Rashad Evans Next Opponent

[Coach_K]

Can we start the debate officially and when will we see it? Here are my thoughts:

The best fight would be for Anderson Silva to move up and show Rashad what mma is. Spider can beat him striking and for sure on the ground. Also for spider to move up and fight Irvin was a joke. Spider's camp said they want to fight in April, lets make this happen Joe Silva/Dana...It just makes sense.

I hear the arguments for Machida, he is good and deserves it, but in the end it boils down to its a business and if you don't fit in the business plan, you will fight an uphill battle.

Rampage/Evans would be a good fight to watch but I think Rampage needs one more win before he deserves a title shot. How about a Rampage/Forrest rematch...winner gets title shot or Rampage/Shogun.

There are many different matchups that can be set up for Rashad, but I say let them fight in April and in my opinion...I never want Anderson Silva to retire so let him fight the 205 champ. If/when Spider wins, defend the 205 belt and get UFC back to great like it was two years ago.

UFC growth rate is declining. It is still growing but just not as fast. Got to thread out the shady fighters (ie CB) and do what you can to bring in guys like Fedor. These are just my opinions but curious what you guys think. Spider only has a few more years of fighting and wouldnt you like to see him fight as many times as he can before he retires? He is top three pound for pound and can fight at two weight classes, I think he is the best option to fight Rashad.

 

[layinwood]

I would say Rampage deserves a shot at his title. After that it has to be Machida. If I was the UFC I would have Rampage vs Evans and on the same card have Machida fight a big name. A Liddell fight with Machida could do a lot for Machida name wise going into a championship fight. Forrest wouldn't be bad but it could be a very boring fight.

I think technically the fight I would love to see is Machida vs Anderson Sivla.

 

[Coach_K]

I agree Rampage deserves his shot, but I really want to see Silva fight more and he seems to want to get as many in as possible. Maybe Silva should move up fight Machida and the winner of that gets a title shot at Rampage or Rashad. It just seems that there are so many good fights to be made but the UFC is slow to make them happen. I just do not like Rashad because he is getting cockier with every fight but that being said, why don't they put a good striker in there with him? ie. Rampage or Silva. I think Machida would beat Rashad but he is just soooo methodical. Thanks for your opinion. Curious to see what everyone thinks

 

[layinwood]

They're all just holding the belt for Shogun. If he can get his knee back 100% then it will be a very fun time in the LHW division. Most UFC watchers have only seen him against Forrest and even then they dind't know that he went into that fight with a bum knee that needed to be worked on but didn't want to not fight.

 

[kickserv]

When GSP beats Penn.......the biggest fight in MMA history will take place.......GSP vs. Anderson (catch weight). So that's answers your question with regards to Anderson. I mean they are tied for best pound for pound fighters on the planet, they will fight each other, I assure you.

And on that card don't be shocked if you have Gina versus Cyborg. Dana can't stand female MMA, but don't be shocked to see those two chicks fight.

As for Rashad title defense, it will most likely be against Rampage......although if we take a look at others in the division.

Forrest Griffin.........umm why not a rematch?

Lyoto Machida.......boooooring, no friggen way UFC wants this guy as a champ!

Luiz Cane.....he's good but ummm...no.

Renato Sobral.....no longer in UFC.

Vladimir Matyushenko.....not in UFC

Chuck Liddell....he's had his run.

Wanderlei Silva...time to retire...head is mush.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.......no comment

Keith Jardine.......does have exciting fights!

Rich Franklin.......maybe in 6 months.

Thiago Silva....ummmmm......no.


And finally, don't be surprised if Arlovski beats Fedor...Fedor management team are a bunch of morons, and Fedor loves money too much. He'll never fight in the UFC because of all the money he gets by fighting crap fighters elsewhere. Bottom line, Fedor won't go to the UFC because he's greedy.....simple as that.


Note: I did not include Shogun in list due to long long layoff. And with Pride guys being full of roids, most have been exposed in UFC. But Shogun knee was bad, so I just don't think you can include him in the mix.

