominated the bout, winning essentially every round en route to a unanimous decision victory on the judge's scorecards. While Jones was impressive in the fight, landing a number of standing elbow strikes rarely seen before in mixed martial arts (MMA), the champion later admitted he was not his best that night and lacked the "killer instinct" that has led him to 14 finishes out of his 17 professional victories. "With Rashad, I think a part of me saw a guy that I had sparred against, and I don't know - some of those elbows were definitely malicious, but my killer instinct was just not there for some reason." Jones said on a UFC conference call last September. "I was more focused - and I hate to say this - on just winning that fight. I'm not going to sit here and say I took it easy, but there was something in my bones that didn't allow me to really, really try to really hurt him and I think that was a small part about why I couldn't finish Rashad." There was a lot of pressure on both Jones and Evans going into their first meeting. A tremendous amount of words had been exchanged between the two and when fight time arrived, it appeared they both had trouble pulling the trigger. If Jones ever meets Evans inside the cage again, he won't make the same mistake twice and vows to defeat his opponent again, but this time without the help of the judges. Jones is next scheduled to compete against Chael Sonnen in the main event of UFC 159: "Jones vs. Sonnen" at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on April 27, 2013.

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UFC 156: Aldo  Vs Edgar is right around the corner, and in the co main event  former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans takes on Antônio Rogério Nogueira.  Watch as Evans talks about his camp and how he plans to handle Nogueira in their bout, the stakes in the fight, and the keys to win over Nogueira scheduled for Superbowl weekend. Evans explains  “When II get a chance to fight for the belt again, I won’t squander the opportunity.” Courtesy of the UFC:   PHOTO CREDIT: UFC The post Rashad Evans Breaks Down His UFC 156 Fight With Antônio Rogério Nogueira appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Rashad Evans states that a drop to middleweight is a possibility, and that if he fought Anderson Silva, he knows he could win.

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Rashad Evans has heard his name pop up quite a bit lately – and it centers around the middleweight division. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is set to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156, but that hasn’t stopped the constant questions surrounding a potential drop to 185. During a recent conference call, Evans [...]

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The top fighters from UFC 156 answered questions from the media on Monday touching on several subjects including Rashad Evans vs. Anderson Silva, Overeem's title shot, and much more.

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight champ Rashad Evans faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at next Saturday's UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar. However many of the questions for Evans on today's media call involved a potential move down to 185lbs to challenge Anderson Silva. First Evans was asked about the potential cut in weight. He's a smallish Light Heavyweight but making 185lbs would not be a given. Here's what Rashad had to say (transcribed by MMA Mania): Rashad Evans: It would be a lifestyle change, not just prefight stuff. The whole diet year-round would have to change. Naturally, my body goes to like 235 when I'm not consistently training. I'd have to change everything about my diet on a daily basis. If the opportunity were available, I would do so. One reason why I didn't do it was, "Why would I make the drop to 185 if I'm in the same place I'm at at 205?" Why cut the extra 20 pounds? If it were a title shot or against a top contender or something that people want to see, then again, at the same time, I'm already at the top of my division. For me to go to 185, I'd have to start over and prove myself at 185. I am good at 205, but who's to know how good I'd be at 185? There's a lot of variables that would come into play. First thing's first, I'd have to do a test cut and see how I feel there. That'd be some other options that I would think about as well if I would consider doing it. It's a big question mark for me. Once I got past 30, my body started changing a bit. It used to be really easy to make 205 and now I have to be careful about supplements that can mess with my weight. I can be 227-230 without even trying. I'd have to get a dietitian or get on the Dolce Diet or something haha. Related content: Is it time for Rashad Evans to face Anderson Silva? As for his chances against the man widely considered the greatest martial artist of all time? Evans is confident: It would be a tremendous honor to have held the belt in two different division and also to beat Anderson Silva. I get excited every time I get a chance to watch him fight. When my career is said and done, i want to say I competed against some of the best guys in history. Fighting Anderson Silva is something for me, to say I went against the best ever. Fighting against that guy and beating that guy, because I do believe I can defeat Anderson Silva. Evans faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 on February 2. The fight will be on the pay-per-view card live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. What do you think? Who wants to see Rashad drop down to challenge Silva? Poll Should Rashad Evans move down to 185 pounds and challenge Anderson Silva if he beats Little Nog at UFC 156? Yes but only if he gets a KO or submission Yes but only if he wins a big fight at MW first Yes even with a decision win over Nog, immediate title shot No, stick to 205lbs   2 votes | Results

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First things first for Rashad Evans. He has a matchup at UFC 156 against a veteran in Antonio Rogerio Nogueira that he respects immensely. Though Evans is a strong favorite to win, there is always a danger in looking past an immediate threat for a prospective one, and he refuses to do it. But he cannot escape the questions and speculation emanating from the fans and media that maybe, just maybe, there will be an opening for him in the UFC's middleweight division as a challenger for Anderson Silva.So he addressed the elephant in the room. Yes, he will consider a drop to 185 pounds for the right opportunity, and yes, an offer to face Silva will qualify as that kind of opportunity.That doesn't mean he's announcing himself as a candidate for the role, or that he will begin to lobby for the spot. It just means that he finds all the speculation, shall we say, intriguing. "It'd be a tremendous honor to have held the belt in two different divisions," he said on Monday. "But also the chance to compete against Anderson Silva, he's one of my favorites fighters to watch. I get excited every single time I have a chance to watch him fight. When my career is all said and done, I want to be able to say I competed against some of the best guys ever in history. For me to get the chance to compete against Anderson Silva would just be an amazing experience and something I'll take with me forever."But here's where his words might have ever-so-slightly crossed the line from speculative answer to conclusions drawn from previous thought. Maybe."To be able to say I went against the best guy and beat the best guy," he said, "I believe I can beat Anderson Silva, and I believe with the skills and stuff I have is something he'd have a hard time dealing with. But competing against him first and foremost would be an honor in itself."Well, that was hardly a no, even though it was also far from a yes.Who knows if the fight will ever happen. After all, Evans is a former light-heavyweight champion who has never ventured lower than his current home in the 205-pound division, and he said that as time has gone on, his body has settled at a weight that would make the cut to 185 a rough one.Evans said that he often walks around between camps between 227-230 pounds, and has gotten as high as 235.That means that he'd need major changes in his diet to make the downward shift.From some of the answers he gave, it seems as though he's given it some thought in the past. He mentioned that at one point, he decided not to move to 185 because he didn't want to put in all the extra work to make the lower weight only to find himself in the same position as a top contender. If that is the case, better to just live his normal life and stay where he is."If an opportunity came along that made more sense, then it would be worth the sacrifice," he said. "But right now, if I'm going to drop down and be in the same place I'm at in 205, why cut the extra 20-something pounds? It's a fair stance, meaning there might only be one fight that would convince him to move, but even that, like everything else in this scenario, is hypothetical. For it to happen, we have to assume that (a) Evans wins at UFC 156, (b) the UFC is interested in Evans-Silva, (c ) Silva wants the fight and (d) Evans decides that yes, he will attempt the cut. That's a lot of variables that have to break in the right direction. Then again, with no true clear-cut No. 1 contender that will suit Silva's desire for a big-money match, things at the top get tricky. It's with that factor in mind where Evans, a top-five pay-per-view draw, becomes a potential solution to a vexing problem. At least until after the night of Feb. 2, it remains a matter of weight and wait.

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Rashad Evans says it would be an honor to face and defeat the great Anderson Silva, but right now he's not even sure he is going to test the waters at middleweight.

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Who's next for UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva? Going into UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping fans knew that Michael Bisping had been promised a title shot with a win. Vitor Belfort's brutal dismantling of Bisping put shut to that idea. As for Belfort, memories of his UFC 126 one-kick KO loss to Anderson Silva are too fresh in the minds of fans & UFC brass for him to get another title shot. At least that's what Tatame reporter Guilherme Cruz heard from UFC VP Marshall Zelaznik: Per Marshall: Vitor needs more wins to get another shot at Anderson after the way he lost the first fight — Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) January 20, 2013 With the UFC apparently foiled in their attempts to book a super-fight between Anderson Silva and Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and/or Light Heavyweight champ Jon Jones that leaves a distinct paucity of lucrative possibilities for the UFC's best fighter. Sure Strikeforce Middleweight champ Luke Rockhold is out there asking for an immediate title shot. Sure Chris Weidman, the man ranked #2 in the division in the December Bloody Elbow Meta-Rankings is out there calling for his turn. But the reality is, neither of those fighters has succeeded in raising their profile enough with fans to be a compelling draw as an opponent for Silva. This has MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta thinking that former LHW champ Rashad Evans is the man to book for the next MW title shot: I am going to tell you what the UFC should do, not because it is the right thing, but because it is the only thing now that Bisping is out of the running as Silva's next opponent. They should pair him off with Rashad Evans.... Admittedly, there are a few issues with this plan. For one, Evans has a fight scheduled with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156. For another, Evans is not a middleweight and has never competed a single time in the division....A Silva vs. Evans fight would certainly intrigue the masses. According to White, Evans is one of the promotion's top five pay-per-view draws, and he's one of only a handful of mixed martial artists in history to headline two events that sold over 1 million pay-per-view buys. His star power combined with Silva's resume would almost certainly equal a box-office bonanza. There are purists who will dislike the idea because Evans has never competed as a middleweight. There are fans of middleweight contenders who will despise it because it means a longer wait. But we don't live in a fantasy land; we live in the real world where Silva has some real sway in his future, and he's not fighting anyone he doesn't want to fight. In the end, the fight's the thing, and Evans is a championship caliber athlete who can offer Silva some serious stylistic challenges. I have to concur with Mike. The fight I'd most like to see is Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones but Silva doesn't appear interested in that fight -- not coincidentally he'd be the underdog in the fight for a number of reasons including size, age, reach and style -- so let's see what Rashad Evans can do as a MW. Not that it's a given that Rashad gets past Little Nog, but I'd say his chances in that fight are good. It's much more intriguing to imagine what an excellent wrestler like Evans could do against Silva. He's even better at combining strikes with take down attempts than Chael Sonnen and although he's a small Light Heavyweight, as a Middleweight he will be fairly massive. Book it Dana! SBN coverage of UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping Latest From Our Partners Worst MMA Moments of 2012 (BR) Most Heated Rivalries of 2012 (BR) Top Unsung Heroes of 2012 (BR) Most Popular Fighters of 2012 (BR) Best Gyms/Trainers of 2012 (BR) MMA's Biggest Losers of 2012 (BR)

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These days, Anderson Silva doesn't do much of anything he doesn't want to do, so you can be sure that if he made the trip to Sao Paulo for UFC on FX 7, it was to watch a fight with some personal meaning for him, one that he thought would yield his next opponent. Silva sat among the crowd in the Ibirapuera Arena, his eyes partially obscured behind glasses but his gaze fixed upon the octagon, and more closely, on the man that he deemed worthy of his attention. To Silva, Michael Bisping made a potentially perfect foil. He is well known, he is a credible fighter and he has a knack for generating headlines and drawing attention. But Bisping has one serious flaw: he tends to lose when the stakes are at their highest. He did it before, against Dan Henderson in 2009 when he could have advanced to a title shot; and then again in 2012, when he lost a close but controversial decision against Chael Sonnen in another top contenders fight. It happened again on Saturday night, when he was knocked out by Vitor Belfort in the second round of their main-event bout. Sitting in the front row, Silva had to have experienced a feeling that is quite foreign to him: disappointment. The top of his division is in a fair amount of chaos right now, and that's a situation only complicated by Bisping's loss. More Coverage: UFC on FX 7 Results | UFC newsDownload MMA Fighting iPhone App Don't get me wrong, there are a few fresh contenders attempting to break free from the pack. Chris Weidman has established himself as a legitimate threat; knockout artist Hector Lombard recently bounced back from his lackluster debut; Luke Rockhold just came over from Strikeforce with a belt on his shoulder. It's just that none of those guys seems to interest Silva right now, and as we noted earlier, Silva doesn't do what he doesn't want to do. "I don't know. I don't know," he said on the FUEL post-fight show when asked who he wants to fight next. "I need to talk to Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta]."I am going to tell you what the UFC should do, not because it is the right thing, but because it is the only thing now that Bisping is out of the running as Silva's next opponent. They should pair him off with Rashad Evans.Silva wants big fights. He wants opponents that can lead to monster pay-per-view buy rates and further his legacy. When he looks at Weidman, Rockhold and Lombard, he sees names that are still building UFC fan bases. He won't have that problem with Evans. Admittedly, there are a few issues with this plan. For one, Evans has a fight scheduled with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156. For another, Evans is not a middleweight and has never competed a single time in the division.The first item is admittedly the more complicating factor of the two. For this plan to take shape, Evans needs to beat Nogueira. He should; he is a comfortable 4-to-1 favorite in the bout, which is the night's co-main event. And here's why the Silva fight should be attractive for Evans: Because after he beats Nogueira, then what? This will be his first fight back after losing to Jon Jones in a light-heavyweight championship match. Since 205 is historically one of MMA's deepest divisions -- and it remains so now, with Dan Henderson, Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira and Gegard Mousasi all angling to snag the next No. 1 contender spot -- it could be a long time until the 33-year-old Evans gets another chance at gold in his division. That could very well convince him to accept a marquee fight in a division which many believe is his true natural class.There is reason to believe he will; last year, Evans admitted he would make the cut specifically to fight Silva, saying it would be worth the effort for the chance to fight the man many consider the sport's G.O.A.T.Evans has resisted the move until now, but would he say no to a middleweight championship fight in favor of continuing the long road in the light-heavyweight division? I doubt it.A Silva vs. Evans fight would certainly intrigue the masses. According to White, Evans is one of the promotion's top five pay-per-view draws, and he's one of only a handful of mixed martial artists in history to headline two events that sold over 1 million pay-per-view buys. His star power combined with Silva's resume would almost certainly equal a box-office bonanza.There are purists who will dislike the idea because Evans has never competed as a middleweight. There are fans of middleweight contenders who will despise it because it means a longer wait. But in the end, the fight's the thing, and Evans is a championship caliber athlete who can offer Silva some serious stylistic challenges. There is no true clear-cut No. 1 contender, so Weidman, Rockhold and Lombard can figure that out among themselves. In the meantime, give Silva something big, because while he can't hold the division hostage, he's capable of slowing it down until he gets what he wants. Right now, he doesn't know what that is, but if Evans wins on Feb. 2, it might suddenly crystallize the idea that Silva-Evans is the fight that makes the most dollars and sense.

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No one was giving Rashad Evans a chance going into his fight with Chuck Liddell, and no one made a secret about it. Watch as Evans gives the fans a unique look at what it was like to step into the octagon with the UFC Hall Of Famer. In the short featurette, Evans discusses telling his friends about accepting the fight, walking to the cage, and even discusses the now infamous ‘nipple tweak’ during Bruce Buffer’s announcement. Evan’s even admits that he had to borrow Nate Marquardt’s cup since he forgot his, and Marquardt had just gone done fighting. Courtesy of FUEL TV: The post Rashad Evans Discusses What It Was Like Fighting Chuck Liddell(VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Rashad Evans thought about trying to move to middleweight, but the former UFC 205-pound champion decided otherwise. Now, Evans – who has not fought since early in 2012 – will return to action in February against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156. MMACanada.net recently caught up with Evans and talked with him about facing Nogueira, [...]

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Former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans hasn’t merited much talk as of late in terms of a UFC title-shot with fighters like Dan Henderson, Alexander Gustafsson, and Chael Sonnen stealing the spotlight. However, Evans is definitely one of the division’s best with wins over a number of elite 205ers and a single loss since mid-2009 (by decision to Jon Jones earlier this year). As a favorite in a match-up against veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira scheduled to take place in February at UFC 156, it would be easy for Evans to underestimate his adversary and focus on climbing back into contention. Fortunately, to hear Evans tell it, his sights are squarely set on beating “Little Nog” and not what might come afterwards. “I don’t know. I don’t know where that puts me if I get the win over ‘Little Nog’. I’m just gonna do one fight at a time and then let my fights speak for themselves. I want to put a lot of people to sleep and then, if the fans call for it the UFC is gonna give it to me.” “I’m not gonna worry about how long it’s gonna take. I’m just gonna be consistent and keep winning.” Check out the full interview with Evans below: SOURCE: MMACanada.net PHOTO CREDIT: UFC The post Rashad Evans Not Looking Beyond Bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans tells Sportsnet.ca there's no way Georges St-Pierre is afraid of Johny Hendricks.

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Evan Tanner worked his way from nothing to a UFC middleweight champion. However, on September 8, 2008, Tanner died after entering a desert alone on August 27. Tapout Films and director Gerard Roxburgh put Tanner’s life into a movie. The film, “Once I Was A Champion,” will be made available via inDemand pay-per-view on Friday, [...]

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Rashad talks about what it takes to fight as a pro.

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submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [3 comments]

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UFC light heavyweight superstar, Rashad Evans, gets personal in part I of this documentary series, shot by Alexandra Robinson

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Rashad Evans discusses a variety of topics from his future to his next fight to what he thinks of Chael Sonnen vs. Jon Jones.

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Sidelined since December of last year, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is now set to return to the Octagon against Rashad Evans on Feb. 2 at UFC 156 in Las Vegas.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was asked his prediction for a potential super-fight between Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva. Evans, ever the analyst, broke down his prediction while appearing on The MMA Hour. I definitely think he’s got a shot against Anderson. One thing about Anderson is this right here: Anderson’s a great [...]

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There aren’t a lot of people out there willing to go on record and state UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre should be considered the favorite against much-larger middleweight king Anderson Silva. However, light heavyweight star Rashad Evans has never been one to follow the pack so much as lead his own charge. Evans was recently asked to give his opinion on a potential bout between St-Pierre and Silva, offering up a response that may raise a few eyebrows and drop a few jaws. “I definitely think he has a shot against Anderson,” began Evans in an interview with The MMA Hour. “One thing about Anderson is this right here: Anderson’s a great fighter, but one thing with Anderson is that he has such a problem with defending the takedown. And then on the ground even sometimes he allows people to advance position way too much.” Evans went on to refer to Silva’s most recent encounter with Chael Sonnen who took him down in the opening frame and ultimately advanced into mount before the bell sounded. “You get a guy like Georges St-Pierre in a position like that, Anderson may not make it to another round,” stated Evans, adding he truly believes GSP will beat Silva if the two of them tussle in 2013. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC The post Rashad Evans can see GSP finishing Anderson Silva appeared first on Fighters.com.

