UFC 92: Rashad Evans Beats Forrest Griffin

Depends on which Rampage shows up. Last nights Rampage will be tough to beat in stand up.

why do you say rashad has no class?

She is talking about in RD 2 where he grabbed his junk and blew Forrest a kiss. Give me a break Lisa it's entertainment. The guy put the work in and was extremely classy to Forrest before and after the fight.

Theo,

There is no way that Lyoto Machida deserves a shot at the light heavyweight title ahead of Rampage Jackson. Machida beat Ortiz but we all know Tito is no longer a good fighter. Machida hasn't beaten anyone in the UFC who is worth a damn to be honest and his fighting style is ugly as hell to watch. He fights elusive and smart but not the type of fighter who will be a fan favorite or a good PPV draw. I know he beat BJ Penn and Rich Franklin early in his career but he won't deserve a shot until he beats Thiago Silva in January (he won't). Rampage deserves that fight because he lost a controversial decision against Griffin and I think won that fight.

I agree with you that the night belonged to Frank Mir because he didn't just beat Big Nog but he completely dominated him. Mir slayed the beast and knocked him out in what others like Fedor couldn't do. Coming into tonight I thought Mir would get completely owned and that Lesnar would get beat by Big Nog. Now, completely feel that Mir will own Lesnar after seeing how sharp his boxing is.

Congrats to Rashad Evans for putting on a perfect gameplan that included some fantastic patience. Evans has to be up there with Bj Penn, GSP, Ayoki, Fedor & Anderson SIlva as the best Pound per Pound fighter on the planet. The guy has never lost a fight.

Ok Theo so now you dissolve into personal insults and attacks. Pretty classy of you and you really just proved your immaturity.

Lyoto Machida does not deserve a shot because he is fighting in a stacked division and his fighting style is not entertaining. It's not always about who deserves it but rather who will bring in the big bucks. Rampage deserves it more than Machida because he was the champion and lost a controversial decision. If Machida can beat Thiago Silva then he belongs in the ***discussion*** for a title shot but right now he is a long way away from being the 2nd best fight in the light heavyweight division. BTW Machida didn't beat Franklin in his prime he beat him before he was even a known commodity (DUH). Anderson Silva beat Rich Franklin in his prime - twice. Machida is no more deserving than Thiago Silva (both undefeated) and once that fight happens we can talk about Machida or Silva in that discussion.

Machida hasn't beaten anyone in the UFC worth a damn. PERIOD. Sam Hoger, David Heath, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Sokoudju and Tito Ortiz - that's who Machida has beaten .. whoopty doo. On top of that other than one triangle choke they were all decisions. Machida fights to score points and eek out a victory which goes back to my point - his style is not impressive or fun to watch. PERIOD. END OF STORY. On top of that he hasn't beaten anyone worth a flip in the UFC. There you have it. If your some sort of Machida fanboy then so be it but everything I just told you is 100% true and is whi Machida doesn't deserve to be in the top 5 light heavyweight discussion. He pretty much stays on his bicycle the entire fight and always get booed by the fans (wonder why?). Ortiz even had him in an arm bar and where it not for Machida getting saved by the bell he would have been submitted.

In the UFC alone Rashad Evans has beaten Stephan Bonnar, Chuck Liddell, Michael Bisping, Forrest Griffin and got a controversial draw against Ortiz that everyone will tell you he won. He knocked out Liddell, Griffin, Salmon, and Jason Lambert. I simply said he belongs in the discussion and that's my opinion. I don't care who you are in any MMA organization if you win 18 fights without losing (especially in the UFC) versus the type of competition he had faced (winning the Ultimate Fighter at HEAVYWEIGHT) he is one of the top fighters in the entire sport. Did you the size disadvantage he had at heavyweight?

To answer you condescending question yes I have trained in martial arts since I was about 14 (12 years now) and still train to this day. I know what I am talking about (do you?) the difference between us is you are a disrespect, foul mouthed child who throws temper tantrums when someone has a differing opinion. Grow up you big baby.

As for the people saying Evans is not respectful??? WTF IS THAT???!??!? Probably just a bunch of butt hurt Liddell and Griffin fanboys who can't stand to see a young man shine. He was extremely respectful before and after the fight and is a very modest human being. He is also on top of his game and one of the top fighters in the sport. DEAL WITH IT.

and oh yeah big cry baby Theo ... You want to know who I think deserves a title shot against Evans? He isn't even in the UFC but is one of the most impressive fighters in all of MMA - Mamed "Cannibal" Khalidov. I am a fan of MMA not the UFC though I watch the UFC. I'm not high on crack (you must be), a relative of Evans (I'm actually white - see the picture?) or an Evans fanboy (like you are Machida) and yet I still think he belongs in the conversation after that win. Us adults call that a difference of opinion. Grow up, Kid.

your right he does deserve a title shot he beat Bj Penn, rich Franklin, and tito ortiz. but he will face Thiago Silva at 94 both 13-0 anything can happen but i believe Lyoto will win. then he gets the winner of rashad vs rampage! where he WILL take that belt!

