Rampage out. Evans-Machida UFC 98 instead

New Main event for UFC 98.

 

Evans knew beforehand that Jackson wouldn't be ready. This will be fun to watch! :kidcool:

 

For Evans it's the worst possible scenario. He doesn't get the marquee matchup against Rampage, and he gets to get his ass kicked by Machida.

Evans' short reign will be over on May 23.

 

I'm not counting him out just yet.

 

Real Talk.The way Machida handle Thiago Silva was scary shit.I'm a true believer

 

Did Rampage voluntarily pull out because he felt he wouldn't have enough time to prepare, or is there more to it?

 

The story now is that Rampage has to have jaw surgery to repair torn ligaments.

Not to worry though. Quinton should be back in time to be Machida's first title defense.

 

"I'm just sitting here like thinking, man, you know, most likely my black ass will be up in the mountains training in the next two weeks..Y'all don't even know. I got a bunch of Asian girls waiting for me. Damn! I was going to see which one I was going to take with me on a little getaway. Fly first class, talk about how I'm going to be UFC champion again. Get a private hut somewhere. All that just shattered cause somebody got their damn knee scoped."-Rampage

Rampage seemingly had no idea that the fight would be scheduled for UFC 98 in 2 months. He said to Rashad he would be well rested for your ass.

 

Nobody should. Rashad is pretty fucking good and has fought a overall higher caliber of opposition at 205 than Machida. Evans is a pretty solid all around fighter.

 

I won't argue that, but I will point out that Evans fights with Bisping, Ortiz, Bonner and even Hoger were narrow wins or a draw (Bisping). And if not for a point deduction, Ortiz gets a decision win.

Lyoto, on the other hand, has won his fights more clearly.

 

Right now, I don't think anyone beats Machida at 205

 

I didn't really see anything close about most of those fights. The only close fight was Evans-Ortiz. Granted Ortiz won 2 rounds but I really don't know if Ortiz wins the 2nd round if he didn't hold on to the fence so much. The point deduction was COMPLETELY justified. Rashad beat Bisping and Bonnar very clearly. I can't argue the Hogar fight I don't remember it to be honest. Regardless, my point was Machida hasn't fought as good of competition. There is no argument against that. Of course he has been more dominant against lesser guys (and common opponents), but that doesn't mean anything head to head. Rashad is a proven winner.

 

Evans will have a very tough time with Machida. I see Machida winning and holding that belt for a long time.

 

The funny thing is, everyone is saying how "good" Evans is. Thats it, he does alot of thing "good" but he isn't great at anything. Machida will puzzle him in stand up and Rashad won't have and answer. by the end of the second, Rashad will be doing everything he can to get it to the ground.

Machida by UD winning every round.

 

How is Machida's chin? Have you ever seen him take big shots?

Evans is nothing special, but has decent power.

 

Evans is a tough fight for anybody, and he packs a heavy punch. I haven't seen Machida fight honestly, but Rashad won't go out that easily.

 

I've never seen him hurt or stunned. Then again, the dude is so elusive that he rarely gets hit clean. The fact that Ortiz, Sliva and Sokoudjou didn't manage to really test his chin speaks volumes about Machida's defense.

 

The Thing about Rashad is he DICTATES the Pace of Pretty Much ALL of his Fights...Rashad LULLS Guys into the Tempo that HE Wants....To BEAT Rashad, Somebody's Gonna have to Get him OUT of his Comfort Zone...But to DO That, U've Got to Take RISKS...REED Keeps Using the Term "Spectacularly UNspectacular" to Describe Rashad...He Does NATHAN for the Better Part of 2 Rounds then WHAM, he Takes a Guy Out w/a SINGLE Leg Kick, SINGLE Punch or G & P's his Ass...

Like Jarhead Said, Rashad ISN'T Great in Any 1 Area, but REED DOESN'T See Any Weaknesses there Either...It's EASY to Favor Machida Here, Based on the DECISIVENESS of his Victories, but would it REALLY Surprise Anybody if Rashad WON this Fight???...