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Dan Henderson thinks the light heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and new division challenger Chael Sonnen is bad for mixed martial arts' (MMA) integrity as a sport. Rashad Evans, on the other hand, not so much. In fact, the former 205-pound kingpin feels the complete opposite as "Hendo," saying the match-up between "Bones" and "The American Gangster," which takes place next April after the two complete their duties as coaches on season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), is actually ‘good' for MMA because it provides an ‘excitement' factor for the promotion. Evans, who knows both competitors quite well, having trained with Jones before and coming up short against him at UFC 145, says Chael, who often serves alongside "Suga" as colleagues for their FUEL TV broadcasting duties, is more than capable of taking the fight to the young champion. Appearing on a recent edition of "The MMA Hour," Evans explained why having Sonnen challenge for the title isn't as bad a thing as many are making it out to be: "I mean you know what, I think it's good for the sport. There needs to be some excitement, something to happen. I think Chael has what it takes to not only bring it as far as talking, but he can actually bring it when the fight comes, too. It's going to be interesting and exciting to see what happens. You have Jon Jones, one of the greatest champions in the making in the history of the UFC and he gets a chance to beat up somebody he don't like. We all gotta fight and be on the contracts and stuff like that, but, it makes it that much better when you don't like somebody and then you get to beat them up. So, it should be interesting to see what happens. This show, TUF, is probably going to be really crazy." Rashad went on to say even though he and "Bones" aren't the best of friends anymore, they are ‘respectful' with one another and there is no animosity between the two former training partners. Evans also confirmed he will indeed swing leather against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 156 on Super Bowl Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, in an intriguing light heavyweight showdown. A win for Evans could inch him closer to another title shot against either Sonnen or Jones. A loss, on the other hand, could send him down to the middleweight division, a move he's been contemplating to make if the right fight comes along. How about it Maniacs, are you on Team Henderson or Team Evans as far as Zuffa's matchmaking decisions go?

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From their days training together at Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre have forged a bond. They're friends and often if not always speak fondly of one another. They've both also developed a keen sense of the other's abilities and limitations as fighters, which gives them insight into what they can and can't do. Sure, there's bias there, but for all of their rose-colored glasses, there's an equal amount of conviction. That's why Evans, who has dealt with knee injuries during the ups and downs of his own mixed martial arts career, had high praise for his friend and former training partner after his big win over Carlos Condit on Saturday at UFC 154. Evans wasn't merely relieved to see St-Pierre physically able to move around, but specifically noted how smart he believed the French-Canadian's game plan was in addition to being highly effective. "I thought it was outstanding," Evans said of St-Pierre's comeback performance on Monday's The MMA Hour. "Right out the gate, he did something to Carlos which really changed it up from the beginning. He put him on a black line, that outside edge of the cage. And he kept him on that black line, pretty much kept him on his heels the entire time. It's really hard to mount an offensive attack when you're on your heels and you're backing up. That was something Georges did right out the gate. The only time he did get in trouble, Carlos was pushing forward and he got caught with that left high kick." <img src='/images/manage/video-placeholder.png' width=580 height=324 class='mceItemFlash' embed_src='&lt;object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ooyalaPlayer_51y5g_h9r10uk3" width="580" height="324" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.ooyala.com/player.swf?embedCode=82NnQyNzq3G6upwro1u9Sm71QRcSE6Gr&amp;version=2" /&gt;&lt;param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /&gt;&lt;param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="embedType=noscriptObjectTag&amp;embedCode=82NnQyNzq3G6upwro1u9Sm71QRcSE6Gr&amp;videoPcode=tlbnY67un7-_nKRbqfm1UPhe1j-y" /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.swf?embedCode=82NnQyNzq3G6upwro1u9Sm71QRcSE6Gr&amp;version=2" mce_src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.swf?embedCode=82NnQyNzq3G6upwro1u9Sm71QRcSE6Gr&amp;version=2" bgcolor="#000000" width="580" height="324" name="ooyalaPlayer_51y5g_h9r10uk3" align="middle" play="true" loop="false" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&amp;embedCode=82NnQyNzq3G6upwro1u9Sm71QRcSE6Gr&amp;videoPcode=tlbnY67un7-_nKRbqfm1UPhe1j-y" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt; ' /> Now that St-Pierre is back to what appears to be full form, a proposed super fight with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva looms on the horizon and Evans knows it. While St-Pierre has been non-committal about it and has never publicly stated he likes the idea, Evans doesn't seem to think that's an issue. The Blackzillian light heavyweight told Ariel Helwani on Monday's show that St-Pierre's best skills match up neatly with Silva's most glaring weaknesses. Asked if St-Pierre has a shot against 'The Spider', Evans was unequivocal. "Oh yeah, I definitely think he has a shot against Anderson," he said. "One thing about Anderson is this right here: Anderson's a great fighter, but one thing with Anderson is that he has such a problem with defending the takedown. And then on the ground even sometimes he allows people to advance position way too much." "You see Chael Sonnen, the second time he fought him," Evans continued. "He took him down and before the round's over he had him in mount. You get a guy like Georges St-Pierre in a position like that, Anderson may not make it to another round." in fairness, Evans - who admitted Silva is one of his favorite fighters to watch compete when he's just being a fan and not a UFC light heavyweight - didn't think it'd be a walk in the park for St-Pierre. Sure, GSP is widely regarded as the better wrestler between the two and arguably the best MMA wrestler in the sport. But what about closing the distance? Silva may not have the wrestling of St-Pierre, but he's also believed by many to manage the real estate between himself and his opposition in fights better than most others. Could St-Pierre really work through that to bring his wrestling to life? "You know [Silva]'s going to get taken down," Evans argued, "but what it comes down to is does Georges have enough razzle dazzle in order to get in to take a shot? And I say 'yes'". Evans doesn't suggest beating Silva will be easy for St-Pierre and suggested he'd be more than willing to help the welterweight champion prepare for such a challenge if he's called upon to help. Silva is a stiff test for anyone, the UFC welterweight champion included. But while Evans acknowledges beating Silva is no given for St-Pierre or any other UFC fighter, he didn't hesitate to go on the record about his prediction for the fight should it happen. Challenges and all, Evans firmly believes St-Pierre has what it takes to become arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter alive. "I think Georges beats Anderson, yeah," he said. "I really do."

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"Oh yeah, I definitely think he has a shot against Anderson. One thing about Anderson is this right here: Anderson's a great fighter, but one thing with Anderson is that he has such a problem with defending the takedown. And then on the ground even sometimes he allows people to advance position way too much. You see Chael Sonnen, the second time he fought him," Evans continued. "He took him down and before the round's over he had him in mount. You get a guy like Georges St-Pierre in a position like

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Many have questioned the use of The Ultimate Fighter in recent years. However, one former winner believes the reality series helped turn him into a UFC champion. Rashad Evans, who captured season two of TUF as a heavyweight, went on to become the UFC light heavyweight champion. Currently, “Suga” is set to return to action [...]

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Rashad talks about his time spent on The Ultimate Fighter.

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This shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone, but former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has opened as a large favorite over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Only two books are offering lines on their February UFC 156 bout so far, but they're exactly the same and I figure that other sites will soon follow suit. Here's what the line looks like (via BestFightOdds): Evans (17-2-1) hasn't competed since he lost a unanimous decision to former training partner Jon Jones at UFC 145 back in April. He had flirted with a drop to middleweight and a possible confrontation with Anderson Silva, but will stick around at 205 for now. Nogueira (20-5) has been out even longer than Evans, and didn't take a fight in 2012 at all. His last bout was a TKO win over Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 that broke a two-fight losing streak. I wouldn't normally be comfortable betting on such a big favorite in Evans, but I think that there's value in him all the way up to -450 or so. Barring an injury or something, I don't really see many ways he could potentially lose the bout.

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This wasn't the Brazilian he was looking for, but at least Rashad Evans has a fight booked. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion will return to the Octagon on Feb. 2, 2013, at UFC 156 in a 205-pound scrap against longtime veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in Las Vegas, Nevada. And he's opened as a big favorite at -345, according to MMAOddsbreakers. "Lil' Nog," who put Tito Ortiz back on the road to retirement at UFC 140 in Toronto, has struggled mightily against the wrestlers in his division, sharing losses to Ryan Bader at UFC 119 and Phil Davis at UFC Fight Night 24. And his split decision win against Jason Brilz, another wrestler, was about as close as they come. That's probably why he's a heavy underdog at +265 for the Super Bowl weekend. That and the fact that he will have gone over a full year in between bouts. Nogueira will be looking to avoid his third loss in four fights while Evans is highly motivated to make a successful return to action following just the second defeat of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career at UFC 145 this past April to his former teammate Jon Jones. Anyone think "Minotoro" has a shot at the upset and is worth putting some money on? Or will Rashad take care of business like he's expected to? For more on UFC 156 click here.

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A light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is expected for UFC 157 next February.

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Rashad Evans may have had Lyoto Machida in mind as an ideal opponent for his return to the Octagon, but he will instead square off with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

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A light heavyweight confrontation between Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is reportedly being targeted for the UFC’s Super Bowl weekend card on Feb. 2.

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Two of the finest light heavyweights to ever grace the ring have been linked to a meeting over Super Bowl Weekend in the form of a fight between Rashad Evans-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Evans is a former UFC champion with wins over a number of notable foes, while Nogueira built his reputation as a winner in PRIDE and has experienced similar success since turning his attention to the Octagon. Though the upcoming show has not been officially announced it is likely to take place on February 2 in Las Vegas. News of the match-up was first reported by SporTV and has been confirmed by other sites since. Evans is coming off a decision loss to current title-holder Jon Jones, seeing a four-fight winning streak snapped in the process as well. The Ultimate Fighter 2 winner has racked up a 17-2-1 record over his career including success against the likes of Tito Ortiz, Forrest Griffin, Phil Davis, and Quinton Jackson. “Sugar” ‘Shad Still Interested in Eventual Move to Middleweight The 20-5 Nogueira hasn’t fought since stopping Ortiz with strikes last December. He also holds past wins over Vladimir Matyushenko, Dan Henderson, and Alistair Overeem. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Today, exciting news comes for the fans of the UFC's Light Heavyweight division as Brazilian media outlet SporTV has reported that former champion Rashad Evans has verbally agreed to face Antonio Rogerio “Lil Nog” Nogueira at a Super Bowl weekend card. Evans had recently been speculating on just whom his next bout would feature, and had stated that a rematch with Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida was something he was very interested in. Evans was also rumored to be making the cut down to

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira are being booked for the annual Super Bowl weekend card, according to a report by Brazil’s SporTV. Neither fighter has signed on the dotted line yet, but sources also confirmed with MMAFighting.com that the bout is “under serious consideration.” Evans (17-2-1) has been working [...]

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans held out hope his next bout would feature either an opportunity to revenge a loss to Lyoto Machida or a dip down to 185 pounds for super-fight with Anderson Silva. Though it appears the former champion will indeed face a Brazilian the when he steps into the Octagon in a few months, it looks like his opponent will only be a teammate of the aforementioned fighters rather than the genuine article. According to a report from SporTV (that has since been confirmed by other outlets), Evans is set to scrap with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at the UFC’s annual Super Bowl Weekend event. Given the game’s date, it’s more than likely the show will take place on February 2. The 17-2-1 Evans has been twiddling his thumbs since an April loss to title-holder Jon Jones. Prior to the stumble he’d won four fights in a row including success against Phil Davis and Quinton Jackson. By comparison, Nogueira is coming off a TKO victory over Tito Ortiz but will have been out of action for more than a year by the time he locks horns with Evans. “Minotoro” is 20-5 in his career with the bulk of his notable wins coming outside of the UFC such as those against Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem. No other bouts have been attached to the February lineup. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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A light heavyweight match up between Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been set for early 2013. The bout is expected to take place on Super Bowl weekend and will likely be dubbed UFC 157. Brazilian site Globo first reported the matchup. Evans has not fought since losing to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 145. Evans recently assisted Vitor Belfort in his preparation for UFC 152. His opponent, Rogerio Nogueira, has been battling injuries since suffering his third loss in a row to Tito Ortiz at UFC 140. The bout will likely take place in Las Vegas, Nevada and will likely feature a title fight of some sort on what is usually one of the UFC’s biggest cards of the year.   MMAFrenzy.com

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This wasn't the Brazilian he was looking for, but at least Rashad Evans has a fight. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion will reportedly return to the Octagon on Feb. 2, 2013, at an event to be named for a 205-pound scrap against longtime veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, according to sources talking to SporTV. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? "Lil' Nog," who put Tito Ortiz back on the road to retirement at UFC 140 in Toronto, has struggled mightily against the wrestlers in his division, sharing losses to Ryan Bader at UFC 119 and Phil Davis at UFC Fight Night 24. And his split decision win against Jason Brilz, another wrestler, was about as close as they come. Hopefully for Nogueira, his opponent opts to stand and bang. That's something he did in his last contest against reigning division champion Jon Jones. While Evans is the only person in the last 10 fights to take "Bones" to the scorecards, it wasn't enough to get the job done at UFC 145 earlier this year in Atlanta. "Suga" has speed as well as power, but his greatest asset is his wrestling. Just ask "Mr. Wonderful." The promotion's traditional Super Bowl weekend pay-per-view (PPV) event is rumored to be labeled as UFC 157; however, nothing is official at this time and no other bouts have been confirmed. As always, stay tuned to MMAmania.com as the details start trickling in. Until then, what's your take on this pending match-up?

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A light-heavyweight bout between former champion Rashad Evans and veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is in the works for the UFC's traditional Super Bowl weekend event, which is likely to be UFC 157. Globo brought word of the matchup today. UFC officials weren't available for comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.com, but a source close to the event said the fight is tentatively targeted for Feb. 2.

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According to Brazil's SporTV, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will return to the Octagon on Super Bowl weekend and face off with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. While the UFC hasn't officially announced the bout, a source close to the fight confirmed to MMAFighting.com on Wednesday that the bout is under serious consideration for a planned Feb. 2 event in Las Vegas. If the fight is finalized, it would mark Evans' first bout since losing a unanimous decision to champion Jon Jones on April 21. The loss snapped a four-fight win streak for the 33-year-old Evans (17-2-1). Nogueira (20-5), meanwhile, has not fought since a first-round stoppage of Tito Ortiz on Dec. 10, 2011. He was slated to meet Alexander Gustafsson in April, but the 36-year-old Brazilian had to pull out of the fight due to a knee injury.

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Rashad Evans is looking at a return in early 2013 and has his sights set on gaining revenge against the man who knocked him out.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans weighs in on Jones vs. Sonnen, Anderson Silva's dominance, and more.

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, who came up short in his bid to dethrone Jon Jones from the 205-pound throne at UFC 145 earlier this year in Atlanta, is expected to remain on the sidelines until 2013. But he already has an opponent in mind for his eventual return. "Suga" is gunning for a rematch against Brazilian karate master Lyoto Machida. "The Dragon" not only claimed the division title against the former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) champ, he did it with a blistering first round knockout that ushered in the short-lived "Machida Era." Evans (via MMA Weekly) wants that one back: "I was hoping in December, by the end of the year, but it looks like it's not going to happen until maybe February or March. Who am I going to fight is the main question? I want to be at light heavyweight because there is unfinished business. The guy who I really want to fight is a guy I lost my first fight to. I would like to fight Lyoto Machida again. He looked good against Bader. I want to get that one back, bad." Despite faltering against "Bones," Evans is still widely-regarded as one of the top five light heavyweights in all of mixed martial arts (MMA), with a 17-2 record and championship credentials. Prior to the Jones fight, he stifled Phil Davis in a five round unanimous decision win back in January. Anyone think a Machida rematch ends any differently the second time out?

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, evan, machida, lyoto

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Rashad Evans walked into the Octagon for the first  time as a champion at UFC 98 against Lyoto Machida. It turned out to be a night of new things for “Sugar” ‘Shad, as he also experienced his first taste of defeat in MMA, suffering one of the most brutal knockouts in the past few years.  With a desire to fight at light heavyweight at least one more time before testing his skills at 185 pounds, Evans is now saying that he wants to erase that lingering aftertaste of the loss by mixing it up with Machida at some point soon. In an appearance on UFC Tonight, the former champion explained, “The guy who I really want to fight is a guy I lost my first fight to. I would like to fight Lyoto Machida again. He looked good against Ryan Bader. I want to get that one back, bad.” Machida’s schedule is currently open though he is expected to be facing Dan Henderson in the coming months. Meanwhile, Evans has been on the shelf since his title fight with Jon Jones this past April after suffering a foot injury in the bout. While the 17–2–1 Ultimate Fighter 2 winner recovers and prepares for his next outing in the Octagon, Evans has been doing pre/post shows for FOX events but is very focused on his return to the cage. “I was hoping in December, by the end of the year, but it looks like it’s not going to happen until maybe February or March. ‘Who am I going to fight?’ is the main question,” said Evans of his expected return to the ring. As for a possible fight with Anderson Silva at middleweight, Evans confirmed he’d never been offered that opportunity, and, despite being open to the match-up, has his mind on the 205-pound division. “I want to be at light heavyweight because there is unfinished business. I can’t go down unless something really beckons for my calling. I like to fight at 205 and I have done fairly well there,” Evans concluded. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, light heavyweight, evan, machida

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has been on the sidelines since early in 2012, and it appears that he will not return until early in 2013. Evans, appearing on UFC Tonight recently, said that the target date for his next fight is “not going to happen until maybe February or March.” He had [...]

Posted in: ufc, fight, rashad, target date, evan

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was hoping to fight again in 2012, but now it appears his return will have to wait until next year.

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The Match Up: It's been a rough road back since losing a dreary five-round main event on Fox to Rashad Evans, but Phil Davis remains one of the most talented fighters in the light heavyweight division. Gifted with world-class wrestling and an evolving stand up game, and an NFL-level physique, Davis' case of freezing on stage against Evans was a good learning experience, especially going the championship distance. Pitted against upstart Wagner Prado at UFC 153 later tonight (Oct. 13, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, "Mr. Wonderful" has the same foe for the second time in a row, after their first bout in August ended with an anticlimactic eye poke to Prado scuttled the match. The Breakdown: Prado should look to seize the momentum early and nail Davis with shots, especially as Davis tends drop his hands somewhat while stepping in to deliver his own. Davis can tend to get away with slight technical mistakes because of his brilliantly quick takedown shots and numbing wrestling, which is always a nice fallback plan. On the mat, Davis' ability to combine positional top work with clever submissions is a real meditation on what a top-level wrestler can do with a cerebral approach to jiu-jitsu, as opposed to a purely defensive one. The Pick: Tape on Prado doesn't suggest a lot he can do to win this one, outside of landing a huge shot early and pouncing on Davis to finish the job. Phil's still too good a wrestler and his standup game is improving, especially with his heavy leg kicks, a tool he didn't use enough against Evans for fear of being taken down. However, there are no such worries with Prado, who lacks the wrestling and the grappling pedigree to keep from getting planted. Look for Davis to feel the situation out in the first round, score a late takedown in the round, and steadily work Prado over. He'll repeat this in the second and third round en route to a one-sided if somewhat unspectacular decision win. Davis via unanimous decision MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card bouts on fight night (Sat., Oct. 13, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (PPV). The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 6:45 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" match-ups on Facebook and FX. For all the latest "Silva vs. Bonnar" news and notes click here. Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst.