 

[The Sponge]

Nobody deserves this rematch more then Rampage and it is that simple. He loses his belt on what many feel was a bad decision and comes back and destroys Silva. NObody deserves it more. Machida i like him also but if Tito could hold on to that triangle and arm bar for five more seconds we are not even talking about Machida. As for Rashad fighting Anderson? In my book Rashad would give him all he could handle. Rashad hands are better in my opinion. The Spider has all those other little intangables tho. I wouldn't hesitate to bet Rashad over The Spider. I do think the Spider would go with a lot of kicks and it looked like Forrest did some good damage to Rashad with his kicks and sent a blueprint to other fighters. Kick, i think GSP would take down the Spider at will but once on the ground i don't think he could do much with him and probably get submitted. He better not even think about The Spider and concentrate on Penn because this is gonna be a battle. I wonder at what point in Rashad career he is gonna get some credit for being a great fighter. I think he also can beat Rampage. Although i love watching Rampage fight i see a lot of holes with his boxing when he is throwing punches. Somebody needs to tighten up his strikes. He takes way to many bad chances that club fighters like Lidell and Forrest can't capitalize on but someone like Rashad could.

 

[muhr]

quinton says he wants to avenge his loss to forrest before going for the title although there really isn't anybody else who deserves a title shot at the moment.

And finally, don't be surprised if Arlovski beats Fedor...Fedor management team are a bunch of morons, and Fedor loves money too much. He'll never fight in the UFC because of all the money he gets by fighting crap fighters elsewhere. Bottom line, Fedor won't go to the UFC because he's greedy.....simple as that.

monetarily, the ufc offered fedor a better deal than any other promotion. fedor's team wanted the ufc to relinquish some it's control, but the ufc wasn't willing to do so.

 

[kickserv]

muhr........the Fedor/UFC thing has been going on for years....and yes UFC offered him more money then anyone in the UFC, and Fedor said no......Fedor gets big money to fight scrubs (although Arlovski is a legitimate fight). Nobody in the UFC can fight outside the organization, Fedor management team wanted to be "the exception". Fedor is all about money, simple as that. He got 2.9 million to fight Hong Man Choi for fuc*s sake...Fedor can bite me.

 

[kickserv]

oh and I'd be shocked if Rashad/Jackson didn't happen, that seems like the logical match-up.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Why does it make sense to give the guy (Rampage) that lost to the guy (Forrest) that lost to the champ (Evans). Think about that for a second.

Forrest couldn't beat Evans, I know, let's see if the guy that LOST to Forrest can beat Evans.....What kind of dumb ass logic is that?

Machida is undefeated. Evans is undefeated. Hmmmm. How could I possibly promote this one?

Here's a good card:

Evans v Machida
Griffin v Jackson (winner gets title shot)

I think people would go ape-shit with excitement over a card like that. This talk of Machida being boring is BS. Put him up against somebody exciting and let's see how boring he is.

 

[muhr]

muhr........the Fedor/UFC thing has been going on for years....and yes UFC offered him more money then anyone in the UFC, and Fedor said no......Fedor gets big money to fight scrubs (although Arlovski is a legitimate fight). Nobody in the UFC can fight outside the organization, Fedor management team wanted to be "the exception". Fedor is all about money, simple as that. He got 2.9 million to fight Hong Man Choi for fuc*s sake...Fedor can bite me.

can you give me a source on that?

there are plenty of criticisms that can levied at fedor, but greed isn't one of them.

if fedor were greedy he would immediately shitcan his management team, they're using him as a pawn (to expand their mma tentacles) and cashcow.

fedor left his 1st management team because they were ripping him off, he should do the same here they're using him even worse than his 1st team.

 

[kickserv]

typo...1.9 million, not 2.9...and that was from sportsnet.ca MMA reporter who I spoke with at MGM Grand at the Couture fight. The money Fedor gets is most likely way way more then any guy in MMA. And hey don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting tons of cash. Fedor has fought so many shi*ty fighters, he needs to stop with the cash and fight the best.

Alright...no more Fedor talk...at least he's finally fighting someone that can actually beat him.


And yes.....Machida is boring as hell, damn good, but boring. No organization wants him as a champ...simple as that.


I think kegray, or raw should fight Rashad next:142smilie

 

[SixFive]

boring or not, if Lyoto kicks ass in January like I know he will, he needs a shot at that belt.