I disagree that Rashad vs. Rampage is a HUGE PPV draw. Either Forrest or Chuck have more fans than both of those guys combined. I don't think that fight will sell on it's own.

Thanks Theo I'm glad we can talk about this like adults now. Sorry for anything disrespectful towards you. I agree that Wanderli Silva is past his prime but he is still a dangerous striker and the important thing is that he had two vicious knockouts against Rampage in Pride. He had the mental edge but Rampage looked like a focused and determined man tonight unlike the Griffin fight (which I thought he won).

I think that Rampage is the most deserving fighter to get a shot at the title. Rashad Evans has really evolved since changing to Light Heavyweight and looks like such a patient fighter that always sticks to his plan. It's hard for me to pick that fight but at this point I would give the slight edge to Rampage though I wouldn't bet money on the fight. They both have allot of power but I think Evans is a more well rounded fighter. Rampage pretty much stands and trades, ground and pounds and looks for the big time slams.

As for Lyoto Machida - I'm not underrating him at all. He is a terrific talent who has one of the best resumes in MMA and is also undefeated. He is a victim of his own success because of the way he fights. MMA and the UFC are all about larger than life personalities and show business. The problem with Machida is that he fights very cautious and safe. He stays on his bicycle and tries to score points. If it were a karate match he would win hands down but MMA is different. He can't continue to depend on the judges if he wants to be successful. He ans Thiago Silva are both two the best undefeated light heavyweight talents in the UFC and after UFC 94 one of them will have a title shot late in 2009 or early 2010. I just think there are to many big name fighters and fights for the UFC to promote now that Evans is a house hold name and seems to be the new guy everyone loves to hate.

We still have a huge fight in Henderson vs Franklin at light heavyweight which the winner would be a bigger money fight than Machida or Thiago Alves. Look how long it took Rashad Evans & Jon Fitch to get a title shot. The unfortunate thing about the UFC is that the big names (Liddell, Wanderli Silva, Lesnar etc ..) all get the big fights first because that's where the money is at. Does any sane MMA purist believe that Lesnar deserved the title shot against Couture ahead of the interim champion Nougeria or ahead of Mir who beat Lesnar? NO. No other UFC fighter has ever gotten a title shot as quick as Lesnar did. It just goes to show you it's not about whats fair or whats right - It's about what makes the UFC the most money and what generates the most hype for the sport.

I think Machida is a terrific fighter and if he keeps winning will have to get a title hot eventually. He can't be ignored forever even if he isn't fun to watch. He will just have to wait a little longer than the average bear (like Fitch did) because he isn't yet marketable. If he beats Thiago Silva as the co-main event at UFC 94 he will be up there in the discussion. He might have to go through the winner of Henderson/Franklin before facing the winner of Evan's next opponent. He might even have to fight Shogun if he gets through Mark Coleman. The point is he has at least two more fights before he gets a title shot and might even get snubbed again if another big name fight presents it's self (like if Liddell wins his next fight or if Couture moves to Light Heavyweight). The thing I prefer about Affliction, Dream, Pride, Sengoku and even K-1 is that the champion is determined int he ring. The UFC is more about star power and marketability which isn't always a bad thing but does lead to people getting overlooked.

Finally I will submit this last piece of evidence as proof of what I am talking about. Look at how dominant Kenny Florian has looked against Stevenson and Huerta in his last two fights. No doubt he deserves to fight BJ Penn - But that fight isn't as big as BJ Penn vs GSP. Florian will probably have to fight Sherk before getting a shot at BJ Penn and that's only if Penn looses to GSP (he won't - Penn is the best fighter in the world right now IMO). The UFC is more interested in these champion vs champion cards. We will see Mir vs Lesnar, Penn vs St.Pierre and probably something like if GSP wins him versus Anderson Silva or Silva moving to Light Heavyweight to fight Rashad Evans. It sucks but it's the way it is right now.

MMA purist like us know who Machida, Khalidov, Fedor, Aoyki, Alvarez, Jackare and Calvancante are but the average UFC fan doesn't know shit about MMA beyond what Dana White feeds them. That's why we get 2 watered down PPV events a month with one compelling fight in the UFC and maybe one or two great cards a year. Every UFC PPv should have a title fight and should all be as good as the "Ultimate" card. This is why we need MMA under one umbrella so we can see Fedor fight Mir, Khalidev fight Machida and on and on ....

I would also love that fight and I bet you money that's what we get next. It's a huge fight and Evans is the new guy everyone loves to hate after knocking out two posterboys in Liddell and Griffin. BTW, you are pretty funny and being able to self depricate is always an awesome character trait. Your post was a great read.