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When Rampage Jackson was ruled out of his UFC 153 bout with Glover Texeira due to injury, it appeared the matter was settled when Fabio Maldanado stepped up to take the fight. News has arisen today that former Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was offered the fight, but ultimately declined it. Evans was initially critical of Jon Jones for his decision to turn down a replacement fight with Chael Sonnen at UFC 151, but today took to Twitter to explain his reasoning behind not fighting Texeira: I will

Posted in: fight, evan, fight news, glover texeira, texeira

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When an injury to Quinton Jackson left the UFC looking for a fighter to face rising star Glover Teixeira at UFC 153 the organization turned to Rashad Evans in hopes of convincing him to take the scrap on short notice. However, Evans wasn’t interested in accepting their proposal and the opportunity ultimately went to Fabio Maldonado. Evans confirmed the matter over the weekend during Fuel TV’s coverage of UFC on Fuel 5, admitting he rejected the bout based on the lack of time to train properly for the pairing. Apparently his honesty didn’t sit well with some fans, drawing a fair amount criticism online for his decision to play it safe instead of risk his reputation without being 100% prepared. The former light heavyweight champion has since addressed his detractors, clarifying his position in the process. “I will fight anybody with the proper notice. But after eight years with the UFC and being one of their top earners, why would I take a bad fight? Bad fight meaning not being in shape,” Evans explained in a message on Twitter. “Losing is hard enough but I will never serve myself up! If I haven’t been training I won’t fight! I know a lot of you fans may not realize (it) but I don’t walk around ready to fight. No one does. In this sport it takes at least eight weeks to be ready!” “There are no easy fights,” he concluded. With the controversy hopefully behind him, the 33-year old Evans will now turn his attention to training for a fight likely to come in the first month or two of 2013. He was last seen suffering a decision loss to title-holder Jon Jones but had won four straight entering the April match-up. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Rashad Evans will fight anyone. He just asks for suitable prep time. This past weekend UFC President Dana White confirmed Evans recently turned down a late-notice opportunity to fight Glover Teixeira at UFC 153. Evans, a guest analyst, said as much during the post-UFC on FUEL TV 5 show on Saturday night, and he then gave further details on Twitter.

Posted in: ufc, rashad evans, evan, glover teixeira, guest analyst

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UFC light heavyweight Glover Teixeira’s reputation as a fighter no one wants to face gained some more legitimacy this weekend when former champion Rashad Evans acknowledged he’d been offered an opportunity to take on Teixeira at UFC 153 and declined. The UFC was left looking for an opponent when Teixeira’s original adversary, Quinton Jackson, went down with an injury and was forced to withdraw from the October event. “They offered me a fight, but it was against Glover Teixeira and I only had three weeks to fight and I haven’t been training. I was like, ‘No way, not with that notice in Brazil,’” explained Evans during Fuel TV’s coverage of UFC on Fuel 5. Fabio Maldonado was eventually pegged as Jackson’s replacement. While Evans wasn’t interested in a short notice scrap with Teixeira, it sounds like he is open to the idea of mixing it up with the talented Brazilian in 2013 if the UFC decides to go that route. “I’m thinking maybe January or February,” said Evans on the subject of his next Octagon outing, adding, “I will fight anybody.” “Sugar” ‘Shad Says He Sucked in Last Bout Evans has been out of action since an April loss to title-holder Jon Jones. He is expected to compete one more time as a 205er before attempting to make a run in the middleweight division. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Add another one. The list of light heavyweights who wanted nothing to do with a fight against recent Octagon debutant Glover Teixeira just keeps growing and growing. The latest name to add to the list is former division champion Rashad Evans, who revealed as much on the UFC on FUEL TV 5 post-fight show last night (Sept. 29, 2012) when asked about his future and when he'll be returning to the cage: "I don't know. I talked to Dana [White] early this week and we talked about maybe December. But I'm thinking maybe January or February. I will fight anybody. I want to get a fight at light heavyweight. They offered me a fight, but it was against Glover Teixeira and I only had three weeks to fight and I haven't been training. I was like, ‘no way, not with that notice in Brazil.'" Forgivable to turn down a short notice bout against a dangerous opponent like Teixeira? Probably. Mauricio Rua didn't want anything to do with him either, same for Stephan Bonnar, though both ended up with tougher fights against Alexander Gustafsson and Anderson Silva, respectively. Teixeira's original opponent, Quinton Jackson, suffered an injury that forced him to pull out and eventually Fabio Maldonado was the guy who stepped up to the plate. Going back to Evans, he says he wants to return, at 205-pounds, early next year. Any of you matchmaking Maniacs care to find an opponent for him? Well?

Posted in: fight, opponent, evan, teixeira, glover

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was asked to step in and face Glover Teixeira next month in Brazil. Evans, who has not competed since a loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones earlier this year, declined the bout. “Suga” explained his reasoning while appearing on Fuel TV this weekend. They offered me [...]

Posted in: rashad evans, fuel tv, evan, glover teixeira, brazil evans

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UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans still has his sights set on a scrap before the end of 2012 and an eventual drop down to 185 pounds. However, when it comes to his next fight, it looks like Evans will stick with the division he’s called his home since winning the Ultimate Fighter 2 seven years ago. Evans spoke some about his plans for the future in an interview with ESPN where he confirmed his next outing would take place at 205, though the former champion also plans to use the opportunity to slim his physique down in preparation for a middleweight run in 2013. “I’m using this cut to see how far I can get down. I’d like to get on the scale somewhere around 201, like Lyoto Machida did. I’m using this fight to get my weight down and keep it under control,” explained Evans, referring to Machida’s weight in an August rumble with Ryan Bader. “Afterward it might be easier for me to go down to 185.” While Evans has apparently made his mind up in terms of testing new waters, that’s not to say leaving light heavyweight behind was an easy decision for someone with his history at 205 pounds. “It is hard for me to leave the weight class,” admitted Evans, adding, “I really want to fight Jon Jones again.” No specifics were offered in terms of when Evans would fight in what would presumably be his last bout at light heavyweight for awhile, though UFC President Dana White recently stated it was possible “Sugar” ‘Shad could still end up on the company’s annual year-end event (December 29/UFC 155). PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, light heavyweight, evan, lyoto machida

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The UFC has a history of stacking its year-end events and 2012 appears to be no different. For example, fights like Gray Maynard-Joe Lauzon, Chris Weidman-Tim Boetsch, Chael Sonnen-Forrest Griffin, Yushin Okami-Alan Belcher, and Junior dos Santos-Cain Velasquez are already attached to UFC 155, the organization’s December 29 show in Las Vegas. However, fans thinking the promotion is done booking the PPV portion of the card would be wrong in their assumption, as UFC President Dana White recently stated the company is considering the addition of a clash featuring former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. “We were talking to Rashad this week and talking about him fighting maybe in December, maybe January,” said White to a group of reporters after a press conference, later telling MMAJunkie about the possibility of UFC 155 playing home to Evans’ next bout. “Sugar” ‘Shad Flirts with the Idea of Dip Down to Middleweight Division Evans hasn’t fought since April when he came up short on the scorecards against 205-pound king Jon Jones. Prior to the loss he’d won four straight, holding an overall record of 17-2-1 including wins over Griffin, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Phil Davis, and Quinton Jackson. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Check out the best of the web, courtesy of the friends of HeavyMMA, including UFC 154 updates, Rashad Evans news, and much more.

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T.J. Grant and Evan Dunham threw caution -- and their bodies -- to the wind.

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When UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans revealed he was going to work closely with Vitor Belfort to prepare “The Phenom” for his UFC 152 title-fight against Jon Jones it turned a number of heads considering Evans’ own proximity to the divisional strap. However, according to Evans, his interest in training Belfort has nothing to do with his own desire to once again hold gold. “I’m not gonna fight Belfort. I’ll figure out a fight for me,” explained Evans on this week’s episode of MMA Uncensored. “You know, Jon Jones was saying, ‘I dunno what Rashad’s doing. He’s coaching somebody to fight for the belt that he wants.’ I do want the belt, but when you compete, and you really have a love for competing, you understand what it’s really about. What’s for me is for me, and what’s for somebody else is for somebody else.” “I believe I’m gonna get mine, either way. I don’t see a problem with helping somebody else become champion,” Evans concluded. Evans also confirmed he is still open to a bout at 185 pounds if the right match-up materializes though has no interest in making the weight if it will not put him closer to the related belt than he currently is at light heavyweight. The 17-2-1 Evans has stepped into the Octagon twice this year thus far, splitting the two tilts, and hopes get one more fight in before the calendar rolls over into 2013. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/TWITTER

Posted in: fight, jon jones, belfort, evan, somebody

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It was one of the most publicized disputes in the history of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in particular and mixed martial arts (MMA), in general. It was right up there with Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock, Tito Ortiz and Dana White. Tito Ortiz and ... you get the picture. The spat between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Rashad Evans was one that involved layers of hurt feelings and bad blood that boiled up over championship ambitions, by both fighters, which ended up bringing about a fight they both said would never happen. It also destroyed a friendship. They were teammates. They trusted each other. But, like anything else, once money and stature came into play, it all got twisted. "Suga" had his chance to shut up "Bones," once and for all, when the two squared off at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Ga., on April 21, 2012. Unfortunately, the result was Jones using Evans for his personal punching bag for five rounds. A rematch for Evans is nowhere in sight. In fact, there have even been rumblings that the former champion may end up moving down to 185 pounds. In the meantime, Rashad has set his sights on helping new friend and teammate, Vitor Belfort, as he prepares to do what he was unable to: defeat Jon Jones. And, he thinks he has a good shot at doing just that: Evans appeared on Spike TV's "MMA Uncensored Live," where he talked about his experience at UFC 145. He believes he walked away with experience that he will be able to share with others who will try to solve the puzzle that he couldn't: "I picked up a lot. I was in there for five rounds. I saw a lot, and I felt a lot. I have a pretty good idea of some the things he's strong at and some of the things he's weak at." Ultimately, Evans believes his stamina and pace were his main adversary in the loss to Jones. He also cited other weaknesses he was able to discern. He was unwilling to divulge those supposed soft spots, but he has shared them with Belfort, and he thinks it may be enough to help "The Phenom" finish the job that he started in April: "I hit him with a few good shots, and I had a few good opportunities, in the fight, but I just wasn't able to stay at the level for the whole fight. I've been working on myself to make sure that never happens again. I let myself down, in that area -- being conditioned to fight that kind of fight and to keep the kind of pace I needed to stay at. I think that Vitor -- we train him enough to be able to fight where I wasn't able to." If Belfort pulls off the upset and wins the belt, Evans will be placed in the center of the very same storm he found himself in with Jones. Would he fight a teammate? Even if it meant that his title aspirations depended on it? If you believe the story he's selling, the answer is no: "No. I'm not gonna fight Belfort. I'll figure out a fight for me. You know, Jon Jones was saying, 'I dunno what Rashad's doing. He's coaching somebody to fight for the belt that he wants.' I do want the belt, but when you compete, and you really have a love for competing, you understand what it's really about. What's for me is for me, and what's for somebody else is for somebody else. I believe I'm gonna get mine, either way. I don't see a problem with helping somebody else become champion." What about the rumors of a drop down to middleweight, where he'd inevitably have to get in line, take a number and wait for his chance to fight Anderson Silva? He's still not ruling it out, but when he looks into the magic crystal ball, the response is "not likely:" "I would consider dropping to 185, but the problem is, I'm kinda heavy right now. I might have to do a practice cut to get down there before I make any commitment to fight at 185. I've never cut weight like that, not since college. And, I always told myself, I said, 'If I compete again, there's no way that I'll turn myself into what I did in college, as far as living just to cut weight and stuff like that.' If the offer is interesting enough, I'll drop down. But, if not, I'll stay at 205. It makes no sense for me to drop down to 185 to be right in the same position I'm in now at 205." Make sure to join us, along with the rest of your fellow maniacs, in the LIVE coverage thread for UFC 152, which is scheduled to kick off around 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night, Sept. 22, 2012.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, evan, he

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has had a lot to say about tomorrow's title fight between Jon Jones and Vitor Belfort, and with good reason. For one, Jones is his former training partner and student who eventually rose to a level high enough to defeat Evans at UFC 145. On the other hand, Evans has been enlisted by Belfort to be his head coach heading into tomorrow's main event. Should Belfort win, Evans may find himself in a compromising position were he to choose to continue chasing the

Posted in: belfort, vitor belfort, evan, hand evans, defeat evans

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has been preparing new training partner Vitor Belfort for current champion Jon Jones ahead of this weekend's showdown at UFC 152. Belfort comes in to this fight as one of the biggest underdogs in the history of the UFC, but Evans doesn't see it that way no matter what the bookies say. Evans was interviewed by MMA Weekly about his role in coaching Belfort at Blackzilians as well as his chances against Jon Jones: "I probably know a lot more about Jon Jones than most people and have such insight, so Vitor asked me to be his righthand man in preparation for the fight," Evans told MMAWeekly.com. "I think it’s a huge mistake to consider him an underdog because this is an MMA fight," said Evans. "You’ve seen some of the most dramatic finishes and upsets in this sport. It only takes a second. Anyone at this elite level, no matter what your rank, has a chance to beat someone. It may be your night; it may not be your night." More quotes after the jump.SBN coverage of UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort Evans is not only confident that Belfort will pull off the upset, but believes that the KO artist can add Jon Jones to hist list of victims. "I definitely think Vitor can knock him out. Vitor has probably the fastest hands I’ve seen in MMA, and besides that, he has the power behind it too. If you look at all his experience, he’s been doing this since Jon Jones was like in the third grade. He has been doing this a long time," Evans commented. Granted, Jones has laid waste to the likes of Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson, who are equally experienced and just as capable of getting a KO. As far as a potential rematch down the road with Bones, Evans is sure he will get one. "I’m positive we will fight again at 205, maybe in a year or so, but we’ll fight again," Evans said about a rematch with Jones. Evans fought Jones this past April, and despite his inside knowledge through extensive time together at Jackson's MMA, he was unable to mount any serious offense and found himself on the wrong end of a one-sided decision. A Belfort win would be a bigger upset than Serra vs. GSP, in my opinion. Jones has beaten nothing but fighters with much more experience than him, and has done so convincingly. But as Rashad said, it's MMA, and as tiresome a cliche as it sounds in any sport, anything can happen. Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners 8 Fighters Who Lost Short-Notice Fights (BR) 8 Fighters Who Won Short-Notice Fights (BR) Where UFC 151 Fights Will Now Happen (BR) Winners & Losers Of UFC 151 Cancellation (BR) Jon Jones Spirals Into Villainy (BR)

Posted in: fight, jon, jone, belfort, evan

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Rashad Evans has bounced around the idea of facing UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. But, don’t think for a second that “Suga” isn’t counting down the days until he gets to see UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones inside the Octagon again. Jones successfully defended his title against Evans earlier this year, as the former [...]

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, rashad evans, evan

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Vitor Belfort has some high-profile teammates at his Blackzilians camp in Florida in the form of Rashad Evans and Alistair Overeem. Both the former Light Heavyweight champion and the former K-1 Grand Prix champion weigh in on Belfort's chances in his title fight against Jon Jones this Saturday. Evans speaks up to show respect for Belfort's experience and blend of athleticism with technique. Evans makes a good point when he notes that Belfort is fighting with nothing to lose, which makes him dangerous.

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It’s been a number of years since Vitor Belfort fought as a light heavyweight, while UFC champion Jon Jones has been tearing up the division since coming on the scene and has defended his title successfully against some of the sport’s top competitors including Rashad Evans. However, Evans has been working alongside Belfort for the past few weeks to help prepare him for this weekend’s short notice title-fight and has come out of the camp with a newfound appreciation for the Brazilian’s skills. Evans gave his opinion on the UFC 152 match-up in a recent interview and made it clear people shouldn’t be sleeping on Belfort’s chances to win no matter what the odds might say. Belfort Happy to Fight the Best of MMA’s New Generation of Fighters “I think it’s a huge mistake to consider him an underdog because this is an MMA fight,” stated Evans in an interview with MMAWeekly. “You’ve seen some of the most dramatic finishes and upsets in this sport. It only takes a second. Anyone at this elite level, no matter what your rank, has a chance to beat someone. It may be your night; it may not be your night.” “I definitely think Vitor can knock him out. Vitor has probably the fastest hands I’ve seen in MMA, and besides that, he has the power behind it too,” Evans concluded. “If you look at all his experience, he’s been doing this since Jon Jones was like in the third grade. He has been doing this a long time.” Belfort’s hand-speed and power are two of the qualities the 35-year old is most often associated with. He holds an overall record of 21-9 with fourteen knockouts including strike-based stoppages of Yoshihiro Akiyama, Wanderlei Silva, and Rich Franklin. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: jon jones, vitor, belfort, vitor belfort, evan

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Rashad Evans talks about coaching Vitor Belfort against his former teammate Jon Jones, fighting Jones again himself, and if this experience is at all bittersweet.

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TJ Grant may be one of the fighters in the lightweight division that often gets overlooked, but his UFC 152 opponent, Evan Dunham, has trained as hard as every, knowing he's got a tough fight on his hands.

