I think this could actually be a close fight... remember Jardine/Forrest? Jackson is the new Couture in terms of coming up with game plans..

Tell that to Jardine after Silva destroyed him.

Hitman for the MMAfia

Good point. If Jardine could KO Forrest then Sugar certainly can as well. Plus Sugar is a way better wrestler. Let's do this!

The Forrest that lost to Jardine and the Forrest that beat Rua and Jackson are two different fighters. He is an inspired man, now.

I don't know what it is about Rashad, but he still seems to be lacking something for me,

Hitman for the MMAfia

Very true point about Forrest having transformed his game since that lost. However, Evans is a much more complete fighter than Jardine.

I think the one thing that throws me off with Evans is that he's a short guy for the division. But he's very thick and carries the weight well. I could see him at middleweight honestly, given his height... But the reach issue didn't play a factor against the taller Liddell...

Really Rashad lost the first round and was on his way to losing the second. He caught Liddell in an exchange that was quite literally because he was backpedalling the whole time. Actually last nights fight was a good reason why I personally prefer the ring over a cage. Liddell literally chased him around and around in circles until Rashad decided to stand and exchange.

I agree... I dont think Evans will be a force in the LHW division... I really dont see him beating Forrest. Then again, I didnt think Serra had a chance against GSP in thier first fight... it's MMA, and anyone at the UFC level can win any given fight.

If I had it my way I would have scored the first a 9-9 round the only plus was Shad cut Chucks eye a little. But please explain how Rashad was going to drop the second? He was controling it from the time they rang the bell until he rang Chuck's bell.
EERS_1_Fan
I'm the Capo mess with me and I'll tell you where to go!

Personally I prefer to give the edge to the aggressive fighter whenever the round is close - and I think judges generally do too. Rashad was backing away from the action and not really throwing hardly any strikes. The second round was a lot closer and I could have seen it going either way until Chuck got his head severed with that punch, but still up to then, the only action in the fight was Chuck. When its a close round, reward the fighter engaing the action.

I can't argue that Liddell was ever slightly more aggressive during the fight, but Evans has said that was his gameplan. I think he was willing to risk a decision loss for the potential to do exactly what he did.

The question is, what was Liddell's game plan?

Liddell's gameplan was the same one he always has. Stuff takedowns, wait for the other fighter to commit and chase him, then catch him with an overhand right. Unfortunately for Liddell, Evans didn't shoot for a takedown or chase him around the ring. Liddell got a little impatient and chased Evans instead, playing right into Evans' gameplan. Just about everybody knows Liddell will eventually try to throw a power shot from the outside, and with his unorthodox style his left hand is usually somewhere around his waist when he throws it. Rampage caught him when Liddell threw a body shot from the outside, Evans caught him when he threw an uppercut from five feet away that a six year old could have seen coming.

Liddell really needs to change his game if he's going to continue to compete. Everyone knows what he's going to do and now fighters are figuring out how to neutralize him. He needs to start going to the ground on these fighters and using the long-dormant ground skills he has.

What he said. ^^^

Dana must have needed mouth to mouth resuscitation and a shot to the heart to get it going again after he saw all that money he was going to make on the Liddell/Griffin fight go up in smoke. Griffin is still very marketable so I dont really see too big a loss in revenue with Griffin/Evans now the headliner. There will be some but Evans might get alot of the Liddell fans routing for him now.

Head of the MMAfia's Canadian Family - Canada Eh!

I think in the long run having Ultimate Fighter 1 winner Vs. Ultimate Fighter 2 winner will pan out for them. And they knew it.
EERS_1_Fan
I'm the Capo mess with me and I'll tell you where to go!

I have to give this fight to Forest. He's a better all around fighter and he IS a better striker even though Rashad has 2 great knockouts.

_________________________________________

www.6thRoundMMA.com

sugar nipples rashad only won cause he was dancing liike a monkey.

chief to the head of the west coast mmafia

The more I think about it the more I agree, he landed a great punch but did nothing else the whole fight. In his previous fight with Bispbing I think he lost he was gassed and looked so out of it at the end while Bispbing looked refreshed. He beat an aging Liddell who refuses to use a different game plan. This is not really a knock against Evans but let's not all sit here and marvel at the vast improvements he has made when all he did was land a huge right hand that anyone would have KO'ed Liddell with.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Live Blogger for Fightticker.Com

I Finally Reached 1000 Posts