Saturday’s UFC 98 in Vegas features two very interesting matchups in the main and co-main events: One that may not have been so a year ago, and one that may be happening a year too late.
Twelve months ago, (Sugar) Rashad Evans’ claim to fame was being unbeaten in 12 fights, with a recent win over Sean Salmon, a draw against Tito Ortiz and a split-decision nod over Michael Bisping in a main-event hyped as being the first ever between Ultimate Fighter champions.
Not exactly overly sexy.
Meanwhile Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida was coming off a submission of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou that followed four straight unanimous-decision victories. Past wins over Stephan Bonnar, Rich Franklin and B.J. Penn were a distant memory.
If, for whatever reason, these two had met in May of 2008, albeit while still undefeated, there’s no way fans would have been thrilled with that headlining a pay-per-view, nevermind Bisping-Evans.
Oh, what a difference a year makes.
Not only is Evans now the holder of the light-heavyweight belt, but he has also developed a bit of a personality in the meantime. While some aren’t particularly fond of him --dancing around in a mockingly arrogant manner as Chuck Liddell lay motionless on the canvas isn’t exactly classy, though we’d like to think he didn’t realize at first how badly he had knocked out The Iceman.
But you can’t deny he’s got some. His stare-down with Rampage after nabbing the belt from Forrest Griffin was classic.
For Machida, who still needs an interpreter to express his thoughts in English, the message he sent in his last bout certainly wasn’t lost in translation. The previously undefeated Thiago Silva felt it in spades, and we the fans dug it.
No longer can we expect either of these two to coast to a decision victory. Evans has won his last two with some quick hands, while The Dragon thrilled the packed MGM crowd with his first-round buzzer-beating KO.
Machida is a pretty heavy favourite, and likely for good reason. The Brazilian has been around a little longer and has the stronger resume overall, beating slightly better competition and in larger promotions earlier in his career.
And on paper, you’d think Machida could beat you in more ways than Evans can.
But Evans is more than just a lucky-punch artist (as some think this will be the only way he can pull this one out). He hasn’t executed a submission in a while, but he’s capable. And don’t forget, he trains with GSP.
On the flipside, there’s the co-main event pitting former welterweight champs Serra and Hughes. It’s a definite shame that this matchup of the two Matts didn’t take place at the end of 2007, as it was originally supposed to.
There’s not much you can do about injuries, but having to wait this long since the show that originally built up the grudge upon which the premise of this matchup is based makes it lose a little bit of its luster, or at least, its momentum.
After all, it was 2007 when these two went at it with words on a weekly basis on every MMA fan’s favourite reality show.
Sure, once the two make their ways to the Octagon, I’m sure old feelings will be rekindled among the two fighters and their respective supporters, and haters, alike. And considering their history, both will be trying not just to win, but to put on a good show in doing so.
I just don’t know how burning the desire will be to lay a beat down on the other as it would have been with the feelings of mutual hatred being as fresh as they were last year. Consider their comments on last week’s conference call.
Serra: "You know, I think it's a fight obviously that a lot of people want to see. There was a big build up, and unfortunately I had to withdraw and that killed me at the time. And I'm just happy that it's happening man."
Hughes: "I think the fans still want to see it. Obviously, him and I still want this fight to go on."
Not exactly spewing vitriol at each other.
Oh, wait, Serra did add that he couldn’t see them "going bowling together." That’s cold!
Nevertheless, I expect it to be a hard-fought battle, and likely not one-sided. I’m leaning toward Serra in this one. Partly because we know how well he performs in the underdog role (his rematch with GSP notwithstanding). But also because, no offence to Hughes, I’m just not sure that he’s the fighter he used to be.
Returning to the championship match, I like Evans to hold on to the belt. I don’t see Machida knocking him out as he did Silva, and I expect him to be the one outmaneuvered for once.
Either way, I just hope they come out trying to entertain and not trying to avoid losing. Machida said part of his goal in this is to put on a great performance for the fans.
That would be a refreshing change following the main event at UFC 97, when both champion Anderson Silva and challenger Thales Leites appeared to be fighting not to lose.