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With all the shuffling following the UFC 151 cancellation, Evan Dunham found his fight bumped from the UFC 152 main card to the prelims. He's out to prove that was a mistake.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans hasn’t been attached to any fights since coming up short on the scorecards in April against current title-holder Jon Jones. However, Evans has been keeping himself busy since then including work alongside Vitor Belfort as “The Phenom” prepares to face Jones on September 22 at UFC 152. As far as his own future, Evans recently stated he is still open to drop down to 185 pounds if the fight is right but only if the pairing puts him closer to a title-shot than he currently is at 205. “I don’t know how far I am from getting a title shot. You never know with the UFC, so I’m just going to keep fighting and competing to be a champion, and whatever breaks free, breaks free,” explained Evans in an interview with MMAFighting. “If I get an opportunity at 185 and it’s a serious opportunity, then I’ll take it. Same thing at 205.” Evans Wants to Fight Again in 2012 “I’m still pursuing the championship any way I can,” he continued. “I want to see what opportunity is at 185, who I have to fight and where would it lead me to, because it really makes no sense for me to drop down to 185 to be in the exact same position I am at 205 where I don’t have to cut.” The 17-2-1 Evans also added his relationship with Belfort has nothing to do with his future decision in terms of weight class, stating the process was related to a simple desire to see a legend succeed at becoming champion once again at this point in his career. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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After an incredible streak of stoppages against some of the best names in the history of the UFC's Light Heavyweight division, UFC 205 pound champion Jon Jones finally saw it come to an end earlier this year in the UFC 145 main event against former friend and current rival Rashad Evans. While Jones would win the fight pretty convincingly, he rarely had Evans in serious trouble and seemed content to play to his physical advantages and ride out the 25 minutes. "Bones" admitted as much during yesterday's UFC 152 media conference call, talking about the different perspective he looked at the bout against his former sparring partner Evans: "With Rashad, I think a part of me saw a guy that I had sparred against, and I don't know - some of those elbows were definitely malicious, but my killer instinct was just not there for some reason. I was more focused - and I hate to say this - on just winning that fight. I'm not going to sit here and say I took it easy, but there was something in my bones that didn't allow me to really, really try to really hurt him and I think that was a small part about why I couldn't finish Rashad." Of cource, Jones didn't want to say the blame lay fully on his end. Rashad is, after all, a pretty damn good fighter. "To his credit, Rashad is an awesome warrior. He only lost once in like 20-something fights. Me and Rashad are both gifted. We're both winners. Our styles are different, entertainment factors could be different, but at the end of the day, we're both winners. To go against a winner, and I feel as if I dominated him, that speaks for itself. Finishing, I wish I could have. But I couldn't." While Jones admits the killer instinct may have been lacking against Evans, he strongly feels that won't be the case when he steps into the Octagon opposite Vitor Belfort next weekend (Sept. 22, 2012). There's no mental block, no reason for him to hold anything back. "Vitor is someone that I really don't know, and I think I'll have a better time going out there and feeling like I'm at war." So what do you think about this, Maniacs? Was Jones mentally holding back against Evans earlier this year? Will he be able to "unleash the beast" on Vitor Belfort next Saturday night in Toronto? Sound off!

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Heads were recently turned when news surfaced stating Vitor Belfort was working closely with Rashad Evans to prepare for an upcoming fight against UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. Evans, a former divisional king himself, is likely only a few wins away from challenging for the belt again yet has taken Belfort under his wing regardless of the insight it could provide in a potential bout between the two at some point in the future. Evans recently elaborated on his rationale, showing selflessness in the situation rather than a “me first” attitude. “I’m glad Vitor made me part of his journey to become champion. People want to always throw ego into it, like ‘Rashad, what are you going to do?’ And this and that. I’m not worried about that, man,” offered Evans in an interview with MMAFighting. “My main focus is for Vitor, that’s it. Everything else? It doesn’t even matter right now. I’ll cross whatever bridges I need to cross when I have to cross them.” “For me, helping him train is not so much about me. I want to help him become champion,” he continued. Another aspect possibly influencing Evans’ willingness to share knowledge has to do with him contemplating a move down to middleweight. The 32-year old Ultimate Fighter winner once again expressed his openness to fighting at 185 pounds if the match-up makes sense and will put him in position to challenge for UFC gold. “I don’t know how far I am from getting a title shot. You never know with the UFC, so I’m just going to keep fighting and competing to be a champion, and whatever breaks free, breaks free. If I get an opportunity at 185 and it’s a serious opportunity, then I’ll take it. Same thing at 205. I’m still pursuing the championship any way I can,” he explained. “I want to see what opportunity is at 185, who I have to fight and where would it lead me to, because it really makes no sense for me to drop down to 185 to be in the exact same position I am at 205 where I don’t have to cut.” Though the 17-2-1 Evans did not mention specific options, his statement shows a contender might pique his interest instead of only middleweight champion Anderson Silva as he’d previously alluded to. Regardless, with a newfound humility and his eyes squarely planted on the prize, it looks like Evans should be back sooner than later and in fine a form as ever. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, champion, vitor, vitor belfort, evan

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans has once again found himself in an unfortunate position in the division. In case you forgot, last spring Evans was forced from his promised title shot against then champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. He was replaced by Greg Jackson teammate Jon Jones, who has sat atop the LHW throne ever since. Rashad was expected to be Jones first contender, but an odd injury situation on Jones end delayed the match. Evans finally got his shot at UFC 145 where he lost a unanimous decision. Now, as Rashad has been waiting to decide his next move, his new Blackzillian teammate Vitor Belfort is next to face Jon Jones. Rashad appeared on the MMA Hour to explain his mentality as he helps to prepare Belfort: I’m glad Vitor made me part of his journey to become champion. People want to always throw ego into it, like 'Rashad, what are you going to do?' And this and that. I'm not worried about that, man. My main focus is for Vitor, that's it. As far as if Vitor becomes light-heavyweight champ, that’s great, that's what I would want. I don't know how far am I from getting a title shot. You never know with the UFC, so I’m just going to keep fighting and competing to be a champion, and whatever breaks free, breaks free. If I get an opportunity at 185 and it's a serious opportunity, then I'll take it. Same thing at 205. I'm still pursuing the championship anyway I can. Of course the coaching dynamic with Vitor Belfort adds a new perspective to his ongoing feud with Jones. However, Evans seems more than happy to let the bad blood pass: Being who he truly is, is not a guy who is disliked. He can actually be a good person, but I think him slipping back and forth between the person he thinks people want him to be and who he truly is has really messed him up. Of course, if he ever needed me for anything, I’ll be there to talk to him and to help him out if he needs it. And I don't know everything there is to know about life, either, so if there’s something i have a problem with, I’m sure I can learn from him, too. Rashad Evans words reflect the perception of many MMA fans. Jon Jones has been oft criticized as coming off as "fake". Jones has most recently come under criticism for his decision not to fight former Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen on extremely short notice. Although former champs like Rashad and Chuck Liddell have come forward to say they would have accepted the fight, Jones has stood by his decision. Evans does not yet have a fight scheduled. He has gone on record saying he'd like to return in December at his normal weight class. SBN coverage of UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners 8 Fighters Who Lost Short-Notice Fights (BR) 8 Fighters Who Won Short-Notice Fights (BR) Where UFC 151 Fights Will Now Happen (BR) Winners & Losers Of UFC 151 Cancellation (BR) Jon Jones Spirals Into Villainy (BR)

Posted in: ufc, jone, rashad, vitor, evan

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Rashad Evans' well publicized feud with current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, is now a distant memory. The two former friends duked it out at UFC 145 this past April, with "Bones" earning the nod over "Suga" on the judges' scorecards, putting their rivalry to rest. However, the two will now compete once again -- sort of -- as Evans is currently serving as one of Vitor Belfort's head trainers for the Brazilian's title shot against Jones, which will take place at UFC 152 on Sept. 22, 2012, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On top of giving him pointers inside the gym, Evans will be in "The Phenom's" corner, shouting instructions against his former training partner come fight night. It's a good move, really, on Belfort's part to enlist the services the "Blackzilian." After all, Evans has spent countless hours in the gym with Jones, as well as spending 25 minutes going toe-to-toe inside the cage. Met with the questions of an eventual showdown with Belfort should the Brazilian defeat Jones, Evans remarked that the prospect is the furthest thing from his mind, saying that he is only focused on helping Belfort become the champion and training him for the title fight has nothing to do with him personally. Appearing on today's (Sept. 10, 2012) episode of "The MMA Hour," Evans talked about training Belfort and what's next for him in the UFC, as well as offered some words of wisdom to Jones. Check it out: "As far as if Vitor becomes light-heavyweight champ, that's great, that's what I would want. The way things work out right now, I don't know how far I am away from getting a title shot. You never know with the UFC, so I'm just going to keep fighting and competing to be a champion, and whatever breaks free, breaks free. If I get an opportunity at 185 and it's a serious opportunity, then I'll take it. If I get a fight, same thing at 205. I'm still pursuing the championship title in any way I can. Any shape, form or fashion. For me, helping him train is not so much about me. I want to help him become champion." Evans says he isn't thinking about a future showdown with Belfort: "I'm glad Vitor made me part of his journey to become champion. People want to always throw ego into it, like 'Rashad, what are you going to do?' And this and that. I'm not worried about that, man. My main focus is for Vitor, that's it. Everything else?It doesn't even matter right now. I'll cross whatever bridges I need to cross when I have to cross them. It just makes no sense to worry about things I don't need to worry about right now." Evans also says Belfort has "more than a chance" at defeating Jones comes fight night in his observations of the bout: "Yes, yes, he has more than a chance. I truly believe it, I truly believe it. Vitor has some of the best hands, the fastest hands and he is very fast and he's very explosive. You know what I'm saying? So I think Vitor makes it a fight. He goes in there and he makes it a fight." Touching on the subject of Jones, Evans offered some words of advice to "Bones:" "He's a phenomenal fighter. He's got a lot of craftiness, a lot of poise. Very patient. There are things he got better at since he became champion and since I trained with him. For the most part, he needs to be who he truly is. But, being who he truly is, is not a guy who is disliked. He can actually be a good person, but I think him slipping back and forth between the person who he thinks people want him to be and who he truly is has really messed him up. And he doesn't know where to come from now. He doesn't know who to be. So he's trying to balance out who he should really be. When he first came in, he was trying to be something a little too much of what he really wasn't." When asked if he would ever give Jones advice if he asked for it, Evans says he wouldn't be opposed to it: "Of course, if he ever needed me for anything like that, I'll be there to talk to him and to help him out if he needs it. And I don't know everything there is to know about life, either, so I'm sure if there's something I have a problem in life, I'm sure I can learn from him, too. I think right now, he needs to really sort out some things in his life as far as his management situation and just find some people on his team who's really going to give a true idea and true perspective of where he's really coming form because sometimes I think he's a little bit disillusioned. I think disillusion can cause a lot of harm to you." When asked who he would like to fight next, Evans says bouts against Mauricio Rua and Lyoto Machida would be ideal for him, but is currently just waiting for a phone call from the UFC matchmakers to see what his next step in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career will be. Rua is currently lined up to take on Alexander Gustafsson at UFC on Fox 5 in December, while Machida is hoping he will be next in line for a title shot, though UFC President Dana White says that "is not going to happen." How about it Maniacs, what's your take on Evans' comments toward Jones? Can Evans help Belfort come out on top against his former training partner? Who do you think "Suga" should take on next inside the Octagon?

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, belfort, evan

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans made some interesting remarks about Jon Jones during the build-up to their meeting earlier this year. Jones, who retained the title with a decision victory over Evans, will face Vitor Belfort later this month at UFC 152. Belfort is currently training with Evans in Florida. As for the [...]

Posted in: jone, jon jones, vitor belfort, evan, decision victory

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After a lengthy buildup to his rivalry match with Jon Jones and a title challenge that ended in defeat, little seemed sure about Rashad Evans' future except for the fact that he and Jones were out of each others' lives. With Jones in his rearview mirror, the big question about Evans' career centered around whether he would remain at light-heavyweight or move down a division to compete at 185. The many guesses that were thrown out all proved to be incorrect. Instead, Evans' own fight career is temporarily shelved while his feud with Jones continues with him as a supporting character. Just two weeks ago, Vitor Belfort accepted a late-notice match with Jones, and as the newest member of the Blackzilians fight camp, asked Evans to coach him. Evans immediately accepted the role, which essentially means he has put his own aspirations on hold for now.While that might seem a strange position for a 32-year-old still in or near his prime, Evans said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour that it was a role he was happy to take."I’m glad Vitor made me part of his journey to become champion," he said. "People want to always throw ego into it, like 'Rashad, what are you going to do?' And this and that. I'm not worried about that, man. My main focus is for Vitor, that's it. Everything else?It doesn't even matter right now. I’ll cross whatever bridges I need to cross when I have to cross them. It just makes no sense to worry about things I don't need to worry about right now."According to Evans, Belfort's move into the Blackzilians camp was a long time coming, with the roots for change first planted months ago when the two sides set up a kind of exchange program that was going to see both men travel to spend time at the other's camp. Before that was able to happen though, Belfort was offered to fight Anthony Johnson, a Blackzilians member, so the visits had to be delayed.Finally, after the bout, Belfort came to visit, loved the atmosphere and made the move to join the team. It wasn't long afterward when he found himself with the offer to face Jones.Of course, Evans and Jones have a long and storied history which dates back to Jones' early days in the sport, so Belfort thought it was an obvious choice to ask Evans to train him and offer his insight on Jones, which was especially valuable with such little time to prepare.For others, that led to questions of what it would mean for Evans if Belfort were to become champion, but Evans said he is willing to wait out the currently clogged division to see what happens before making his next move."As far as if Vitor becomes light-heavyweight champ, that’s great, that's what I would want," he said. "I don't know how far am I from getting a title shot. You never know with the UFC, so I’m just going to keep fighting and competing to be a champion, and whatever breaks free, breaks free. If I get an opportunity at 185 and it's a serious opportunity, then I'll take it. Same thing at 205. I'm still pursuing the championship anyway I can. For me, helping him train is not so much about me. I want to help him become champion."Evans said that right now, he feels like the matchups that make the most sense for him are bouts with either Mauricio Rua or Lyoto Machida, and while he'd like to get back in the cage before the end of the year, he thinks the UFC schedule may prevent him from that, making a return after the New Year more likely.That means that for the foreseeable future, the ongoing storyline surrounding his career will center on his continuing rivalry with Jones. Evans will be in Belfort's corner on fight night at UFC 152, and he says that he "truly believes" Belfort has a chance to beat Jones even though he acknowledges that the 25-year-old champion is a "phenomenal fighter" who brings "a lot of craftiness and poise" to the cage.Surprisingly, those weren't the only nice words Evans slipped into the conversation about his onetime friend, as he offered Jones' public relations advice, saying that he needs to really be himself."Being who he truly is, is not a guy who is disliked," he said. "He can actually be a good person, but I think him slipping back and forth between the person he thinks people want him to be and who he truly is has really messed him up."Evans went so far as to say that if Jones called him for guidance, he'd be there to offer it."Of course, if he ever needed me for anything, I’ll be there to talk to him and to help him out if he needs it," he said. "And I don't know everything there is to know about life, either, so if there’s something i have a problem with, I’m sure I can learn from him, too."Maybe that hypothetical discussion will include a question about where Evans will end up. For now, Evans will play the waiting game, focusing on what is the best long-term solution."I've just got see where I fit in and what’s the plan," he said. "What's the plan? I want to see what opportunity is at 185, who I have to fight and where would it lead me to, because it really makes no sense for me to drop down to 185 to be in the exact same position I am at 205, where I don't have to cut."

Posted in: fight, jone, belfort, evan, i dont

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Surprised no one has posted about this yet, but today is the 4th anniversary of Evan Tanner's death Evan was an absolute warrior, and one of the most interesting me to talk to. He was incredibly deep. Watch some of his later interviews, it's awesome just to listen to him. Here's the trailer for the movie about him, "Once I Was a Champion." The filmmakers were grilled in the MMA community for how they handled the release of the movie, but it's still one I can't wait to see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufCwtz-vjIg And can we make this the picture on the side? http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/evan_tanner_rip.jpg submitted by TheNotoriousHAM [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma community, evan, evan tanner, thenotoriousham link, quotonce i

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It's hard to believe it has already been four years since former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner passed away. Newer fans might not be aware of how much Tanner meant to the sport and his fans. He was always very different from other fighters and struggled with his demons, but inspired fierce loyalty in those that followed his career due to his unique nature. He wasn't a guy that will ever be considered for a greatest fighters of all time list, but he sure as hell would top a few lists for most inspirational fighter of all time. I'm not going to run through his many accomplishments, because you can look those up for yourself if you'd like. I'm not even going to go over the circumstances of his death, which you can check out here if you feel the need. I'm just paying tribute to a man that did a lot for the sport of mixed martial arts. And should be in the UFC Hall of Fame. One of the best memorials I read about Tanner came from our own Kid Nate, who was a big Tanner fan. You can read that here. There are scores of other articles about Evan's death, and two of the best can be read here and here. If you haven't taken the time to see Once I Was A Champion yet, today would be a good day to do so. It's a documentary that discusses the life and times of Tanner, and tries to piece together what his final hours were like. It is certainly not an easy thing to watch - the interviews are heartwrenching at times - but the doc doesn't pull any punches and gives you a look at the real Evan Tanner, flaws and all. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Tanner. Rest in peace.

Posted in: time, fighter, evan, im, tanner

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans, is looking to get back into the swing of things sooner rather than later. After dropping a unanimous decision to current 205-pound title holder, Jon Jones, at UFC 145 this past April, "Suga" has not stepped foot inside the Octagon. In the interim, Evans has been moonlighting as a broadcaster for "UFC Tonight" and helping out with pre- and post-fight duties for UFC on Fuel TV events, too. Looking to get back to his first love, fighting, Evans had been rumored to be making a change in scenery in the form of shedding 20-pounds to compete in the promotion's middleweight division. A picture he posted on his Twitter account facing off against former two-time middleweight contender, Chael Sonnen, only added fuel to the fire. Now, Glenn Robinson -- Evans' manager at Authentic Sports Management -- reveals that a drop down to 185-pounds could happen, but only if a title shot against the division champion, Anderson Silva, was on the table. MMA Weekly has the details after the jump: "If the UFC offered him Anderson Silva at 185 right now today, he would go and fight Anderson Silva at 185. The UFC is not offering him Anderson Silva at 185 today, so that's not something that's going to happen. So that's all Rashad ever meant. His goal is to stay 205 and to fight the best possible 205-pounder; he'd like to fight in December. That's his goal. Whoever is the best available. That's who we'll fight." Currently, all of the top light heavyweights are currently booked to collide with one another with the exception of two notables: Ryan Bader and James Te Huna. Bader is coming off a brutal second round knockout loss at the hands of Lyoto Machida at UFC on Fox 4 a few weeks ago, while Te Huna is currently riding a three-fight win streak, recently putting a beating on the tough-as-nails Joey Beltran in his last time out at UFC on Fuel TV: "Weidman vs. Munoz" back in July. There is also the aforementioned Machida, who currently has an empty dance card after he wanted more time to prepare for his title shot at "Bones;" however, with a potential title still looming down the road, its unlikely Zuffa matchmakers pair up "The Dragon" opposite Evans. Then again, Dan Henderson would seem to be next in line ahead of Machida to get first crack at the winner of Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort following the whole UFC 151 debacle. A bout with Sonnen, who is making his way back to 205-pounds, would also be entertaining and easy to sell. The last two men who fought for the title in their respective divisions duking it out? What's hard to promote about that? Nevertheless, UFC matchmakers paired up Sonnen with Forrest Griffin at UFC 155 on Dec. 29, 2012, while Evans is still looking for someone to tango with. "The Spider" included. Any of you out there have any suggestions to shoot Joe Silva's way? Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners 8 Fighters Who Lost Short-Notice Fights (BR) 8 Fighters Who Won Short-Notice Fights (BR) Where UFC 151 Fights Will Now Happen (BR) Winners & Losers Of UFC 151 Cancellation (BR) Jon Jones Spirals Into Villainy (BR)

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, evan, br

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former champion Rashad Evans “settled” their feud earlier this year when Jones earned a decision victory over Evans. Now, as “Bones” prepares for his September 22 encounter with Vitor Belfort at UFC 152, “The Phenom” is receiving guidance from Evans. The drawn-out-feud between Jones and Evans is well-documented, [...]