REED:dunno:

 

REED has Only Seen a Handful of Machida, so Somebody Help REED Out...From What REED has Seen, Machida Seems to B More of a COUNTER Guy...Instead of INITIATING Exchanges or Takedowns, it Seems to REED that Machida Likes for his Opponent to LEAD, so he can EXPLOIT them...

Does that Accurately Describe Machida's Style???....



REED:dunno:

 

Yeah, that's how I see him. I'm picking Evans. F*ck what anybody thinks! Machida isn't unstoppable and Evans has proven himself enough to the point where he should be considered a 50-50 against anybody at 205. Excellent wrestling, good cardio, lots of power....I think he can take Machida if he's focused and ready.

 

Yes, basically all his fights are like that. He backpeddles and counters. His counters are sharp. So far everyone has ended up coming to him.

I think the reason for that is while he is moving around, he is always throwing out little jabs and kicks, so they feel forced to come to him, otherwise they just get picked apart.

Then when they end up getting aggressive, he'll exploit it and really open up.

Machida is a very good fighter. Far better than Rashad I feel.

Though honestly I wouldn't be shocked with an Evans win because I think Evans is going to lose almost every one of his fights, and the only fight I think he clearly lost is the Ortiz fight.

But then again that does say quite a lot, that he couldn't even beat Ortiz.

 

Yes. Machida is definitely a counter fighter. That's the thing that intrigues me about the match up with Evans. Neither guy typically initiates. Machida will not deviate regardless of the crowd booing or long lulls in the action. He will absolutely continue to use feints and wait for mistakes.

The reason I think Machida beats Evans is simply because he makes fewer mistakes and has more tools to exploit even small openings by Evans. Evans, on the other, will rely on landing the big punch which just won't happen against Machida. And Evans will take a beating waiting for that fight-stopping big punch.

 

I agreee.

 

Call REED Crazy, but he just DOESN'T Like the Chances of a Guy BEATING Rashad Evans by Fighting @ a DELIBERATE Pace...U've Got to IMPOSE Yourself on Rashad or Make him UNCOMFORTABLE N Some Way...

REED Doesn't Know if a Guy can just Sit Back & COUNTER his Way to a Win Over Rashad Because Rashad DOESN'T do Much Leading Himself, but We'll See...REED Certainly ISN'T Expecting a Barn-Burner Here...


REED::

 

Rashad in some ways is also a counter puncher. Notice how much time he spends shimmering and waiting to throw a punch? Machida/Evans could become a waiting game in there. I expect a lot of booing!

 

Machida strikes with exceptional accuracy for MMA standards. He is definitely a counter fighter, but he doesn't waiste strikes or oppurtunities. I get what REED is saying about Rashad, but I see it a bit differently. I think Rashad relies on his opponent to rush in and make mistakes so he can land that one big punch or kick. Machida is fine with picking him apart and waiting for an opening. Hanz could be right about alot of booing, but it won't affect Machida in his strategy whatsoever. Rashad will lose by UD, not winning a round. This fight will look very similar to Machida/Ortiz.

 

I don't consider Rashad a puncher, even though he knocked Liddell out cold. He threw a hail mary there, he put everything on that shot. Look at the rest of his fights, the guy is a wrestler, he's certainly not a great striker. Before the Sean Salmon fight everyone was saying Rashad is a lay and pray boring wrestler. He pretty much still is.

I have Machida by UD. He will win every round.

 

REED, the thing is, it probably IS going to turn into a waiting game, with each fighter looking to counter.

But in that scenario Machida wins hands down. Why? Because Evans literally does fuck all in that scenario.

Machida does work though, even while he is looking to counter.

He'll be zipping in and out, tagging Evans and scoring points, he just won't commit to much unless he sees an opening.

Basically unless Machida's chin isn't all that and Evans can land a huge punch, Machida should win clearly.

 

Ortiz has horrible stand up skills bro.