UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Hmmm lightheavy weight division is really old and kind of thin. They really don't have anymore rising stars in there other then Thiago Silva. Unless Brandon Vera gets his stuff together then he could be a force.

But as it stands now, the rotation for the title shots will be this for the next year:

Forrest
Rashad
Rampage
Machida

People who could be there but won't because they always lose right before they get next in line for the title shot:

Shogun
Jardine
Wanderlia
Gouevia

Thats almost a year worth of title fights. Lets assume there are no rematches. You have Machida/Evans. The winner of that faces Rampage in the Fall. The winner of that faces Shogun or Forrest. By then anyone from Jones, Hamill, Gouveia and Cane could be a top contender.

[phillyfan23]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Thats almost a year worth of title fights. Lets assume there are no rematches. You have Machida/Evans. The winner of that faces Rampage in the Fall. The winner of that faces Shogun or Forrest. By then anyone from Jones, Hamill, Gouveia and Cane could be a top contender.

exactly.

that's why this match is so much more important to machida than it is to evans. If Machida loses, he's going to be frozen out by the UFC. Sad but true......

[MayorPeete]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

exactly.

that's why this match is so much more important to machida than it is to evans. If Machida loses, he's going to be frozen out by the UFC. Sad but true......

Yeah, he's going to get the Brandon Vera treatment...

Gotta wonder what kind of impact Forrest's fight against Anderson will have

[DTX3]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

I'm not saying Jones deserves a shot at the title. But he IS a rising star in the UFC imo. Needs a lot of work, but the kid is going to be something special.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

exactly.

that's why this match is so much more important to machida than it is to evans. If Machida loses, he's going to be frozen out by the UFC. Sad but true......

Not so sure. This appears to be how the UFC works. You lose a championship fight...you will need 2 wins to get another shot. Happened to Franklin. Happened to Rampage.

Now if Machida wins, I could see them matching him against a lower level guy like Cane, Jardine or Hamill. Win that he gets Rua or Forrest...win that he gets another shot.

[Wet Bandit]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Franklin and Rampage are two of the most popular UFC fighters, though. Machida, not so much.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Franklin and Rampage are two of the most popular UFC fighters, though. Machida, not so much.

That actually would lend to the argument that they should have been given immediate (or after 1 fight) rematches instead of having to beat 2 guys. As long as Machida makes it a fight, he wont be that far from another title shot. The UFC makes it easy. If you beat top guys you will eventually be given a shot. If Machida bounces back from the loss with a couple of wins...he should have another title shot.

[Wet Bandit]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

I don't know. The UFC doesn't seem eager to give Nate Marquardt another shot, and he'd be ten times more marketable as a champ than Machida would.

I'm not saying that Machida wouldn't ever get another title shot. I'm just saying the UFC isn't exactly gonna go out of their way to give him another one. I could easily see two years going by without him getting another shot, just like with Marquardt.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

I don't know. The UFC doesn't seem eager to give Nate Marquardt another shot, and he'd be ten times more marketable as a champ than Machida would.

I'm not saying that Machida wouldn't ever get another title shot. I'm just saying the UFC isn't exactly gonna go out of their way to give him another one. I could easily see two years going by without him getting another shot, just like with Marquardt.

Nate lost to Leites. If he would have beat Leites, he would have been fighting Silva at UFC 97. Also, Nate didnt look that good in his last fight against Silva.

[Wet Bandit]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

And UFC 97 would have three months shy of two years since Nate first fought Silva. I'm not sure how much comfort Machida would take in a pep talk consisting of, "Don't worry about the loss, you might get another title shot in 21 months."

Besides, Nate lost a very controversial splt decision against Leites. And since that fight, he's stopped his next two opponents, and there's still no indication that he has a title shot coming up in the next year. And again, this is a fighter who would be ten times more marketable than Machida.

So again, to make my point, I don't see any reason to think the UFC would go out of their way to give Machida another title shot any time soon if he loses.

[Scoop_Brady]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Nate lost to Leites. If he would have beat Leites, he would have been fighting Silva at UFC 97. Also, Nate didnt look that good in his last fight against Silva.