Posted in: jone, belfort, vitor belfort, evan, decision victory

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Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans plans to remain in the division he once dominated, at least according to his manager. “Suga” ‘Shad has not fought since falling to current title-holder Jon Jones earlier this year when Evans became the first fighter to take Jones to the scorecards since winning the belt. While rumors of a potential drop to middleweight swirled around Evans earlier this year, Glenn Robinson, who represents Evans, insists his fighter will compete at 205 barring an offer he can’t refuse. “His goal is to stay at 205 and to fight the best possible 205-pounder,” said Robinson during a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “He’d like to fight in December. That’s his goal.” In the past Evans mentioned possibly facing middleweight king Anderson Silva, but Robinson said the fight was never actually offered by the promotion. “If the UFC offered him Anderson Silva at 185 right now, he would go and fight Anderson Silva at 185,” Robinson said. “The UFC is not offering him Anderson Silva, so that’s not something that’s going to happen.” Evans is 17-2-1 in his career with the two losses coming at the hands of Jones and fellow ex-champion Lyoto Machida. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, silva, anderson silva, evan, robinson

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has been faced with some tough career decisions lately. After a loss to nemesis Jon Jones at UFC 145, Evans flirted with the idea of dropping to middleweight and even possibly challenging UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Evans' manager Glenn Robinson addressed the talk on MMA Weekly Radio recently: "If the UFC offered him Anderson Silva at 185 right now today, he would go and fight Anderson Silva at 185. The UFC is not offering him Anderson Silva at 185 today, so that's not something that's going to happen. So that's all Rashad ever meant." It appears that he has decided to stay at 205 for now in that case, and Robinson says he would like to return to the octagon in December: "His goal is to stay 205 and to fight the best possible 205-pounder; he'd like to fight in December. That's his goal," Robinson stated. Even though Evans would be an instant top-three fighter at middleweight, it seems like staying at 205 for now is the best course of action. There are plenty of matchups for him there and there's less confusion at the top of the division. Who could he face in December (or whenever he returns) though? Perhaps another guy that would like to return in December, Dan Henderson?

Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, december, evan

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Rashad Evans isn’t just sitting on the sidelines waiting for the UFC to determine his next fight. Along with remaining active with the Blackzilians in Florida, the former UFC light heavyweight champion is a regular guest analyst on Fuel TV UFC shows. As for that all-important Octagon return, Evans’ manager believes he will be fighting [...]

Posted in: ufc, return, evan, octagon, guest analyst

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Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans had a four-fight winning streak snapped in April by current title-holder Jon Jones. Now, a few months removed from the loss, Evans is ready to make a return to the Octagon and already has a date in mind. Unfortunately, it appears he isn’t in a rush either and won’t be seeking action until the end of the year rather than sometime sooner….unless a certain middleweight great steps up to the plate, that is. Evans Talks Divisional Future “If the UFC offered him Anderson Silva at 185 right now today, he would go and fight Anderson Silva at 185,” said Evans’ manager (Glenn Robinson) in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “The UFC is not offering him Anderson Silva at 185 today, so that’s not something that’s going to happen. His goal is to stay at 205 and to fight the best possible 205-pounder; he’d like to fight in December. That’s his goal.” Evans has pointed to a possible super-fight with Silva for a few months though the Brazilian’s plate is currently full with contenders and a possible showdown against Georges St-Pierre. Other potential opponents who aren’t currently locked into bouts include Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, anderson silva, evan

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans hopes to fight again before the end of the year, and unless something miraculous happens, it will be at 205 pounds.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, rashad evans, evan, december return

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Well you can't fault Vitor Belfort for trying. "The Phenom" stepped up on short notice just days ago to fight UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones in the new UFC 152 main event following the cancellation of UFC 151 and after an assortment of fighters like Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua turned down the bout. And from the looks of it, he's going to do everything in his power to win. Having recently signed a deal with Authentic Sports Management, Belfort will head south to "The Sunshine State" of Florida where he'll train with the Blackzilians and will be coached by a man who's spent more time in the cage against Jon Jones than anyone else. None other than Rashad Evans. In a press release which was recently sent out, Belfort stated: "This is the most important fight of my life, so the time is perfect to join Glenn Robinson and the Blackzilians and their world class training camp at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Delray Beach. I will have the best trainers and the top fighters in the sport including Alistair Overeem and Rashad Evans helping me prepare for this title fight. I will run my whole training camp at JACO and will win the belt for my fans, family and the Blackzilians in South Florida." This will be Rashad Evans' first opportunity to be a coach and who better to coach against than one of his most bitter rivals in all of mixed martial arts? "Suga" is a former teammate of Jones and their UFC 145 title bout was the first time that a challenger forced "Bones" to go the distance since becoming champion. Belfort has gone 2-0 since losing a title fight to UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, knocking out Yoshihiro Akiyama and submitting a blown-up Anthony Johnson. He coached against Wanderlei Silva on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil but a broken hand forced him out of the UFC 147 main event. He backed out of a UFC 153 bout against Alan Belcher to accept this opportunity. He has not fought at 205 pounds since a 2007 bout against James Zikic. So what do you think of this revelation, Maniacs? Do you think Evans will have any tips for Belfort? Does the inclusion of Evans in Belfort's coaching stable increase the odds that he could pull off the upset? Sound off!

Posted in: ufc, fight, rashad evans, belfort, evan

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Posted in: hendo, rashad evans, evan, joey, version

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Rashad Evans has business to take care of at light heavyweight. While “Suga” sent social media for a whirl when he posted a picture of himself squaring off with Chael Sonnen recently, it appears that Evans is not set on meeting Sonnen. “Chael will always be an interesting fight, but we work together a lot [...]

Posted in: light heavyweight, rashad evans, chael sonnen, sonnen, evan

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It looks like UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans is still flirting with the idea of a run inside the Octagon at 185 pounds capped off by a potential pairing with middleweight king Anderson Silva. However, before “Suga” ‘Shad slims down in order to compete at a lower weight the former champion apparently has some unsettled business in the division he’s called home for the last six years. “I just wanna fight the best competitors. It’s really hard to go down a weight class after you’ve lost a fight, because it doesn’t leave a good taste in your mouth. I may have to get one back at 205 before I go down to any weight class,” admitted Evans after UFC 150 in an interview with ESPN’s MMA Live. Evans stopped short of pointing directly at any of his 205-pound peers for a potential match-up but did discuss the notion of facing Chael Sonnen as the two of them teased a few weeks back. “Chael will always be an interesting fight, but we work together a lot for Fuel TV, so I don’t know if it will happen. Besides, I think Chael might be going up,” explained Evans, though the TUF 3 winner didn’t completely shut the door on a match-up with the colorful competitor. “I mean, I never wanna back away from a fight so if Chael wants to come up we’ve gotta do it.” Currently the 17-2-1 Evans is in the gym and getting back in top shape while waiting for a call from his employers with a proposal. Check out the complete interview with Evans below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, weight, evan, chael

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There's been a lot of talk about former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans dropping down in weight to test his might against some of the world's top 185-pounders. Including Chael Sonnen. Those talks, however, may be a bit premature, as "Suga" is leaning towards one more fight in his current weight class, to "get one back" after faltering in his five round unanimous decision loss to current division kingpin Jon Jones at the UFC 145 pay-per-view (PPV) event earlier this year. From his discussion with MMA Live: "I'm ready. I stay ready. Chael will always be an interesting fight, but we work together a lot for FUEL TV, so I don't know if it will happen. Besides, I think Chael might be going up [in weight]. I'm never one to back away from a fight, so if Chael wants to come up, we gotta do it. Ultimately, [I'd like to fight someone like] Anderson Silva, but I would have to establish myself in the weight class, so they say. I don't know. As a matter of fact, Dana White, CALL ME! Joe Silva, CALL ME! I just wanna fight the best competitors. It's really hard to go down a weight class after you lost a fight, it doesn't leave a good taste in your mouth, so I may have to get one back at 205 before I go down to any weight class." Hear more from Evans on his future at 205 pounds and beyond, after the jump. For more on Evans' next fight click here.

Posted in: fight, weight, evan, weight class, chael

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans continues to expand his list of workout partners since leaving Jackson MMA. Evans posted on Twitter that he recently worked out with UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort. I’m very honored 2 have a chance to train with one of my favorite fighters of all time @vitorbelfort! instagr.am/p/OCQnqmk1En/ — Rashad [...]

Posted in: rashad, rashad evans, vitor belfort, evan, workout partners

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Rashad Evans tweeted this pic to Chael Sonnen with the caption 'let's get it!" I'd sure like to see that fight. HT: rscott94

Posted in: chael sonnen, evan, chael, pic, caption

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Is this a sign of things to come? Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans has teased a drop to 185 pounds. Coincidentally, ex-Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen has been hinting at a trip up to the land of 205. As Kenny Loggins once said, "Meet me halfway." Aside from body types that may be suited for either weight class, both Evans and Sonnen share something else in common. Each fighter came up short in their quest for division gold their last time out, and have been effectively eliminated from their respective title races. However ... Both Evans and Sonnen have also established themselves as perhaps the two best fighters not named Jones and Silva at their current weights. So, in an effort to avoid the dreaded "gatekeeper" status, something that chased former Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin out of his division a few years back, it's a move that makes sense. But it's also risky one. From a career perspective, it could be damaging to lose to the champion, then leave the division and get toppled elsewhere, as well. But which fighter has more to lose? Perhaps a catchweight fight of 195 pounds would lessen the blow, but it's still risky business. And a helluva good fight. Time to look into your crystal ball, Maniacs, and talk this one out. Anyone think we'll ever see a future Evans vs. Sonnen fight? If and when they do eventually hook 'em up, how do you see the contest unfolding? And would we see a finish?

Posted in: fighter, sonnen, evan, kenny loggins, career perspective

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submitted by sumeetd [link] [13 comments]

Posted in: vs, sonnen, evan, chael, sumeetd

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Should TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) be legal in the UFC and MMA in general? Kenny Florian, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, and Dominick Cruz hash it out. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: bisping, head, evan, bull, head video

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When Ben Rothwell was injured and Travis Browne shipped off to main event UFC on FX 5 in October opposite Antonio Silva, it left an opening on the UFC on Fox 4 main card on network TV this coming Sat., Aug. 4, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Upon inspection of the preliminary card, it seemed the obvious choice to move up was the Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado bout. The match-up isn't sexy, but Davis was last seen in the main event of UFC on Fox 2 in January of this year. That would seem reason enough. Instead, Mike Swick's attempt at successfully returning to active competition against DaMarques Johnson was given the nod, a choice widely panned by critics of the decision making process at UFC headquarters. And that's fair. Davis, too, is rebuilding. Whereas Swick has been gone for a couple years, dealing with various health issues, Davis is coming off the first loss of his previously "Wonderful" career, the aforementioned main event defeat at the hands of Rashad Evans earlier this year. The loss was devastating, if only because there was so much on the line. In fact, Evans earned a title shot on the strength of it. The same likely wouldn't have rang true for Davis but before he fell, his name was among those on a short list of men with the right skill set to give Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones a legitimate challenge. For his part, Davis tells MMAFighting.com the loss to Evans was still a milestone. "I still find that fight to be a little bit of a milestone. I haven't been in the sport for that long and I stayed with a guy whose been doing it two or three times longer than I have, so its just, you know, it is what it is. I don't feel like its necessary a fall off the horse type of situation. It's not something I'd say I could forget about, but I don't dwell on it either. My motivation for winning was never beating Rashad, it's to be a champion. That's the one constant throughout my career, and you know, nothing about my overall plan for success has changed. I still want to be the champion, I'm still 100 percent confident I'll be there, and just approach every day as such." Now that he's suffered his first career defeat, Davis gets to experience the next step in his growth process -- his response to adversity. After all, perfection is unattainable. Fortunately, Evans is one of the best 205-pound fighters in the world. Losing to him isn't exactly a death sentence and it doesn't necessarily mean Davis will never reach the upper echelon of his weight class. In fact, he's still ranked number six, according to the SBN rankings, and those ahead of him are all vying for the title. Dan Henderson will contest for it on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas and Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua are fighting for another crack at it. Only Evans is on the outside looking in. Obviously, a win over an unheralded opponent like Prado, even if he does it in seconds with some spectacular knockout or submission, won't allow Davis to leapfrog any one of those guys but it will definitely put him right back in the discussion and get him back on the road to achieving his ultimate goal. Becoming a champion. Anyone think we'll be hearing more of Davis in the 205-pound title picture sooner rather than later?

Posted in: ufc, loss, champion, evan, davi

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Posted in: rashad, rashad evans, evan, hatecomic

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Though far from the verbal assault other fighters have endured, UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones has recently been the target of criticism from top contender Dan Henderson who he faces on September 1 at UFC 151. Henderson has called Jones’ stand-up and overall attitude into question over the past few weeks, leaving the 24-year old champion wondering what he’d done to elicit such venom from the typically reserved veteran. “No clue why Dan Henderson decided to be so disrespectful to me leading up to this fight, but it is what it is. I could use the motivation,” posted Jones on Twitter. “The dude’s done so much for the sport, I’m not even trying to come at him like that. I did enough trash talking with ‘Rampage’ & Evans.” Both Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans blasted Jones in the media leading up to his successful title-defenses against them. Henderson Thinks Jones’ Technique is a Bit Sloppy “FYI – Henderson’s mouth isn’t bothering me at all, I just figured with all his experience he’d be over stuff like that,” finished Jones on the topic. While it seems evident Henderson’s trash-talk has in fact bothered Jones, hence his response to it, given his performances against Evans and Jackson it might ultimately be a good thing for “Bones”. Jones is 16-1 with his only loss involving a questionable disqualification in a bout he was winning beforehand. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, jone, henderson, dan, evan

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Before the dust could ever settle on Anderson Silva's legacy cementing victory over Chael Sonnen, former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans sent out a fateful tweet declaring his desire to drop down to middleweight to challenge the legendary Brazilian. Many of us were intrigued, and rightly so. A lighter Evans would dramatically change the dynamic of the 185-pound division. Unfortunately much of that enthusiasm was quelled just a few days later, when the fighter's management team issued one giant backtrack of a statement saying Evans might have gotten a bit ahead of himself and a drop down in weight wouldn't be in his future plans. But the one tricky thing about that: apparently no one gave Rashad the memo. You see, according to "Suga" there's a very real chance his move down to 185 pounds actually comes to fruition. "I've been thinking about going down to middleweight lately," Evans mused in a recent interview with ESPN. "I haven't totally made up my mind. It's something I'm going to think about a little more in the coming months and see where my body's at, but I'm definitely giving it serious consideration. The odds of me moving down to 185 are 50-50 or better." Of course, the only minor gripe some have had with Evans' potential drop is it could screw over all the guys who've taken their lumps to slowly trudge up the divisional ladder. It's true middleweight has become surprisingly stacked -- with Michael Bisping, Hector Lombard, Chris Weidman and Alan Belcher all jockeying for the next title shot -- but Evans knows the pain of being leapfrogged in the division pecking order all too well. So, almost surprisingly for someone of his stature, "Suga" is willing to earn his stripes instead of being gift-wrapped a title shot. "If I had the chance to fight Anderson, it would be a dream come true," he concluded. "I'd like to go right into a title fight, but realistically there are other contenders at 185, and to skip over everybody wouldn't be fair. So, it would make sense for me to establish myself in the weight class and have a fight or two, whatever the case may be."Evans vs. Weidman, anybody? Evans vs. Belcher, perhaps? I don't know about you, but either of those sound just fine to me. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Evans 50-50 on middleweight move. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans clarified his intentions to move down to middleweight, saying he was "50-50" on the idea at the moment, and he'd understand if the UFC wanted him to fight a few contender fights before meeting Anderson Silva. Weidman says he'll finish Silva. In the wake of his violent victory over Mark Munoz, newly minted middleweight contender Chris Weidman called out Anderson Silva, declaring he wouldn't just be happy beating the champ, he wants to finish him as well. The MMA hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour come back at you with a lineup that features Jason High, Nate Marquardt, Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Pat Healy, Bubba Jenkins, Roy Nelson and Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza. UFC on FUEL 4 ratings. UFC on FUEL 4 averaged 211,000 viewers and hit a peak of 289,000 viewers during Chris Weidman's shellacking of Mark Munoz, making for the third-most watched day in FUEL TV's history. McCall talks fighter pay. Top UFC flyweight Ian McCall dispelled some of the outrage surrounding his reported purse of $9,000 for headlining UFC on FX 3, taking to the Underground to reveal a $25,000 bonus sent to him by Dana White, plus additional cash for a main event sponsorship. MEDIA STEW As you can see by the title of this vid below, Tito Ortiz is ANGRY about Forrest Griffin taking TRT for his retirement bout, and he wants to tell all you youths out there how gosh-darn unfair it is. There's a lot to love here, but the two Silva impressions take the cake for me. You know how Sagat from Street Fighter looks totally rad because of those scars? Well, former Polish fighter Popek Rak actually paid someone to cut him up like that, just 'cause. (NSFW: This video is exactly what you think it'll be.) (HT: MiddleEasy) Our good friends Nate Wilcox and Zombie Prophet joined forces to start up a YouTube channel. Their mission: to compile more of the most entertaining MMA videos of the day. There's a couple gems in this inaugural playlist, including a disturbing video of a sanctioned MMA bout between a pair of 6-year-old Armenian kids that may or may not cause you to throw up in your mouth. What does having your face exploded open with a standing elbow look like? Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mark Munoz: (via MarkMunozMMA.com) SEEMS LIKE VINNY MAY BE JOINING A CERTAIN ORGANIZATION What would that be? I'm curious... RT @SMGathletes Leaving for Vegas tonight for a meeting in the morning. I cant imagine why ;) — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) July 15, 2012 @danawhite Thanks for the follow! It makes me feel like "I made it" on twitter! haha — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) July 16, 2012 Drinking that cool water. :) instagr.am/p/NJq_IuwA03/ — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) July 16, 2012 #BRINGBACKSEXUALCHOCOLATE Bc having grown men call me sexual chocolate just wasn't right "@ksmooth87: @Jonnybones why did you drop sexual chocolate as a nickname?" — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) July 17, 2012 A LITTLE TASTE OF JONES VS. HENDO Hendo and Cyrille Sparring @ Team Quest MMAinstagr.am/p/NJtbNbPzen/ — RICARDO FELICIANO (@RFBJJ) July 16, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Monday, July 16, 2012): UFC on FOX 4: Joe Lauzon (21-7) vs. Jamie Varner (20-6-1) added to main card UFC 151: Vinny Magalhaes (9-5) vs. TBA, according to Tatame FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day comes from Dave Strummer, who tells a story anyone with gym experience can relate to: From Beef to BFF: Post-Fight Makeups Are Natural It's a ubiquitous scene in combat sports: two men who spent several months calling each other names, and several minutes trying to dismember one another in the most painful manner possible share a sweaty embrace and a few kind words just seconds after the carnage draws to a halt. These post-fight love-fests fuel the widespread opinion that the vast majority of pre-fight beef is manufactured, but just because two fighters seem genuinely friendly after a fight, doesn't mean they weren't genuinely hostile before and during. For people who are wired to fight, the need to get involved with physical conflict can be almost overwhelming. Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott used to say that if it wasn't for football, he would be out brawling in the streets, because he needed to hit something, one way or another. When you need something like that, you end up really, really appreciating anyone or anything that helps you get it. And in combat sports, nobody helps you more than your opponents. One thing I don't tell many people (until now, apparently) was that I initially got into martial arts, shortly after college, as a way to manage a series of brutal anxiety attacks I'd been experiencing. I was, and remain, strongly opposed to psychiatric medication, so a psychologist suggested I needed to cook off some of my ever-present anxiety by exhausting myself as much as possible. I'd always been interested in martial arts, so I looked in the yellow pages, found a studio near me (which just happened to be taekwondo) and went for a class. I immediately enjoyed the discipline and the training, but at first, it didn't really do all that much for my anxiety. Then, a couple weeks after I started, when I was still very much a white belt, my masters decided it was time for me to start sparring. The masters at my dojang were highly competitive athletes, straight out of Korea, and they maintained a strong opinion that the best way to learn anything was by getting your ass kicked. So it was that on my very first day of sparring, suited up in smelly, borrowed pads, I got matched up against a blue-belt former marine wearing a permanent scowl. At this point, I felt ok. "Surely," I thought, "surely this guy is going to take it easy on me, since I'm such a newbie." I smiled at him as we stood waiting for the signal to begin. It wasn't returned. About a second after Master Choi barked "sijak!", my new, bald, friend launched a nasty roundhouse kick at my spleen. Rather than block, I turned away, ensuring that rather than hit my chest protector, the shot landed flush on my unguarded left kidney. A wave of pain went through me, but along with it, there was a wave of something else, something I hadn't really felt before -- a sort of preternatural calm and determination. In that moment, I almost immediately stopped thinking about my back. I also stopped thinking about protecting myself from more strikes, which he was landing at will. At that moment, the only thing that mattered to me was to hit this dude, hard and often, until someone made me stop. I lashed out with whatever handful of techniques I had learned to that point, but I put everything behind them, and by the time they stopped us, I had certainly lost, but I had also landed more than I had any expectation to at that point in my training. Masters Kim, Kim and Choi were all grinning at me when it ended. Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.

