Evans on Ice
Posted by Chad Edward on March 6th, 2008Slim pickins’.
When “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3) blew his ACL and comeback shot versus “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) scheduled for 7 June in London, there was really only one fighter who could step-in.
The UFC announced today that Rua’s replacement will be TUF 2 champ Rashad Evans (11-0-1) of Jackson’s Submission Fighting.
Every other light heavy worth mentioning in the UFC is already committed to announced bouts.
As I speculated Tuesday, the undefeated former collegiate wrestler was the most likely candidate.
But, that’s unfortunate.
This is the kind of matchup I hate to see an accomplished fighter like Liddell take, the kind that’s only significant if he loses.
Big names and best-selling books aside, Liddell’s take down defense and spot on, double-barrel fisticuffs blesses him with the favor of the odds.
But, in MMA odds are what the fighters wipe their feet on before entering the Octagon. I take the attitude fighters remind me of everyday. Any fighter who steps into the Octagon can step out a winner.
That’s why Evans is an unfortunate matchup for Liddell, who’s KO’d a Hall of Fame list of mixed martial artists. Evans might win.
I favor Liddell, you say? If Liddell is so good, he should defeat any challenge.
All true. However, it’s an unfortunate matchup because Evans hasn’t earned it in the Octagon, only in Nielsen ratings.
Evans’s last two Octagon appearances have been thresholds to bigger fights.
Versus “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) in July 2007, Evans fought hard, but was physically and tactically over-matched by his fellow wrestler. The fight ended in a draw.
As a headliner in November 2007, Evans faced “The Count” Michael Bisping (14-1), who was coming off what most believed should’ve been his first loss, a generous split decision victory over Matt Hamill (3-1).
The odds were heavily in Evans’s favor in a situation much like Liddell faces in this matchup. The outcome was only significant in Evans lost.
Evans eeked out a split decision “W”, convincing Bisping he’s better suited to 185-pounds, but convincing no one that Evans is ready for bigger fights at 205.
Evans failed to traverse both thresholds, and had been rumored to be matched against Thiago Silva (12-0) of American Top Team in London before Rua’s injury.
Despite the loss to Forrest Griffin (15-5) in September 2007, Rua’s record of vanquished opponents compared to Liddell’s, including a 2005 KO of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6), a unanimous decision over “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and a KO of Ricardo Arona (13-5).
Evans’s most notable “W” may be that split decision over Bisping, a fellow TUF champ.
Liddell now faces the same situation he did before losing a split decision to “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-3-1).
In Evans, Liddell faces a dangerous competitor made doubly-dangerous because he has little to lose and a title shot to gain.
