Rashad Evans: UFC light heavyweight gold in his future?

[Curt James]

Evans holds key to break 'Bones'
By Chad Dundas
ESPN.com

Jon Jones thoroughly outclassed Quinton "Rampage" Jackson without ever seeming to turn the heat up past medium-high. As a result, it was a performance primarily impressive for its sheer dominance, not necessarily because it made for an outstanding fight.

A fight is what everybody wants next for Jones, after his first nine appearances in the Octagon (the last two against past and/or present UFC champions) have failed to yield much of a challenge. The irony is, the most dangerous test for Jones has been staring us in the face the whole time: Rashad Evans.

If anyone can give Jones a run for his money, it might be his former friend and training partner, the man who was originally supposed to fight Mauricio Rua for the title at UFC 128 and intended as the champion's first title defense at UFC 133 in late summer.

It's rapidly becoming apparent (as if it weren't already) that the keys to slowing Jones are finding a way to nullify his insane reach advantage and, at all costs, staying out from underneath him on the ground. To these ends, Evans seems uniquely suited. He possesses the quickness and mobility that both Jackson and Rua lacked and he'll be smart and well-coached enough to use them to close the distance past Jones' tree branch punches and telephone pole kicks.

Once he gets there, his own wrestling skills give him the best chance yet of actually putting Jones on his back, something we haven't seen from previous opponents. Evans -- and a few anonymous observers -- claim he was able to do it to Jones in training and, if he can repeat the feat in an actual fight, we know he has the top game capable of grinding out a decision or forcing a stoppage.

Evans has been waiting a long time for his second shot at UFC light heavyweight gold, and when he finally gets it, he'll have had the best blueprint, the most time to prepare and the most personal motivation to hand Jones his first real defeat. With six months already to game plan just for the 24-year-old champion, if Evans can't at least make a battle out of it, it's hard to like anybody else's chances, either.

At this point, it's impossible to pick against Jones in any light heavyweight matchup. But if anybody can make him turn his intensity level up from tepid to hot, it's probably the opponent who knows him best.

From ESPN

 

[Curt James]

Tricky Machida stands a chance
By Brett Okamoto
ESPN.com

Right now, I give only three light heavyweights any real shot at beating Jon Jones. Of course, on any given night, any man weighing 205 pounds could conceivably land that "one punch." But as far as guys who could win, maybe, 4-6 out of 10 times -- there are three.

Those guys are Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Phil Davis (one year from now); in that order. Machida, because he's difficult to hit and can finish. Evans, because of athleticism and his familiarity with Jones as a former teammate. And Davis, after another year of development, because of his physical build and the possibility that he forces Jones to fight off his back.

Of the three, I give Machida the best shot. In a way, Jones reminds me of Machida in that no one has really figured out how to fight him. It's not that they have similar fighting styles; it's more that they are confusing to be in the cage with. For a long while, no one could solve the elusiveness of Machida's stance and movement. Similarly, no one can solve how to get inside Jones' 84-inch reach.

Maybe I'm crazy and saw something that wasn't there Saturday, but at UFC 135 I felt Quinton Jackson had moments to catch Jones. Jackson, more so than any other Jones opponent, was at times successful in slipping punches and setting up countering opportunities. The only problem was he wasn't quick enough to get inside. Jones would take a single step back, raise his arm in defense and already be out of range.

Consider Machida in those positions. He should have even more success in making Jones miss, given his reputation as perhaps the best defensive fighter in the UFC. When opportunities to counter come, I think Machida is a bit quicker than Jackson, a bit straighter with his punches and a bit more accurate. I can see him making Jones pay for mistakes he got away with against Jackson.

I can picture a fight between Jones and Evans; I can see Evans bobbing in and out and looking for a takedown. But for the most part, I see that fight ending with Jones defending a shot and cracking Evans on that somewhat questionable chin. I can also picture the fight with Davis. Maybe Davis is strong enough and long enough to tie up Jones and take him down. But more likely, Jones uses his footwork to keep Davis at bay and picks him apart from range.

I can't 100 percent picture how a fight against Machida would go. Even if the entire arena starts to boo, Machida will circle and make Jones come to him. If he can defend the takedown, make Jones miss with his strikes and counter him aggressively with punches in volume (instead of looking for just one, as Jackson did), he could certainly beat him.

Now let's not be mistaken here. I'd still pick Jones to win every single one of these matchups. But then again, I bought into the "Machida era" after he won the title at UFC 98 -- an era that lasted all of two fights. Jones is capable of losing, and I think Machida is equipped with the best tools to beat him.

From ESPN

 

[Doublebase]

Silva should just take the belt at 205 as well.

 

[Tako1984]

Silva is not an interesting enough fighter to hold 2 belts. He has the skills in the ring but he doesnt have the killer instinct anymore. he actually looks bored in his fights

 

[Bkhall79]

Evans will be destroyed after Jones destroys Machida....Period

 

[bio-chem]

Evans will be destroyed after Jones destroys Machida....Period

did I miss something here? Evans gets first crack at Jones next. Not Machida. and Evans has the best chance of beating Jones. Hands down. Machida doesn't have a shot. Machida was an idiot for not fighting Evans again when Ortiz ended up fighting Evans.

 

[AKIRA]

did I miss something here? Evans gets first crack at Jones next. Not Machida. and Evans has the best chance of beating Jones. Hands down. Machida doesn't have a shot. Machida was an idiot for not fighting Evans again when Ortiz ended up fighting Evans.

White: Jones-Machida to Headline UFC 140 in Toronto


Honestly, the nuthugging of Jones is crazy. What, because hes dazzling and such? Hes good, but everyone needs to back up. These clowns pulled the same shit when the "Machida-era" was in full effect and look how that panned out.

 

[Bkhall79]

Clowns??? First of all, I have never been a believer in "The Machida-Era".....Not taking anything away from him, however, Jones has the freakin tools. The dude is so akward to fight. As far as evans goes, i have a huge dis-liking for that fella, so my opinion may be based on the fact that I wanna see him smashed no matter who he fights. Back to Jones....Bonnar, Jake O'Brien, Hamill, Vera, Vladimir, Bader, Shogun, and Rampage.....aside from the Hamill DQ for downward elbows, all those fights are wins since '09...Not exactly fighting chumps is he?

 

[bio-chem]

White: Jones-Machida to Headline UFC 140 in Toronto


Honestly, the nuthugging of Jones is crazy. What, because hes dazzling and such? Hes good, but everyone needs to back up. These clowns pulled the same shit when the "Machida-era" was in full effect and look how that panned out.

Son of a bitch. Evans just can't catch a break. he has been the number 1 contender for ever now.

Somehow this is Jones ducking Evans again. I know it doesn't make sense and it's a legit injury, but somehow damn it Jones is dodging evans

 

[woodwalker]

machida is going to get killed. i saw what jones did to hua, and rampage, eavans will fall like the rest.