Posted in: ufc, fight, middleweight, evan, something

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is considering a drop down to middleweight, stating that he is 50-50 on the move.

Posted in: rashad, middleweight, rashad evans, evan, drop

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Maybe Rashad Evans will face Anderson Silva after all for the UFC middleweight title. Last week, Evans’ management team claimed the fighter would not be making any kind of drop to 185 in the future. Well, during a recent interview with ESPN, “Suga” said he is still gathering information about a possible drop to middleweight. [...]

Posted in: anderson silva, middleweight, rashad evans, evan, gathering information

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After seeing Anderson Silva's TKO victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, Rashad Evans decided to "pick a fight" with the middleweight champion. Evans is coming off a decision loss to Light Heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones, so many fans took issue with him possibly being granted an immediate fight against Silva. Only a couple of days later, Rashad's management released a statement saying he had no plans to drop down. Now, it appears that Rashad is indeed considering a permanent drop to the middleweight division. In an interview with ESPN.com Evans said: I've been thinking about going down to middleweight lately. I haven't totally made up my mind. It's something I'm going to think about a little more in the coming months and see where my body's at, but I'm definitely giving it serious consideration. The odds of me moving down to 185 are 50-50 or better. A 185 lb. "Sugar" Rashad Evans would be great for the UFC middleweight division, especially now that he was so soundly defeated by Jon Jones at UFC 145. Jones completely dominated the former champion and no one is calling for that rematch. At middleweight, many people think Evan's could give even Anderson Silva a run for his money and there's no doubt that he'd be competitive with everyone else at the top of the division, too. However, this decision would obviously have a huge impact on Rashad's career and there are plenty of factors to consider: The last thing I want to do is move down and become half the athlete I am at 205. That's something that happened to me while wrestling in college (at Michigan State). I cut too much weight, and if I had competed one weight class higher I would have had a better career. A move to 185 will be permanent. But what I've been thinking about also is that I'm one of the top contenders at 205, so there really is no reason for me to move other than fighting some different people. At 205 I fight tough guys anyway. Jon Jones is a tough dude. I'm a 205-pound fighter and the reason I've been successful is that I have attributes that, being a smaller guy, I'm able to bring, like having the speed advantage, things like that. It's something I might not necessarily have at 185. That's something I have to think about as well. These are legitimate concerns from Rashad and the significant impact of cutting an extra 20 lbs, while still being able to perform at the highest level, should not be understated. Still, a title fight against Anderson Silva is a huge upside to the argument for him changing divisions. After the jump, a couple more quotes from Evans about the weight cut and Anderson Silva. "I'm pretty sure I can make the cut, but I've never been down that low. If I decide to move down, I will do a practice cut first to make sure my body can do it. That will determine whether I can fight at middleweight or not. Yes, I would like to fight Anderson at 185. Don't get me wrong, Anderson is my favorite fighter. He's somebody I've looked up to for a long time. But if I had the chance to fight Anderson, it would be a dream come true. I'd like to go right into a title fight, but realistically there are other contenders at 185, and to skip over everybody wouldn't be fair. So, it would make sense for me to establish myself in the weight class and have a fight or two, whatever the case may be. Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners Most Entertaining Fights Ever (BR) Grappler vs. Striker Masterpieces (BR) Biggest Choke Artists (BR) Silly Things Fan Scream at Events (BR)

Posted in: fight, rashad, middleweight, anderson, evan

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submitted by blueboybob [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: evan, move, blueboybob, evans stronly, stronly

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans, elaborated on his possible move down to Middleweight, giving fans more hope for a possible match-up with Anderson "The Spider" Silva. According to Evans, there's a good chance of him moving down in weight classes is "50-50 or better". Here's what 'Suga' had to say in an interview with espn.com: "I haven't totally made up my mind. It's something I'm going to think about a little more in the coming months and see where my body's at, but I'm definitely

Posted in: rashad evans, weight classes, evan, spider silva, something im

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Posted in: middleweight, rashad evans, chance, evan, grushstp

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"Sorry haters!" That was the short and sweet tweet from former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Champion Dave Bautista, known as "Batista" inside the squared circle, as he recently booked his mixed martial arts (MMA) debut for Oct. 6, 2012 in Providence, Rhode Island. That's where the 43-year-old bruiser will face off against Newburgh's Rashid Evans, who also makes his professional fighting debut. "Smash" is 1-2 in amateur competition, having last competed at the Holiday Inn in Foxboro. From TMZ: The 43-year-old powerhouse signed with the CES MMA league -- and is all set up to fight on October 6 at the Duncan Doughnuts Theater in Providence, Rhode Island. We're told Batista -- 6'6" and 290 lbs -- will square up against some dude named Rashid Evans ... not to be confused with UFC hurt-maker Rashad Evans. Sources connected to the deal tell us ... the fight WILL be televised ... but it's unclear which provider will broadcast the fight. Bautista is the owner of the Gracie Fighter Gym in Tampa, Florida, and has trained in combat sports over the past several years. Now, it's finally time to see if he can put his money where his mouth is. Who's interested?

Posted in: mma, evan, batista, rashid evans, holiday inn

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Sorry to disappoint you fight fans, but despite the flood of tweets former UFC Light Heavyweight champ Rashad Evans sent out this weekend challenging Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva, Evans management is now saying that Evans has no intention of moving down to Middleweight. MMA Junkie has the scoop: "He has no plans to drop to 185," manager Glenn Robinson of Authentic Sports Management today told MMA Junkie via text. "He is just saying he's not afraid to fight anyone," Robinson wrote. I would characterize this as extremely bad fighter management. Evans has already lost to the UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones, his odds of getting another title shot in the next two years at 205lbs are very slim. His odds of getting a title shot at MW within the next nine months are excellent. The UFC is desperate for marquee fights to promote. Rashad Evans challenging Anderson Silva is a marquee fight. Rashad Evans against virtually anyone else is not. Evans needs better advice from his management or he should overrule them. If Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta decide they really want to see Evans vs. Silva, watch how fast his management becomes irrelevant in the discussion. Related Story: Rashad Evans Asks To Fight Anderson Silva SBN coverage of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners Most Entertaining Fights Ever (BR) Grappler vs. Striker Masterpieces (BR) Biggest Choke Artists (BR) Silly Things Fan Scream at Events (BR)

Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, management, evan

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Go ahead and cancel all those plans to throw a huge party if Rashad Evans and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva had decided to sign on the dotted line to face each other. Glenn Robinson, the manager for Evans, says his client is not moving to middleweight – despite “Suga” sending out a message via [...]

Posted in: middleweight, rashad evans, evan, glenn robinson, drop ’

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Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans is likely several big wins away from competing for the title again. Earlier this year, “Suga” was handed a decisive decision defeat to Jon Jones for the belt he once wore and is essentially at the back of the contendership line as a result. Over the weekend, after witnessing middleweight king Anderson Silva handle Chael Sonnen, Evans sent out a message via Twitter that he was willing to face “The Spider.” Unfortunately for fans, manager Glenn Robinson has put the brakes on talk of his fighter heading down to the division. “He has no plans to drop to 185,” wrote Robinson in a text to MMA Junkie. “He was just saying he’s not afraid to fight anyone.” In recent weeks Evans mentioned Silva being the only fight he would drop to middleweight for, implying the possibility “Suga” ‘Shad was truly interested in doing so. Now, it looks more likely that Evans will remain at 205 and leave Silva awaiting new challengers from within the 185-pound division. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: jon jones, silva, rashad evans, evan, decision defeat

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Whether intentional or not, former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans certainly got fans talking when he said he wanted to "pick a fight" with current middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva following this past Saturday's UFC 148 event. But Evans' camp today pumped the brakes on a move down in weight. "He has no plans to drop to 185," manager Glenn Robinson of Authentic Sports Management today told MMAjunkie.com via text.

Posted in: ufc, middleweight, today, evan, middleweight camps

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With his win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, Anderson Silva made the 10th defense of his UFC Middleweight title. After taking care of Yushin Okami in his last defense and now Sonnen, Silva seems to have gotten rid of all the challengers who he had a sense of unfinished business with. As a result, the slate for potential challengers is wide open. Which is both exciting and a bit confusing. Lorenzo Fertitta has publicly asked fans who they want to see face Silva next, and there are no shortage of options. The trouble is, for one reason or another, none are fantastic options. Michael Bisping is the most marketable choice, though he is coming off a loss to Sonnen and is currently sidelined with an injury. You also have two possible #1 contender matches coming up, with Chris Weidman vs. Mark Munoz on Fuel tomorrow, and Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 next week. But none of those men have much star power. Then there's the new wild card - Rashad Evans. The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion has publicly challenged Silva. So what to do? To me, the answer is clear. Rashad Evans should face the winner of Weidman vs. Munoz. While an Evans vs. Silva fight is clearly the best possible Middleweight title fight at the moment, now is not the time. Evans is coming off a loss, and no one coming off a loss should be thrown into a title fight. (Yes, yes, Dan Henderson, but that was a special case as he was the Pride champion and was unifying the belts.) He's also never made the cut to 185. Give him a trial fight to make that cut and get acclimated so that he is better used to the weight when he faces Silva. That both gives him a win and makes him better prepared for his showdown with Silva. Related: UFC Dream Fight Anderson Silva Vs. Jon Jones, Dana White Not Ruling It Out | UFC 148 Results: Rashad Evans Asks To Fight Anderson Silva And if Evans loses? Then either Munoz or Weidman has that signature name on their resume and can use the momentum to bounce into a fight with Silva. In the meantime, Silva vs. the Boetsch/Lombard winner works. It's not the best fight ever, but we've seen less marketable contenders get shots before (Chad Mendes, Thales Leites) and we'll see it again in the coming months (Erik Koch, Renan Barao). But that lack of marketability is not a reason to immediately hotshot Evans into a title fight. Let him get comfortable, let him get that rebound win, and let the idea of needing to earn a title shot maintain some credibility. Evans vs. Munoz/Weidman. Book it Joe Silva. SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 4: Munoz vs. Weidman Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners Most Entertaining Fights Ever (BR) Grappler vs. Striker Masterpieces (BR) Biggest Choke Artists (BR) Silly Things Fan Scream at Events (BR) Poll Should Rashad Evans get an immediate shot at Anderson Silva? Yes No   33 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, silva, evan

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UFC middeweight champion Anderson Silva defended his title for the tenth consecutive time last night, and where he goes next is unclear. But it seems that a former UFC light heavyweight champion wants to throw his hat into the title fight sweepstakes. Here's what Rashad Evans tweeted to Lorenzo Fertitta: @lorenzofertitta i want 2 pick a fight with the middle weight champion! Lol Make it happen!! Please!! — Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) July 8, 2012 Evans is coming off a loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 145 in May. A drop to middleweight has been something that fans have speculated about for a while, but Evans made it clear that he was going to remain at 205 at the post-fight press conference that night: "I'm a 205-pounder," Evans said. "I've only lost twice and I lost to a good competitor ... But if an opportunity happens at 185, I'll take it. But I like 205, I'll just have to work my way back up and get back to a title shot." If the tweet was serious and Evans has changed his mind, does he deserve a title shot right out of the gate? Or would he have to win a bout at 185 first? Rashad Evans vs. Chael Sonnen anyone? SBN coverage of UFC 148

Posted in: ufc, title, champion, rashad, evan

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After defeating Chael Sonnen in the main event of UFC 148 last night (July 7, 2012) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Anderson Silva seems to have run out of challengers at 185-pounds. In fact, when asked who he would like to fight next at the post-fight press conference, Silva replied simply, "my clone." Well, that's not going to happen anytime soon so we'll have to search for better options. The one that seems to make sense and would satisfy the superfight thirst from fans is a showdown against Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. But "The Spider" shot that down immediately, a sentiment echoed by "Bones" on Twitter. But if not him, then who? Former 205-pound champion Rashad Evans would like to throw his name in the hat. From his Twitter: @lorenzofertitta i want 2 pick a fight with the middle weight champion! Lol Make it happen!! Please!! The "lol" thrown in there gives reason for pause, and I never thought I would ever have to analyze the meaning behind and "lol" in my entire life but I suppose it's possible Evans is simply joking around with his boss. Then again, what else does he have to do? Sure, "Suga" could spend the next few years working his way back up to the light heavyweight title. But he's already lost once to the champion in that division, dominantly even, and his career is currently in limbo. He said he would stay at 205-pounds after his loss to Jones but would consider moving down to middleweight with a big enough fight. It wouldn't get any bigger than Anderson Silva. Maniacs, would you like to see Silva vs. Evans?

Posted in: fight, silva, champion, evan, superfight thirst

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans informed the world Saturday night that he would be willing to face Anderson Silva if the UFC allows it. Just minutes after Silva defeated Chael Sonnen in the main event of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2, “Suga” fired off a request through Twitter. @lorenzofertitta i want 2 [...]

Posted in: ufc, vs, silva, chael sonnen, evan

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submitted by ytsephill [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: rampage, evan, impersonation, bitch, ytsephill

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has lost just twice in his MMA career, falling to Lyoto Machida and current UFC champion Jon Jones. Currently, while awaiting his next fight, Evans has been a guest analyst for several UFC on FUEL TV broadcasts. While in college at Michigan State University, “Suga” competed in the [...]

Posted in: ufc, rashad evans, evan, lyoto machida, guest analyst

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UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva already has his hands full with one silver-tongued grappler in the form of Chael Sonnen. However, at some point down the road it sounds like he could find himself dealing with another adversary advertised with an ability to talk trash and back it up inside the Octagon. Rashad Evans, whose focus has been on the light heavyweight division for years, recently mentioned Silva’s name as an intriguing opponent after being asked about dipping down to 185 pounds. Evans Unsure of When He’ll Return to the Ring “Anderson is somebody I would love to fight because when it’s all said and done, whether you win or lose, to compete against the best in the sport is really what it’s all about,” explained Evans in a conversation with ProMMA Now. “You know, if I can walk away from my career and say I competed against some of the best in the sport in my time and era, then I can wrap up and say I had a really great career. So if the opportunity comes, and that fight happens, yeah I would drop to 185 to fight.” While the thought of a scrap between Silva and Evans is certainly intriguing it may be a bit far-fetched, as “Sugar” ‘Shad made it clear he isn’t interested in moving to middleweight beyond a one-off with “The Spider”. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: silva, rashad evans, anderson, evan, isn ’t

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Throughout his career, former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans has been labeled as an undersized fighter whose body was best suited for a run at 185 pounds rather than against larger adversaries. Of course, with a 17-2-1 record and wins over some of MMA’s top names it’s hard to argue against the notion Evans has done more than fine following his own lead instead of that of others. However, while Evans still isn’t wavering on his stance he has at least admitted he would drop to middleweight for a single scrap if circumstances dictated the possibility. “Anderson (Silva) is somebody I would love to fight because when it’s all said and done, whether you win or lose, to compete against the best in the sport is really what it’s all about,” said Evans in an interview with ProMMA Now. “You know, if I can walk away from my career and say I competed against some of the best in the sport in my time and era, then I can wrap up and say I had a really great career. So if the opportunity comes, and that fight happens, yeah I would drop to 185 to fight.” Evans is currently healing up from an April outing against 205-pound champion Jon Jones while waiting for his next opponent to materialize. Meanwhile, Silva clearly has his hands full as well with a title-defense against Chael Sonnen slated for UFC 148. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, evan, isn ’t, april outing, notion evans

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Despite his size, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans has no intentions of dropping to Middleweight, even though he came up short against reigning division champion Jon Jones at the UFC 145 pay-per-view (PPV) earlier this year in Atlanta. He just feels like "the best athlete he can be" at his natural weight. However, if the promotion were to dangle a big Brazilian carrot in front of him, one that just so happened to be encased in 185-pound gold, he would certainly reconsider his position, according to a recent interview with Pro MMA Now (via Fight Cove). "Anderson Silva is somebody I would love to fight because when it's all said and done, whether you win or lose, to compete against the best in the sport is really what it's all about. You know, if I can walk away from my career and say I competed against some of the best in the sport in my time and era, then I can wrap up and say I had a really great career. So if the opportunity comes, and that fight happens, yeah I would drop to 185 to fight. Why not?" Hear more from "Suga" on his weight, "The Spider" and a whole lot more, after the jump. So whaddaya think, Maniacs? Is this a fight that interests anyone other than Evans?

