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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Mixed Martial Arts (MMA/UFC) => Topic started by: MindSpin on March 11, 2009, 04:16:58 PM
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UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (13-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1) will meet undefeated Lyoto Machida (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), not Quinton Jackson (30-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC), in a title fight at UFC 98.
Evans, who was originally scheduled to defend his title at July's UFC 100 event, was instead moved into a UFC 98 slot vacated when UFC interim heavyweight champion Frank Mir underwent a recent knee surgery to remove bone chips. Mir was slated to fight UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar in a title-unification bout, but that fight will now take place at UFC 100.
Jackson had been promised a title after defeating Keith Jardine this past weekend at UFC 96, but an array of ailments won't allow him ample time to train for UFC 98, which takes place Mat 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
A source close to Machida today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Machida has instead accepted the bout with Evans.
While UFC President Dana White was optimistic the Evans vs. Jackson fight would take place at UFC 98, he cautioned in a UFC 96 post-event press conference that Jackson would first need to receive medical clearance. It would have been the former champ's third fight in less than five months.
According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, Jackson was examined on Tuesday, and a doctor discovered the fighter had torn ligaments in his jaw and a hyperextension of his left elbow. According to the report, Jackson will have surgery next week and will meet the Evans vs. Machida winner later this year.
Evans, a former Michigan State wrestler who first joined the UFC after winning "The Ultimate Fighter 2," had defeated the likes of Chuck Liddell, Michael Bisping and Stephan Bonnar to earn a title shot. He then defeated then-champ Forrest Griffin to win the 205-pound title at UFC 92.
He'll make his first title defense when he meets Machida, a fighter long dogged for his propensity to take fights to decision. However, the Brazilian fighter scored his most meaningful knockout in UFC 94's co-main event. Not only did the TKO prove his ability to finish fights (against a quality opponent in Thiago Silva), but he also picked up a $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus in the process.
However, Machida hasn't posted back-to-back stoppages since the second and third fights of his career, when he defeated former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin and "The Ultimate Fighter 1" runner-up Stephan Bonnar early in their careers.
For the latest on UFC 98, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(http://mmajunkie.com/dyn/images/fighters/lyoto-machida-4.jpg)
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Evans is going to have to push that guy to make this fight interesting.
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looking forward to this one
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I think Machida is gonna give Rashad fits and pick him apart standing,and I don't see Rashad getting machida off his feet.....
Machida wins a Decision
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I think Machida is gonna give Rashad fits and pick him apart standing,and I don't see Rashad getting machida off his feet.....
Machida wins a Decision
That's what I'm afraid of, boring.
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That's what I'm afraid of, boring.
actually I would'nt be real surprised if it was'nt that boring,with a title on the line, both fighter will be fighting more with a sense of urgency.....
I have nothing against seeing a fight go the distance, especially when they turn into chess match's like I'm thinking this one will..
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That's what I'm afraid of, boring.
Machida's last fight was anything but boring.and he's only getting better with every fight.
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Machida's last fight was anything but boring.and he's only getting better with every fight.
I agree there, but I like to see a good fight, whether on the ground or standing, I hope these guys can deliver a good back/forth battle.
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I agree there, but I like to see a good fight, whether on the ground or standing, I hope these guys can deliver a good back/forth battle.
Hopefully so, and hopefully Machida can humble this cocky negro.
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I think Machida is gonna give Rashad fits and pick him apart standing,and I don't see Rashad getting machida off his feet.....
Machida wins a Decision
x2
Rashad will be 13-2-1 after fighting Machida and Rampage.
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i hope machida wins,hes all around better then rashad.i never used to like machida until his last fight with that sweet ko,now im a potential fan,lol
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I think Machida is gonna give Rashad fits and pick him apart standing,and I don't see Rashad getting machida off his feet.....
Machida wins a Decision
right on target
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No one(205ers) can beat Rashad. Not sure what he has to do to make believers out of people.
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x2
Rashad will be 13-2-1 after fighting Machida and Rampage.
Evans is too good for Page. Plus page is past his prime. Diidn't we already discuss this on another board? And plus he's not fighting Page anymore.
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No one(205ers) can beat Rashad. Not sure what he has to do to make believers out of people.
You really think he get's past Machida? I don't know i just don''t see it...
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You really think he get's past Machida? I don't know i just don''t see it...
He destroyed Liddell and Forrest. Made them look like cans, he is too good of an athlete for anyone in the division. Not to mention he gets better with every fight. (I may be biased seeing as how he is from my area, but I do think he is the best 205er by far).
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He destroyed Liddell and Forrest. Made them look like cans, he is too good of an athlete for anyone in the division. Not to mention he gets better with every fight. (I may be biased seeing as how he is from my area, but I do think he is the best 205er by far).
I agree with you Danielson. He has quick hands, great endurance etc. Machida is a different type of fighter though.. and good at being different. Should be a great matchup... both undefeated too!
I see Machida on his back a lot.. that will be Evan's gameplan.. if he can get him down...
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Congrats to Machida being the new LHW champ.
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Wow- I am 100% ordering this one. I dont think it will be boring at all. While Machida is certainly adept at being evasive, he is going to be taken to the ground at least once or twice against Rashad and will have to showcase his jiu jitsu. I honestly cant call it- Either guy could win, but I would give the slight edge to Machida just because he is a pain in the ass to take down and is impossible to hit. Both fighters are smart and well conditioned- probably goes to decision.
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He destroyed Liddell and Forrest. Made them look like cans, he is too good of an athlete for anyone in the division. Not to mention he gets better with every fight. (I may be biased seeing as how he is from my area, but I do think he is the best 205er by far).
I don't know what it is....I can't get myself to like the guy even a little. Maybe it's because of the way he acted back on TUF. I don't know....I was surprised with the Griffin fight and I give him props but Chuck is an over the hill overrated pill popping rail snorting has been. Definitely looking forward to it. Ultimate opportunity for Evans to quiet people like me. ;D
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I take nothing away from rashad..he is the champ and that is a heck of an accomplishment from where he started (completely raw wrestler and never had a fight in his life if I'm not mistaken...either him or koschek I believe...anyway) to where he is today, but I'm taking the guy whose mastered himself and at his peak over the athletic champion who can be a jack of all trades but hasn't truly mastered himself yet.
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I don't know what it is....I can't get myself to like the guy even a little. Maybe it's because of the way he acted back on TUF. I don't know....I was surprised with the Griffin fight and I give him props but Chuck is an over the hill overrated pill popping rail snorting has been. Definitely looking forward to it. Ultimate opportunity for Evans to quiet people like me. ;D
I used to be a Rashad hater until I met the guy. He's a lot more humble when he's not posturing for a fight.
This is going to be a very interesting match-up. It's hard to see either one lose since both are undefeated.
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I used to be a Rashad hater until I met the guy. He's a lot more humble when he's not posturing for a fight.
This is going to be a very interesting match-up. It's hard to see either one lose since both are undefeated.
Yeah I'm sure that cocky ass attitude he comes off with is to hype and sell PPV's. Still hoping Mach takes his belt though.