UFC on FOX 2 – Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis Preview

Back at UFC 133 in August of 2011, Rashad Evans was scheduled to fight Phil Davis in the main event of that PPV event. Unfortunately, Davis’ got injured so Tito Ortiz stepped in to fight Evans in the main event. Ortiz was fresh off of upsetting Ryan Bader at UFC 132 and had some buzz surrounding him. Evans issued some outstanding punishment to Ortiz en route to a TKO win in the second frame of the fight.

Even though he is 9-0, Davis is still practically new to this game. He made his UFC debut at UFC 109 where he easily outwrestled Brian Stann. He would go on to beat Alexander Gustafsson and Rodney Wallace before facing Tim Boetsch. He would win “Submission of the Night” honors in that fight as he used a hammerlock-type move to tap Boetsch out. He then faced “Lil’ Nog”, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Nogueira, who had been training with Brock Larson, showed much improved takedown defense in the first round. But Davis’ was able to change things up and work the takedowns to take it to the ground in the second and third round of the fight. Davis would win via decision.

Evans has been interesting since we’ve basically been watching him from his days as a beginner to being a world champion. Who can ever forget Matt Hughes annoying Evans after he was messing around in that fight on TUF? Or Evans knocking out Sean Salmon in one of the scariest knock outs in UFC history? Or his lame fight with Michael Bisping? Or the time the entire arena was pissed at him for knocking out Chuck Liddell? Or when Machida knocked him out to create a photo that has become an online meme? So many memories.

As good as Davis has gotten, I just can’t see him beating Evans at this point in the game. Davis’ has much better wrestling credentials, but I think Evans should have enough to keep the fight where he wants to. Also, I don’t think Davis has the sort of power that guys like Machida, Silva or Jackson had in being able to hurt Evans. I see Evans walking out with his hand raised and going on to fight Jon “Bones” Jones.