Posted in: fight, evan, interests anyone, somebody i, brazilian carrot

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Let me be the first to say that I would be satisfied if every card from now until UFC 160 was headlined by Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans. Just create an endless amount of interim belts and hand them out after every main event. As long as we get a UFC Primetime before every card, it's safe to say that everyone in MMAville would be entertained. While they're at it, every TUF should include both fighters and Rampage would be required to denote a nickname for every participant on the show. In some parallel universe this has already occurred, and damn you scientific community for not inventing a way to get me there. Rampage vs. Evans, the only fight in UFC history promoted with the phrase 'there's going to be some black-on-black crime.' Sometimes political correctness is discarded when it comes to UFC marketing. These things happen in MMA. So does smack talk that turns into impromptu kissing. Yeah, I don't understand it either, but it works when both fighters are animated pencil sketches as illustrated in the video below.

Posted in: ufc, rampage, rashad evans, evan, i dont

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has two fighters on his mind while he continues to wait for his next opponent: Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida. The two are the lone men to defeat “Suga” inside the Octagon, as Jones scored a decision victory over Evans earlier this year to defend the UFC belt, [...]

Posted in: jone, rashad evans, evan, lyoto machida, decision victory

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When the dust settled at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012, Jon Jones had successfully defended his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight title for the third time in seven months. His opponent in Atlanta, Ga., that night was none other than his former friend and training partner Rashad Evans, who served as a mentor for the young champion as he was coming up the ranks of one of the toughest divisions in mixed martial arts (MMA). Following their well publicized rift and their year long back-and-forth banter, the two settled their differences inside the Octagon, with "Bones" controlling the majority of the fight en route to a unanimous decision victory. Evans, on the other hand, was left to pick up the pieces and analyze what went wrong and move forward to the next phase of his career. Since then, not much has been heard from "Suga," who has been healing up in sunny Florida after a tough fight, all the while helping the rest of his "Blackzillians" teammates prepare for their fights. With no clear sign of what is next for the former 205-pound champion, Evans can't stop thinking about a potential future rematch with Jones, though he says that he has no more ill will toward the man with whom he spent the better part of year involved in a trash-talking battle. Speaking to 790 The Ticket, Evans talked about the aftermath of UFC 145, how he deals with fans who boo and hurl insults, as well as his desires to avenge a loss to Lyoto Machida and "Bones." Check it out: "It was difficult because it was a fight I really wanted, but it was a good learning tool because it helped me understand that things won't always go my way and it was something that helped me grow as a person. Did it hurt? Yes. Physically and emotionally. After the fight, a week later if felt like I had been in a car accident. My body was really banged up but my feelings were hurt more. But after a while you let it go. I didn't get him this time and I know he didn't get him he was a better fighter that night. I'm going to train, get better and I'll get a chance to fight him again. I don't have any ill will towards him or anything like that right now. Probably when we fight again I'll have some words to say to him, but for the most part I don't have a problem with him. If he's the champion, I think I will fight him again, I think our paths will cross one more time. He is very tough because he is very tricky and he made some adjustments in the fight that were really key and that gave him the one. I think he is a tough champion for anybody to beat." With his dance card currently empty, Evans says he wouldn't mind avenging his only two losses in MMA: "I would like to Avenge my loss to Jones one day, but also to Machida. Last time he got me pretty good, and all those Internet pictures of me getting knocked out all over the internet." Evans also touched on how he is received by fans and whether or not the boos affect him or not: "I don't take it personal, because the way I see it, people don't see me as a person, they see me as a character. So, i can't really get upset if they say something against me or feel a certain way about me because they don't even know me. They just know a character of who they think I might be based on what they have seen on T.V. or anything else like that. But, that's not me as a person. So when they say things to, you know, insulting things or they boo me, I don't get upset about it because they don't know who I am as a person. It used to bother me a lot because I couldn't understand it because i couldn't divorce the two different sides. I couldn't divorce Rashad Evans the fighter and Rashad Evans the person. So when they would insult Rashad Evans the fighter I took it like they were insulting Rashad Evans the person. So I started thinking about it and the older I got I just realized that these people don't know me. The same people that boo me or say something nasty to me are the same ones that will wait two hours in ling to get a picture signed by me or if they see they tell me they are my number one fan and they've followed me since TUF. I'll take a picture with them all the same because the fans are what make you. Without the fans, I would just be somebody that likes to fight. The fans make you, so i don't get mad at them for that. If they boo or cheer for me, its cool because they feel something." Hate all you want fans, Evans still has love for you. With Machida currently tabbed to face Ryan Bader at UFC on Fox 4 on Aug., 4, 2012, and Jones currently lined up to defend his title against Dan Henderson at UFC 151 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sept., 1, 2012, those two options are clearly off of the table for Evans. However, he would need a few wins under his belt before he gets another shot at the title, regardless of who the belt hold is at the time. When and if those rematches ever become reality, do you feel the outcome will be different than the first encounters? Or will "Suga" correct his mistakes and get those losses back? In the meantime, who should Rashad face in his next outing? Opinions, please.

Posted in: fight, fan, rashad, evan, dont

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After the dust settled in the main event between current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former training partner turned bitter rival, Rashad Evans, at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012, "Bones" had proved his dominance yet again, earning a unanimous decision victory over "Suga." The win marked his seventh straight and third consecutive title defense since earning the 205-pound title in March 2011. Though Evans undoubtedly gave the young star his toughest test to date, taking him to the unchartered waters of going a deep 25 minutes, the bout, for the most part, was a one-side affair. Jones used his reach to keep his foe at bay and fended off any offensive attacks from the former light heavyweight kingpin, never coming close to any danger. At least, that's the way what it appeared to the untrained eye of the spectator. According to Jones' striking coach, Mike Winkeljohn over at Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., Evans came "within inches" of turning his star pupil's lights out. He would know, after all, Winkeljohn did serve as Evans' striking coach during his rise to glory whilst he was a student of his down in the 505. Make the jump to hear from "Wink" himself via Prickley Pair Studios: "Jon stood to still too much and got hit by it (overhand right). Close to finishing the fight. It could have been, within inches, a little more snap of the hips to snap the chin down and cause that much more pain that would have put Jon out. So we got away with that one. And same thing with the head kick. The Sean Salmon head kick that I worked with Rashad on so much. Jon got right in that space, leaned in and Rashad kicked him in the head. Other than those two moments Jon pretty much owned the fight, and so I was really happy with that." Winkeljohn also says that he had some nice words with his former student, Evans, after the bout, but things would not be the way they used to be, seeing that the competitor in Rashad is certain he will get another crack at dethroning Jones down the road. Meanwhile, "Bones" will next face former PRIDE FC Middleweight and Welterweight champion and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson, later this year as he attempts to defends his title for the fourth time. What say you, if Rashad nearly cleaned Jones' clock, what will a perfectly-placed "H-Bomb" from "Hendo" do to the young champ? Can Jones prove his resolve once again and show that he can eat a few shots from one of the most powerful punchers in the game today? Opinions, please.

Posted in: jon, jone, light, rashad, evan

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Trainer-to-the-champions Greg Jackson has plenty of feelings still for Rashad Evans. After seeing his star pupil, Jon Jones, defeat Evans and retain the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 145, Jackson talked with Sherdog’s “Savage Dog Show” about everything that went down between the two former teammates. “It was a bittersweet night. I’m glad Jon [...]

Posted in: jon, jackson, rashad evans, greg jackson, evan

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On the most recent edition of “UFC Tonight,” former UFC No. 1 contender Kenny Florian broke down the most recent title-fight between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. Jones used his height advantage to keep “Suga” at bay, delivering a few sharply-thrown elbows that eventually swelled up the right eye of Evans. [...]

Posted in: ufc, evan, kenny florian, right eye, sharplythrown elbows

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submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: jone, tekprodfx, vs, evan, snapshot

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"It was a bittersweet night. I'm glad Jon won, but I'm just sad about the whole situation. It's nice to just kind of move on and be done with the whole thing. .... I went up after the fight and shook [Rashad Evans'] hand, and we kind of patted each other on the shoulder. That's kind of where we're at right now. There's no animosity or hard feelings on my end at all. We'll see where it goes from here." -- There's two sides to every story. Obviously, elite coach and trainer Greg Jackson was happy for his top student, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who was victorious at UFC 145 this past Saturday night (April 21, 2012), although the victory came with a cost, as "Bones" defeated one of Jackson's original team members and old friend "Suga" Rashad Evans. Evans' high profile victories over Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin in 2008 really put Team Jackson on the map, allowing the Albuquerque gym to become one of MMA's top training destinations today. Speaking with Sherdog's Savage Dog Show, Jackson discussed his feelings about the fight and where he currently stands with Evans now that it's all over. Do you Maniacs sympathize with Jackson at all?

Posted in: ufc, jon, jackson, chuck liddell, evan

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The UFC 145 salaries finally came out today, courtesy of the Georgia State Athletic and Entertainment Commission. It's not really surprising that the two main event fighters, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (400k) and Rashad Evans (300k), made the most coin. It's a little surprising to see who came in third - Ben Rothwell (104k). And it's even more surprising to see a co-main eventer making just $8,000 for a night's work (Che Mills). Total payroll was $1,231,000. You can catch the full list of salaries below the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans Jon Jones: $400,000 (no win bonus)Rashad Evans: $300,000Rory MacDonald: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)Che Mills: $8,000Ben Rothwell: $104,000 ($52,000 win bonus)Brendan Schaub: $14,000Michael McDonald: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)Miguel Torres: $32,000Eddie Yagin: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Mark Hominick: $17,000Mark Bocek: $46,000 ($23,000 win bonus)John Alessio: $10,000Travis Browne: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)Chad Griggs: $27,000Matt Brown: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)Stephen Thompson: $8,000Anthony Njokuani: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)John Makdessi: $12,000Mac Danzig: $54,000 ($27,000 win bonus)Efrain Escudero: $10,000Chris Clements: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Keith Wisniewski: $10,000Marcus Brimage: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)Maximo Blanco: $13,000

Posted in: ufc, jone, rothwell, evan, entertainment commission

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UFC 145 fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Jones vs. Evans" pay-per-view (PPV) event this past Saturday night (April 21, 2012) from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, were released earlier today by the Georgia State Athletic and Entertainment Commission. As expected, headlining fighters Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans were the top earners of the night. "Bones" is now depositing $400,000 for taking home a unanimous decision victory over "Suga," who will be cashing his sweet check for $300,000 later this week. Ben Rothwell had a "Big" payday for knocking out Brendan Schaub ($14,000) while Mac Danzig banked $56,000 by turning away Efrain Escudero. Mark Bocek was not far behind with $46,000, which he earned for getting rid of John Alessio ($10,000). But that's not all. The complete list of UFC 145 payouts and salaries (via MMA Weekly) after the jump. Jon Jones: $400,000 (no win bonus)Rashad Evans: $300,000Jones def. Evans via unanimous decision Rory MacDonald: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)Che Mills: $8,000MacDonald def. Mills via technical knockout Ben Rothwell: $104,000 (includes $52,000 win bonus)Brendan Schaub: $14,000Rothwell def. Schaub via knockout Michael McDonald: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Miguel Torres: $32,000McDonald def. Torres via knockout Eddie Yagin: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)Mark Hominick: $17,000Yagin def. Hominick via split decision Mark Bocek: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus)John Alessio: $10,000Bocek def. Alessio via unanimous decision Travis Browne: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)Chad Griggs: $27,000Brown def. Griggs via submission Matt Brown: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)Stephen Thompson: $8,000Brown def. Thompson via unanimous decision Anthony Njokuani: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)John Makdessi: $12,000Njokuani def. Makdessi via unanimous decision Mac Danzig: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus)Efrain Escudero: $10,000Danzig def. Escudero via unanimous decision Chris Clements: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)Keith Wisniewski: $10,000Clements def. Wisniewski via split decision Marcus Brimage: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Maximo Blanco: $13,000Brimage def. Blanco via split decision The total disclosed payroll for UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" was $1,241,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments such as PPV bonuses, among others. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 145 click here. For complete UFC 145 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: ufc, night, jone, decision, evan

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Jon Jones earned $400,000 with no win bonus for his UFC 145 victory over Rashad Evans Saturday in Atlanta.

Posted in: ufc, jone, saturday, evan, bonus

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones defended his title and made $400,000 doing so Saturday at UFC 145 in Atlanta. His opponent, former champ Rashad Evans, earned $300,000 in the loss.

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, rashad, evan

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Creative Loafing: "What's the worst part about being a fighter?"Matt Brown: "Right now? Cuttin' weight and talkin' to all you fuckers." Comment of the day from "Immortal" one, who tries to fend off media members prior to the UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" pay-per-view (PPV) event, which went down last Saturday night (April 21, 2012) at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Leading the charge and following in the footsteps of such esteemed celebrity interviewers like Stuttering John Melendez is Creative Loafing's Joeff Davis, who has a fuzzy microphone and the kind of hairdo that only the Night Slasher would admire. But he does ask some pretty good questions. His victims include the aforementioned Brown, UFC welterweight Rory MacDonald, light heavyweight Rashad Evans, bantamweights Miguel Torres and Michael McDonald and of course, Georges St. Pierre, who finally admits to eating sausage. If you missed any or all of the UFC 145 action click here.

Posted in: ufc, evan, atlanta georgia, philips arena, loafing

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones hauled in a card-leading $400,000 on Saturday for his title defense win over Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta. Evans earned $300,000 in the five-round unanimous decision loss.

Posted in: ufc, title defense, rashad evans, evan, atlanta evans

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I'm open to the idea of being flown around the world in a private jet with 25 year old Macallan practically on tap to cover MMA, if the opportunity happens. Who wouldn't be? Wine snobs for one. Just because I'm sitting here drinking a tasty red doesn't mean I don't hate wine snobs. They never want to try anything new and laugh at the idea of something like a craft ale having as complex a palette as wine. It isn't like alcoholic beverages are hierarchical and wine is sitting right at the top, just like in MMA where being a heavyweight fighter means you are automatically a better fighter than someone who is middleweight. That idea is absurd. There seems to be an acohol theme running through here which was completely accidental. What I really wanted to say was that Rashad Evans has stated that he would be open to fights at 185lbs, a story which seems to have gone under the radar a little bit. As Rashad said at the UFC 145 post-fight press conference: "I’m a 205-pounder," Evans said. "I’ve only lost twice and I lost to a good competitor … But if an opportunity happens at 185, I'll take it. But I like 205, I'll just have to work my way back up and get back to a title shot." When you consider his only two losses are to two former champions, one of which being the most dominant champion since Chuck Liddell then you can forgive him for being open to further challenges. This of course sets up a rematch with Michael Bisping, who he beat at light heavyweight way back at UFC 78 in 2007 if Dana decides to match Rashad up at middleweight.

Posted in: rashad, rashad evans, evan, wine, wine snobs

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In beating Rashad Evans at UFC 145, Jon Jones vanquished his fifth top 10 opponent since Feb. 2011. A summertime matchup with Dan Henderson could make it six within 18 months, a blistering pace of historic proportions. The bout with Henderson is confirmed, though a date likely won't be cemented for at least a few weeks.A good sign? Jones has experienced many of the best qualities exhibited by Henderson. Quinton Jackson represents danger in both hands, Mauricio Rua shows the same fearless aggression, Rashad Evans boasts quality MMA wrestling. None of it has been especially problematic for Jones, who has had barely a moment of trouble along the way. Henderson will face many of the same problems as the rest of Jones' opponents. He's sized similarly as Evans, just 5-foot-11 with a 74-inch reach (Evans has a 75-inch reach). He's also nearing 42 years old (on August 24). No one discounts Henderson's chances of winning, but given Jones' ability to get opponents to play his game, it will be an uphill task. Jones has also shown a durable chin; against Evans, he ate a head kick with barely a stumble. That's a trait that will serve him well against the iron-fisted Hendo. At least we know what direction the top of the light-heavyweight division is headed. Now let's take a look at what might be next for some of the rest of UFC 145's participants.Rashad EvansEvans would be wise to consider a move to middleweight. Not because he can't hack it at 205; he's been criminally underrated there. But if his goal is to be No. 1, it's an easier road to a title shot at middleweight, where the top-line talent pool is a bit more shallow. That said, he seemed to indicate a preference to stay at light-heavyweight. That's his prerogative. His hand speed will continue to serve him well if he stays within the division, as I suspect he will.Prediction: He faces Shogun RuaRory MacDonaldThe UFC's matchmaking philosophy with MacDonald has been a bit unusual. After beating vet Mike Guymon his first fight, he got Carlos Condit. He nearly won that, but lost late in the third. Since then, his matchups went from the always tough Nate Diaz, who was then miscast as a lightweight, to durable journeyman Mike Pyle to little-known Che Mills. At 13-1, MacDonald is ready for the jump. He deserves a top 10 opponent, now. Prediction: He faces the winner of May 5's Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck fightMichael McDonaldMcDonald just turned 21 three months ago, and he's already closing in on the bantamweight top five after his crushing knockout of Miguel Torres. With the rapid ascension, Jones' record as youngest-ever UFC champion (23 years, 243 days) is also in danger. Now 4-0 in the octagon, McDonald is knocking on the door of a title shot. He'll still need at least 1-2 more wins though.Prediction: He faces Brian BowlesBen RothwellOver the weekend, I wrote that featherweight Eddie Yagin was the feel-good story of UFC 145 for his huge upset of Mark Hominick, but Rothwell deserves honorable mention for picking up his first win in nearly two years with a KO of Brendan Schaub. I would have liked to see Rothwell get offered a chance to fill in at UFC 146 against Roy Nelson, but that slot went to Gabriel Gonzaga. Let's not let time get in the way of it.Prediction: He faces the Nelson-Gonzaga winnerTravis BrowneAn athletic 6-foot-7 heavyweight with power, a chin, and he trains regularly with Jon Jones? This dude is getting downright scary. Given his skill set and durability, he is going to be a tough out going forward. He's definitely got the finisher's mentality, too. Nine career first-round stoppages, including seven that took less than 2:30 following his submission win over Chad Griggs. Prediction: If Mark Hunt beats Stefan Struve in May, Browne faces Hunt. If not, he welcomes Shane Carwin back to action in the late summer.Brendan SchaubAfter a four-fight win streak, Schaub has now lost two in a row, with both losses coming via knockout. Afterward, Schaub was introspective, saying in a FUEL post-fight interview that he might consider a move down to light-heavyweight. Considering he weighed in at 237 for UFC 145, it won't be an easy cut for him. But it is a doable cut. In an attempt to jumpstart his career, it might be worth the effort. His speed and quickness will follow him there, and he won't be facing the monsters he often saw at heavyweight (in KO losses to Rothwell and Nelson, he was out-weighed by more than 20 pounds).Prediction: Schaub tries out 205. The UFC should give him some time to make it there, so we'll project him for a fall return, say against the winner of July's Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna matchup.