Marquardt lost a split decision to Leites after being deducted a point for kneeing him while he was downed. I'm not 100% sure but for some reason I think he was also deducted another point in the fight too. He clearly beat Leites without the deduction IMO.

As far as Evans is concerned, count me in the ***** camp. I think he is one hell of a fighter but I do not like athletes that are cocky and showboat. I don't like Deion Sanders, I don't like Terrell Owens, and I sure as hell don't like Rashad Evans. All 3 of these guys are or were excellent at what they do/did (except for TO's alligator-arms) and have no need to act the way they do. Rashad Evans didn't need to do a Fred Sanford impersonation after knocking out Chuck Liddell. That knockout said enough. In fact it was tarnished for me by his behavior afterwards.

I've got no problems with guys that celebrate or show emotion but I do have a problem with guys that disrespect their opponent after winning. I don't have a problem with a little cockiness, hell I like Mir, but if Mir started rubbing his victories in people's faces or dancing around in the ring I would instantly dislike him.

I really want to see Machida teach Evans some humility because I could get behind a guy with Evans' skillset who could handle his success and skill.

My head tells me that Machida will win this one fairly easily but my gut tells me that Evans will win. Every time I have counted Evans out of a fight the dude wins so until I see it not happen I have to go with my gut. I sure hope my head is right.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

And UFC 97 would have three months shy of two years since Nate first fought Silva. I'm not sure how much comfort Machida would take in a pep talk consisting of, "Don't worry about the loss, you might get another title shot in 21 months."

Besides, Nate lost a very controversial splt decision against Leites. And since that fight, he's stopped his next two opponents, and there's still no indication that he has a title shot coming up in the next year. And again, this is a fighter who would be ten times more marketable than Machida.

So again, to make my point, I don't see any reason to think the UFC would go out of their way to give Machida another title shot any time soon if he loses.

Timing hurt him. First, he lost to Leites. I dont care if its controversial or a split decision. He Lost. So that means as long as Leites doesnt lose, he's behind Leites for a title shot. What adds on to the time he had to wait was that Silva didnt fight from October to April. Second, if he beat Leites, he wouldnt have taken the Gouveia fight and would have been given a rematch. Wins over Horn, Leites and Kampmann would have guaranteed that.

Third, He is in the conversation for the next title fight. Its between 4 people: The winner of Henderson/Bisping, Maia and Marquardt. After the Leites fight, I doubt Maia will get the next shot. If Henderson wins, he deserves it over Marquardt being that he beat Franklin and Bisping and looked alot better that Nate did against Silva. If Bisping wins, Marquardt probably gets the next shot.

Finally what hurts him most is that he got crushed by Silva. We started this entire discussion on the basis that Machida would get another shot if he looks good against Evans. If he walks in and gets KO'd in the first round, then it should take Machida more than 2 fights to get another shot at Evans. Same goes for Marquardt. Marquardt got crushed so it should take him a little longer to get a title shot.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Winner of Hendo and Bisping should get the next shot. Marquardt and Maia should fight for next in line although I'm not sure if they already have fights lined up. Out of all of them I actually think Marquardt has the best shot of winning.

[phillyfan23]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Not so sure. This appears to be how the UFC works. You lose a championship fight...you will need 2 wins to get another shot. Happened to Franklin. Happened to Rampage.

Now if Machida wins, I could see them matching him against a lower level guy like Cane, Jardine or Hamill. Win that he gets Rua or Forrest...win that he gets another shot.

ya but that win 2 more formula is valid for an "entertaining" fighter. I love Machida's style, and believe it or not I think is the most exciting because I enjoy strategy and see how tacticians can make people whiff. Just like Ali when he was in his early 20s.....you could barely touch him. Not comparing Ali to Machida at all, but you get the point.

Problem is, most UFC fans don't think like this as they appreciate the bar room brawl style more than the smooth evasive style. and the UFC knows this....that's why, I think Machida will be shafted if he loses. If he wins, it's going to be Rampage next up .

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Bar room style indeed. Main reason why Forrest Griffin is fighting Anderson Silva. Because they know Forrest loves to bang and won't shy away from Silva unlike so many other fighters do.

Sure Forrest will get KO'ed, but it will be entertaining.