Comments on: UFC 88: Rashad Evans crashes the UFC’s New Year’s Eve party four months early

By: Gavman

Gavman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:18:19 +0000

Its a business, of course the boring fighters don’t get put in first. Evans and Machida both utilise retreat really well and wait for the counter shots, occasionally their fights are good but its much more interesting when fighters go out banging hard.

That said, Forrest Vs Evans would be very interesting. They are both intelligent fighters who use good game plans to work their opponents.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:02:42 +0000

I’ved never seen someone be undefeated for so many fights before FINALLY getting a title shot. Evans has deserved this for a long time. I think Wanderlei should fight Machida and the winner will go on to face the winner of the title match. Evans vs Wanderlei would be a great fight.

By: Batman

Batman — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:28:55 +0000

All I have to say is Lyoto Machida has got to be the most boring UFC fighter right now. i was honestly entertained by Evans highlight reel knockout of Chuck liddell and you can’t take that away from him.

By: James K.

James K. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:37:16 +0000

Sam,
Your analysis is just stra-8 up dumb sometimes, the proposals you had at the end are illogical (Ortiz…for an immediate title shot); and for someone who is assumed to be at the forefront of MMA journalism, trust when I say they are at times like this undeserving.

By: Justin B

Justin B — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:19:03 +0000

You all were wrong. I was the only one on all the posts telling you Rashad was going to knock Chucks old ass out. He can only back peddle and look to counter so much before he has to bring the fight to his opponenet. He faced somebody who has some slick boxing skills and caught him. I fucking loved it.

By: dbess

dbess — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:37:06 +0000

see what’d i say? Liddell would lose. He’s done, he’s getting too old and he doesn’t look hungry like he use to. You could say Liddell has become a 1 dimensional fighter by always trying to keep the fight standing. He needs to get with a new camp and find different strategies that work better for him.

By: JOe K.

JOe K. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:43:50 +0000

Do a super fight between Ken Shamrock and Dan Severne. Then headline it with Tank Abbot vs. Mark Coleman or alternate Pat Smith.

I should be the one deciding these match-ups.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:35:06 +0000

If the UFC has an issue with “losing millions of dollars” because a fight they put together didn’t have their desired outcome, then maybe they shouldn’t put these fights together, or count their chickens before they hatch. Rashad earned the fight with Chuck, and the victory. I wish him all the best with his title shot.

By: KTru

KTru — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:32:04 +0000

I think we saw that Rashad can adapt to different fighters. Sure he has plenty of decisions on his resume. But the game planning for Chuck shows he is evolving. As we speak

By: jc

jc — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:16:48 +0000

These guys are competitors, among the best in the world, and they put their health on the line everytime they step into the octagon. Above our entertainment, above all other options, we must do what’s fair for the fighters. Evans vs. Griffin lacks the glitz of other fights and is not the fireworks we expected for the new-year but it’s the right thing to do.

By: Zantetzuken

Zantetzuken — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:15:49 +0000

THE REF WAS Herb Dean.

By: JBAR

JBAR — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:13:35 +0000

Davey D, Don’t get me wrong I like Rashad (even more after last night) I am just pointing out that Rashad had a draw with 1 point being taken from Tito and Machida won a UD. The split decision over Bisping doesn’t help either. I agree that Rashad probably wins without the fence grab but I have also seen multiple warnings before without a point being taken away. No point taken and Tito wins. I loved the fight last night, I hope we are seeing the evolution of Rashad and not just a 1 punch KO and reverting back to the old Rashad of close not so exciting fights.

By: BoRocker

BoRocker — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:59:35 +0000

Rashad came in last night and literally used Chucks game plan…and it worked. Chuck is known as a counter striker. He waits and when his opponent gets tired of stalking him and comes in hot he goes for the KO.

Both men played that game last night…Evans just played it better. Chuck ran out of patience 1st and payed the ultimate price.

DW announced in the early AM that Evans will indeed get the shot…well deserved IMO. Think about it….Putting PPV buys aside for a second and just looking at records the shot would have to go to Evans or Machida and with Evans just KTFO’ing a future Hall of Famer in truly devastating fashion it only makes sense that he (Evans) get the shot.

As for Sams piece on the fight….I did not find it boring at all as I felt it obvious (as I am sure most educated fans did) that both fighters were waiting cocked and locked for the “big shot”. The anticipation was awesome cause you knew it was coming…You just didn’t know when.

Props to both men for coming ready to hang & bang and putting one more KO on the highlight reel.

By: Davey D

Davey D — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:58:34 +0000

JBAR: I think you’re wrong about Evans/Ortiz. If Tito didn’t grab the cage twice, he would’ve been pounded out. Rewatch that fight. Those shananagin’s cost Rashad a TKO victory.

After that brutal KO last night and still undefeated, Rashad gets a shot at Forrest in December. That is a very good sell and the best option for the UFC. I also believe Wand vs. Lyoto and Rampage vs. Shogun would be fine addition’s too.

Chuck should really consider moving to HW permently. There are plenty of great fight’s for him there. He could reinvent himself in the process. It’d be tough but Chuck isn’t done by a long shot.

By: joetheacupuncturist

joetheacupuncturist — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:55:20 +0000

i would love to see machida verses ace and the winner get the shot of the evens/forrest tittle fight

By: warcry

warcry — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:44:18 +0000

Gents it is time to welcome in the new guard. Rashad, Forrest, Vera, Jardine, Machida, T. Silva. These are the stars of the Ufc going forward. They are all in the same division. IMO Machida deserves the title shot. I’m a Rashad fan but, Machida should get the nod because he has shown better finishing skills if you can view that destruction Rashad put on Chuck aside. Trust me that is damn near impossible. You gotta love this sport.

By: JBAR

JBAR — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:26:52 +0000

If it is Forrest vs Rashad which one do we underestimate this time. Both of them have had fights where they were not given much of a chance and both have proven us wrong.

By: JBAR

JBAR — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:19:33 +0000

I really want to know that Rampage has got his head on straight before he gets another shot at the title. Talk about bad PR if he was to win the title and then lose in court, his trip to jail would be all over the place on ESPN and the net.

By: sol

sol — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:11:58 +0000

Also, with Rampage’s impending court hearing, you know the news articles would pick up on it during any promotion of his fight, it’s not the kind of bad press you want related to your biggest show.

By: sol

sol — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:09:58 +0000

well thought out article, I dont see a problem with putting Rashad in to be honest, it’s not like he won a boring decision like he usually does, he literally ktfo Chuck Lidell.

When they wanted CroCop to get a crack at Randy they said if he wins he gets the shot, but Gonzaga knocked his block off, because the win came in such devastating fashion he was the obvious choice to continue with the promise.

I think the Rashad came is similar and he should get the shot.