Posted in: ufc, jone, henderson, evan, he

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Take a look back at some of the best shots of the night from HeavyMMA shooter James Law, who was cageside for UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans.

Posted in: ufc, jone, vs, evan, action photos

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submitted by BreakfastGuru [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, vs, photo, evan, breakfastguru

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UFC Light Heavyweight Rashad Evans became the first man to go five full rounds against champ Jon Jones on Saturday at UFC 145 but it came at a cost: an ugly swollen right eye. Jones repeatedly landed smashing standing left elbows on Evans and the damage is very easy to see a couple of days later. Evans tweeted the photo to his fans along with a series of comments on the fight. Here's the one that came with the pic: @SugaRashadEvansRashad Evans I went 2 UFC 145 in Atlanta and I had the best seat in the house & all I came back with was this fat eye! Wt http://t.co/YsE6L4Cj Apr 23 via Instagram Favorite Retweet Reply More tweets from Evans after the jump...SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans SugaRashadEvans Rashad Evans Thanks 2 everybody who supported me! I fought as hard as I could last night but I didn't work! I'm gonna come back even stronger! Apr 22 Favorite Retweet Reply MarioSperry MARIO SPERRY @SugaRashadEvans Next time, you have to get in the fight. No worries. Remember: you are a champ!!! You are a better fighter TODAY! Apr 22 Favorite Retweet Reply in reply to @MarioSperry↑ @SugaRashadEvansRashad Evans @MarioSperry indeed coach! I will train very hard 2 get better! I'm grateful I had the opportunity 2 fight last night! Apr 22 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply

Posted in: ufc, evan, reply, retweet, apr

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: face, rashad, today, evan, mattyblayze

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Now you're going to spend the rest of the day wondering what is hidden behind the massive growth that now appears behind Rashad Evans' eye after UFC 145. It looks just about the right size to store exactly two baby carrots for late-night consumption. Rashad Evans' right eye looks like it could even save one of those screwed up NES passwords that we all spent nearly a half-hour writing down only to find out we screwed up moments later. Whatever is behind that lump of meat, Rashad Evans took this picture just a couple hours ago in order to show the world what Jon Jones left him after his UFC 145 title fight this past weekend.

Posted in: ufc, rashad, evan, right size, couple hours

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans failed in his quest to take the title from Jon Jones Saturday night in the main event of UFC 145 from Atlanta. Following the decision loss – just the second defeat of his MMA career – “Suga” was asked about a possible drop to the middleweight ranks. You [...]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, light heavyweight, evan, middleweight ranks

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Now what? That has become the question following Jon Jones and his performances inside the Octagon. First it was the beatdown of “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 last March. Even though he was fighting for the UFC light heavyweight title just six weeks after defeating Ryan Bader, Jones fought the Pride veteran, and dismantled him. Then it was “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 135. Even though the fight went into the fourth round, Jones was rarely challenged by Jackson. Then came the third consecutive former champion in Lyoto Machida. This was supposed to be the test for Jones, as Machida brings a distinct style that fighters rarely see in mixed martial arts. Despite that, along with a solid first round from Machida, Jones was able mount a charge and choked “The Dragon” out in the next round. Then came Saturday and the highly anticipated fight against former training partner Rashad Evans. The matchup was long expected, as Evans was the man the UFC brought into the cage following Jones’ last two wins. But due to injury and other circumstances, the grudge match took nearly a year to come to fruition. Evans was expected to test Jones. The physical challenges were there, with Evans’ premier speed and wrestling; but Evans also brought the mental challenge, as the two trained together at Jackson’s MMA in New Mexico. That was evident in the matchup between the two, as they clearly respected each other throughout the 25 minutes spent inside the Octagon. But Jones still showed off many of the reasons why he is considered one of the greatest fighters in the world. Evan at 24-years old, Jones shows off more maturity and patience than he did a year ago. Match that with his length and versatility, it has come to the stage of wondering just how great he can become, and if anyone can challenge him in his current division. Yes, Jones went to a decision for the first time since defeating Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 in January 2009. But Evans did not test Jones for an extended amount of time. He landed a decent head kick in the first round, and clipped Jones with an overhand right in the third, but Jones was able to recover both times. Jones still landed the most effective strikes, and did so repeatedly. His forward elbows that he landed on Evans were clearly impacting him, and Jones was wise to continue using them throughout the match. Evans was able to survive those elbows and other strikes, but that should discount Jones’ performance. That now transitions us to Jones’ next scheduled opponent, Dan Henderson. “Hendo” was named the next challenger at the press conference on Saturday by UFC President Dana White. Many fans and pundits have already stated that Henderson will present Jones his toughest challenge, but that is just continuing the pattern that has come to be after every one of Jones’ performances. Will Henderson actually prove those experts correct? That is to be determined, along with just how long Jones will remain at light heavyweight, given his first year as champion. Biggest winner: Michael McDonald After two solid performances in his first two UFC matches, the 21-year old from Washington has been one of the most impressive fighters in the entire organization in his last two matches. Coming into the matchup with Miguel Torres, McDonald was telling everyone that would listen just how confident he was going into the biggest matchup of his career. He put that confidence on display, knocking out the former WEC bantamweight champion in the first round. “Mayday” very well could be fighting for the title before he turns 23. Biggest loser: Brendan Schaub Losing to a former champion in his hometown is nothing to be ashamed of. That is something Schaub endured in losing to “Minotauro” Nogueira at UFC 134 in Brazil. Now eight months later, Schaub finds himself struggling to remain relevant thanks to the loss to Ben Rothwell on Saturday. Once considered a top prospect in the ever-changing heavyweight division, Schaub’s future has changed 180 degrees from just a year ago. Also: Stephen Thompson The touted Karate expert came into UFC 145 with a ton of hype, as he was touted as the best striker in the division, according to the division’s champion Georges St. Pierre. Unfortunately for Thompson, that all blew over thanks to Matt Brown. Speaking of which, it seemed Thompson and his takedown defense was that weak, as he looked like he fell down every time like he was blown over by the wind. That will have to be addressed for Thompson to hope to remain relevant in the UFC. Biggest question: How soon will Rory MacDonald be fighting for the welterweight title? Coming into the match, many fans were wondering “who is Che Mills?”. That question received the answer “oh, that guy that Rory MacDonald demolished” on Saturday. The training partner of Georges St. Pierre could find himself in the category of his teammate very soon, as the 22-year old has put on an impressive arsenal every time he has stepped in the cage. If he does, MacDonald has stated that he would rather move to middleweight before fighting his teammate. But MacDonald will be fighting for the title very soon, regardless of his friendship and partnership with St. Pierre. Future matchups to make: Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson: This matchup was announced on Saturday by Dana White, and will happen in late-summer or early-fall. Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida: The last two victims to Jones, Evans and Machida nearly rematched at UFC 133 in August. But that is when Machida infamously asked for “Anderson Silva money”. Now the two are both coming off of a loss, and will hope to remain in the upper echelon in their second matchup. Rory MacDonald vs. Johny Hendricks/Josh Koscheck winner: Hendricks and Koscheck will square off in two weeks at UFC on Fox 3, and the winner of that matchup would be an excellent candidate to take on MacDonald. With Martin Kampmann vs. Jake Ellenberger touted as a number one contender’s bout, MacDonald and Hendricks/Koscheck will be fighting at least twice more before challenging for the title. Ben Rothwell vs. Pat Barry/Lavar Johnson winner: Rothwell came back from being clipped by Brendan Schaub in the first round to knock out “The Hybrid”. Many pundits have discussed Rothwell replacing Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva against Roy Nelson next month, but Rothwell would be better served taking on the Barry/Johnson winner because… Travis Browne vs. Roy Nelson: “Hapa” is closer to title relevancy than Rothwell is. If he is able to defeat Nelson, it would push Browne into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division. He mentioned that his extended training camp for Chad Griggs was grueling, so a four-week training camp will not be as much of a prolonged issue for him. Michael McDonald vs. Brad Pickett: Both are coming off terrific wins over the last week, as Pickett defeated Damacio Page last week in Sweden. I mentioned Pickett as a good opponent for Brian Bowles, but this matchup works out even better, as the winner of this one could be a title contender by the end of 2012.

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Take a look back at some of the highlights from Saturday's UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans pay-per-view at Philips Arena in Atlanta.

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-The win for Jones was his 10th in the UFC. Jones moves to 10-1 in the UFC overall-Jones has now defended his UFC light heavyweight belt three times. The record for light heavyweight title defenses is give held by Tito Ortiz.-The fight with Evans broke an eight streak of Jones bouts that did not go to a judge's decision-Jones last four wins have all come versus former UFC light heavyweight champions-Jones last decision came versus Stephan Bonner at UFC 94 in January 2009-Jones has won seven straight fights-it was the first decision loss of Evans seven year career-With two losses in his career Evans has only lost to former UFC champions-In 19 career mma fights Evans has gone the distance 10 times-Evans has been in the main event in his last nine UFC fights dating back to UFC 78 in November 2007-Rory MacDonald now has 13 career MMA wins. 12 of those have come via stoppage or submission.-MacDonald is 4-1 in the UFC-MacDonald, now 22, was a MMA pro when he was 16 and signed by the UFC when he was 20 years old.-The loss for Che Mills snapped a five fight winning streak-Mills now has five career defeats, four by submission or decision. The loss to MacDonald was his first by ( T) KO- Per Compustrike Jones outlanded Evans 112-56 in total strikes, 52-12 in power strikes-FightMetric scored the Jones-Evans fight as a blowout. Jones was given a 400-134 FightMetric effectiveness score over Evans and a 50-44 ten point must system edge per the UFC's official stats. -Per Compustrike MacDonald outlanded Mills 58-12 in total strikes, 38-5 in power strikes.-Betting favorites went a mere 7-5 at UFC 145. The biggest upset of night came off Eddie Yagin's split decision over Mark Hominick. Yagin was a big underdog at +550-The UFC returned to Atlanta, Georgia and the Philips Arena with UFC 145. The promotion last held a show in downtown Atlanta in September 2008 with UFC 88. A main event of Rashad Evans versus Chuck Liddell headlined UFC 88. Below is a live gate and attendance comparsion between the two events. UFC 88Gate: 2.6 millionAttendance: 14,736 UFC 145Gate: 2.3 millionAttendance: 15,545

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Rashad Evans elaborates on an injury he sustained during the second round of his championship bout versus Jon Jones on Saturday. He praised Jones for being difficult to take down, and thought he could have pressed the action a bit more. Evans vows to learn from this experiece and come back stronger, looking to face Jones for the title again someday. - courtesy of: fueltv.com: Further Reading: UFC 145: Jon Jones reatians title with a dominant Unanimous Decision

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Highlights from the post-fight press conference at Philips Arena in Atlanta after the conclusion of Saturday's UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans pay-per-view.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to pay-per-view this past Saturday night (April 21, 2012) with UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans," featuring the continued dominance of Jon Jones as he skillfully maneuvered his way past his former teammate Rashad Evans. Book closed. Rory MacDonald impressed once again, giving fight fans a taste of what the future at welterweight looks like when he mauled Che Mills en route to a second round technical knockout stoppage victory. And what's there to say about Ben Rothwell and his knockout of Brendan Schaub? Or Michael McDonald and his destruction of Miguel Torres? In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Atlanta. In we go. UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" Results and live fight coverage Recap and morning after discussion Post-fight press conference video Bonuses and awards Event photos gallery Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans fight metric report Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans fight video highlights Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills fight video highlights Ben Rothwell vs. Brendan Schaub fight video highlights "Prelims" results and recap Fight recap: Mark Bocek outworks John Alessio for decision win Fight recap: Eddie Yagin takes split decision over Mark Hominick Fight recap: Michael McDonald crushes Miguel Torres Fight recap: Ben Rothwell knocks Brendan Schaub out Fight recap: Rory MacDonald stops Che Mills in the second round Fight recap: Jon Jones defeats Rashad Evans to retain light heavyweight title Fight review and analysis: Mark Bocek vs. John Alessio Fight review and analysis: Mark Hominick vs. Eddie Yagin Fight review and analysis: Michael McDonald vs. Miguel Torres Fight review and analysis: Ben Rothwell vs. Brendan Schaub Fight review and analysis: Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills Fight review and analysis: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans UFC 145 post-fight fallout Big winners and lowly losers Event report card MMA Mania Matchmaker What's next for Jon Jones? (Hint: His name starts with a "D" and ends with "an." UFC 145 results paved the way to give the UFC 146 main card a face lift Did UFC 145 show that the light heavyweight division has become stagnant? Rashad Evans still doesn't like Jon Jones, thinks he'll fight him again Confirmed: Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is next Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is the intersection of the UFC's Route 205 Jon Jones has Dan Henderson in his sights after dominating Rashad Evans Rashad Evans isn't moving to middleweight just yet but he's keeping his options open Rashad Evans failed against Jon Jones with a wacky game plan Meditations on Relative Importance Disparity Travis Browne gets back on the heavyweight track with submission of Chad Griggs Matt Brown proved that heart and experience still count for quite a bit after defeating upstart Stephen Thompson That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC 144? Sound off, Maniacs.

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Jon Jones' coach Greg Jackson looks back on his prized pupil's unanimous decision victory over former student Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on Saturday night.

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In the main event at UFC 145, Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones successfully defended his title against former champion Rashad Evans. Jones took the fight via unanimous decision, with scores of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46. This was the 3rd successful title defense for Jones and brought his record up to 16-1 overall. Evans loses for just the 2nd time in his career here, dropping to 17-2-1. After all the pre-fight hype, there was a definite danger of this fight disappointing, and to many fans, that's exactly what happened. Rather than engage in a fast-paced shootout, both Jones and Evans approached the fight from a very strategic standpoint. While Evans had some success standing, Jones was able to use his jab and elbows to pick him apart over 5 rounds. It may not have been the flashiest version of Jon Jones, but it was one of the most dominant performances we've seen from the young champion. What was the high spot of this fight? Those elbows Jones used in round 2 were brutal. I loved his technique of using Rashad's hands to gauge distance and create openings. High-level stuff there. Where do these guys go from here? For Jones, the next fight is set - he'll face former Pride and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson in his next title defense. That will be an interesting test as Jones faces Henderson's veteran smarts, and his bomb of a KO punch. For Evans, it's harder to say. He's been chasing Jones for so long that it feels weird to think about him doing much else. I'd say he has two options - test up and comers, or face other highly ranked fighters in superfights. For the first option, I'd pair him with Ryan Bader, for the second, Mauricio Rua. I'd rather see the Shogun fight myself. Watch it now, later or never? Now. Setting aside the expectations, this was a great technical battle that showed Jones's continued evolution. He's a must watch fighter, and this was no exception. SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans in the full entry. UFC 145 Results: Is Jon Jones The Greatest Light Heavyweight Ever? - Kid Nate UFC 145 Results: Matt Brown Derails The Stephen Thompson Hype Train - Kid Nate UFC 145 Results: Njokuani Makes Emphatic Case For Muay Thai Over Taekwondo - Kid Nate UFC 145: Jones Vs. Evans Results - Best Photos Of The Night - Brent Brookhouse UFC 145 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills Full Fight Video Highlights UFC 145 Results: How Jon Jones Outstruck Rashad Evans - Fraser Coffeen UFC 145 Results: Winners And Losers - Tim Burke UFC 145 Results - Jon Jones' Next Opponent Confirmed: Dan Henderson - Brent Brookhouse Jon Jones Vs. Rashad Evans Fight Video Highlights From UFC 145 UFC 145: Jones Vs. Evans Results And Post Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 145 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 157: UFC 145 Results Review - Matt Bishop

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UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" finally hit pay-per-view (PPV) airwaves this past Sat., April 21, 2012, from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and featured UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones cruising past Rashad Evans to retain his 205-pound strap. Those bragging rights must feel so good, too. But they weren't the only two in action on the night's main card. Rory MacDonald earned yet another victory on his way to a welterweight title shot, overwhelming Che Mills en route to a second round technical knockout stoppage. Ben Rothwell got back on track with a big knockout victory over Brendan Schaub in the first round of their heavyweight contest. Miguel Torres failed in his return to the Octagon, getting knocked clean out by Michael McDonald while Mark Hominick dropped his third in a row by losing a split decision to Eddie Yagin. And don't forget Mark Bocek's gritty unanimous decision win over John Alessio. You can catch highlights from all of the above after the jump. And for complete UFC 145 results, including round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action, click here and here.

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Last night former UFC champion Rashad Evans became the latest high-level fighter to fail at solving the puzzle current title-holder Jon Jones presents inside the Octagon. Evans, who landed a few solid shots, absorbed a good deal of damage throughout the five-round affair including some of the stiffest standing elbows ever witnessed in the sport. After having a chance to freshen up Evans addressed the bout in an interview with Fuel TV on the post-fight show, saying his overall performance at UFC 145 “sucked” and he was disappointed he hadn’t followed the gameplan his camp had put in place. On the bright side, Evans is confident he’ll have an opportunity to avenge the loss at some point in the future. “I still don’t like him,” Evans said with a smile when asked if their match-up had resolved any lingering personal issues between the two rivals. “He fought a good fight and I’ve gotta respect him as a fighter, and I had respect for him as a fighter before but…I still don’t…I’ll tell you what, we gonna fight again.” Evans Not Planning on Move to Middleweight The loss dropped Evans’ overall record to 17-2-1, snapping a streak of four consecutive victories in the process as well. Check out the full interview with Evans below where he also mentions suffering a minor foot injury that limited his movement in the cage: Tweet

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UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" took place last night (Sat., April 21, 2012) from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, featuring Jon Jones successfully defending his light heavyweight championship with a five-round unanimous decision victory over former teammate Rashad Evans. And that chapter is finally closed. Rory MacDonald continued his assault on the 170-pound weight class, turning in yet another solid performance in the co-main event of the evening. "Ares" earned a second round stoppage of Che Mills after wiping the mat with the British brawler's "beautiful" face. Other action on the card saw Ben Rothwell send Brendan Schaub to Never Never Land, Mark Bocek grappled his way past John Alessio, Michael McDonald murdered Miguel Torres, and Eddie Yagin earned a hard-fought split decision over Mark Hominick. A photo gallery is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here and here. Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills Ben Rothwell vs. Brendan Schaub Michael McDonald vs. Miguel Torres Mark Hominick vs. Eddie Yagin Mark Bocek vs. John Alessio Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs Matt Brown vs. Stephen Thompson John Makdessi vs. Anthony Njokuani Mac Danzig vs. Efrain Escudero Keith Wisniewski vs. Chris Clements Marcus Brimage vs. Maximo Blanco

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