 

[layinwood]

Anyway you shake it there are some good fights.

Sponge, I don't think Rashad is getting the credit he deserves because in too many of his fights he's been getting beat. (i know i know, he still winning). I think Machida would tool him because of how good his standup is and if Rashad took him to the ground I think many would be suprised at how good Machida is there. I don't like Machida but until someone shows me he has a weakness, I'll think he can't be beat.(I would like to see someone test his chin)

 

[The Sponge]

Why does it make sense to give the guy (Rampage) that lost to the guy (Forrest) that lost to the champ (Evans). Think about that for a second.

Forrest couldn't beat Evans, I know, let's see if the guy that LOST to Forrest can beat Evans.....What kind of dumb ass logic is that?

Machida is undefeated. Evans is undefeated. Hmmmm. How could I possibly promote this one?

Here's a good card:

Evans v Machida
Griffin v Jackson (winner gets title shot)

I think people would go ape-shit with excitement over a card like that. This talk of Machida being boring is BS. Put him up against somebody exciting and let's see how boring he is.

Gary the bottom line is money and a Machida/Evans fight would bore us to tears and wouldn't draw fly's to a picnic. Oh and Forrest didn't beat Rampage. He got a bogus kickserv like decision. Rashad waits for guys to come to him and Machida does the same thing. not sure who would go after who. Machida gets booed a lot in his fights for being inactive. LIke Kick says Dana white would roll over in his grave if Machida was the champion.

 

[The Sponge]

Anyway you shake it there are some good fights.

Sponge, I don't think Rashad is getting the credit he deserves because in too many of his fights he's been getting beat. (i know i know, he still winning).

you might be right but he looks like he gets better every fight. plus he is smaller then everyone yet still hangs with them.

 

[The Sponge]

This talk of Machida being boring is BS. Put him up against somebody exciting and let's see how boring he is.

Go watch the Tito fight. Machida basically ran the whole fight. It won bore of the year. If not for the late triangle Tito almost pulled they would have had to wake up Rogan to go up and interview him. The Sokojuo fight was even worse.

 

[Coach_K]

I agree, ever fight I see of Machidas is relaxed, it is the time in the night when you get up and ask, "doesnt anyone else want a beer?" then leave the room come back and see who won by decision. The best Machida fight I could find was when he beat up Bonnar and cut him.

Rashad will lose to a good striker, his face gets messed up each fight and he doesn't even get hit that often. I think Rampage has worked on his boxing and would get to Rashad. Like I read in another thread, Rampage has power in both hands, Rashad favors his right bomb.

One that just came to mind would have Arlovski come back to UFC once he loses to Fedor and drop down to 205. Arlovski's boxing is pretty good and that would make for an exciting fight with Rashad.

Bottom line...something needs to happen in the next few months because I really don't want to see Rashad the champ for more than two months.

Thanks, for all your opinions. It is fun to read everyones thoughts.

 

[DerrickTulips]

It should be Rampage. I dont want to see a page griffin rematch because I don't want to see 2 losses in a row for Forrest. I think the UFC should matchup Chuck vs Forrest and Page vs Evans. The winner of Thiago Silva and Machida can fight randy cotoure or someone like that.

 

[DerrickTulips]

I agree, ever fight I see of Machidas is relaxed, it is the time in the night when you get up and ask, "doesnt anyone else want a beer?" then leave the room come back and see who won by decision. The best Machida fight I could find was when he beat up Bonnar and cut him.

Rashad will lose to a good striker, his face gets messed up each fight and he doesn't even get hit that often. I think Rampage has worked on his boxing and would get to Rashad. Like I read in another thread, Rampage has power in both hands, Rashad favors his right bomb.

One that just came to mind would have Arlovski come back to UFC once he loses to Fedor and drop down to 205. Arlovski's boxing is pretty good and that would make for an exciting fight with Rashad.

Bottom line...something needs to happen in the next few months because I really don't want to see Rashad the champ for more than two months.

Thanks, for all your opinions. It is fun to read everyones thoughts.

Who is a good striker in the 205 division? People keep on doubting Rashad and he keeps on KO'ng their idles. Rashads striking is where he is at his best.. I would like to see someone get him on his back and see BJJ defense.