UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

**Wet Bandit** · 05-24-2009, 12:15 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by MizzouBravesFan

You could make the argument that Rich Franklin was crazy overrated when Anderson fought him...

You could, but that'd be dumb. Franklin has decisive wins over everyone he could have fought at that time. Remember when Loiseau was tearing things up and people thought maybe he could challenge Franklin and then Franklin proceeded to absolutely destroy The Crow's career in the course of one fight? He was totally on a different level than every other UFC middleweight until Anderson came along and showed there was another level above Rich's.

**MizzouBravesFan** · 05-24-2009, 12:17 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by NOBLE

Who would you move out of the Top 3 just to put in Machida?

Fedor? Forget about it.
GSP? Don't think so.
Silva? So one disappointing fight against Lieties - who did absolutely no-showed - no longer makes him Top 3?

I said I'd put him above Anderson.

Silva's last two fights have been absolute trash and his attitude has really soured me to him...yeah the opponents didn't help but they were garbage regardless.

It's just my opinion...his last big win for me was when he beat Marquardt.

Machida has dominated everyone in front of him, including the current LHW Champ who was riding a 13 fight unbeaten streak and looked tremendous.

**SHO** · 05-24-2009, 12:18 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by MizzouBravesFan

You could make the argument that Rich Franklin was crazy overrated when Anderson fought him and that Hendo was past his prime when Anderson fought him too.

You could, but they would be very weak arguments.

**Wet Bandit** · 05-24-2009, 12:18 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by phillyfan23

how can you say his win against Silva and Tito weren't impressive.

I never said that.

I said prior to tonight, he hadn't dominated any elite competition. Neither Tito or Thiago were near the same levels guys like BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, etc. are/were.

The wins were certainly impressive, but they were a far cry from dominating an elite fighter.

Tonight, though, Machida certainly did that. I just want to see it a couple more times, let him really establish his dominance like GSP and Silva have done before he gets in that discussion.

**XFactah416** · 05-24-2009, 12:18 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Wet Bandit

You could, but that'd be dumb. Franklin has decisive wins over everyone he could have fought at that time. Remember when Loiseau was tearing things up and people thought maybe he could challenge Franklin and then Franklin proceeded to absolutely destroy The Crow's career in the course of one fight? He was totally on a different level than every other UFC middleweight until Anderson came along and showed there was another level above Rich's.

I agree.

Rich has lost to Lyoto, Anderson Silva, and Hendo. Not bad, considering Lyoto and Anderson are practically unbeatable, and the Hendo fight was close (probably a draw, and if anything, I would pick Ace to win if they rematched.)

**SHO** · 05-24-2009, 12:19 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

I think that you probably could flip a coin in regards to Silva and Machida and P4P.

**MizzouBravesFan** · 05-24-2009, 12:20 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Wet Bandit

You could, but that'd be dumb. Franklin has decisive wins over everyone he could have fought at that time. Remember when Loiseau was tearing things up and people thought maybe he could challenge Franklin and then Franklin proceeded to absolutely destroy The Crow's career in the course of one fight? He was totally on a different level than every other UFC middleweight until Anderson came along and showed there was another level above Rich's.

That's because the level of the Middleweight Division at that time was absolutely garbage. David Loiseau? Nate Quarry? Ken Shamrock? Curtis Stout? An over the hill Evan Tanner? Come on now.

Anderson was and is on a different level than Franklin but anyone with a brain could see that from a mile away.

**Dr.J** · 05-24-2009, 12:21 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Not really silva is still p4p the best fighter.

**SHO** · 05-24-2009, 12:21 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Dr.J

Not really silva is still p4p the best fighter.

You forgot Fedor.

**DTX3** · 05-24-2009, 12:22 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by NOBLE

I hate to admit this being a HUGE Rashad fan but dude NEVER had a chance against Machida. From start to finish it was Machida's kind of pace and that usually means a win for him and tonight he just silenced his critics(including myself). If he maintains this style of fighting, I don't think that he will EVER be beaten. Congrats to him and his camp, Rampage I guess your his next victim.

I also disagree with those who said that the Hughes-Serra fight should have at least been a draw. I was rooting for Serra, but Hughes clearly won that fight in my eyes.

**phillyfan23** · 05-24-2009, 12:22 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by allBthere

just no. even won round 1. Only because of 2 or 3 body kicks...almost nothing happened.

Like I said earlier. in round 2 machida countered w/ a 3or4 punch combo off a rashad jab that really impressed me, but i was even more impressed that shad rolled them a bit and came back right away with his own 3 punch combo. shad also landed a 3 punch combo flush straight up in that round. If rashad didn't get punch drunk, the fight was still a close "who's going to land the big one" fight. To say Rashad was absolutely dominated every second is not true. he got caught, just like everyone does eventually. A good Ramp hook could put Machida's lights out. I'm not saying it will happen, but it's just ignorant to say it couldn't. Machida is a top fighter, but he's not some kind of superhuman, neither is silva and both of them don't deserve that status that they both now seem to be recieving.

Let's see what happens next ... machida's not done proving.

come on man, that first round was a clear win for Machida,he got in the 2 kicks and caught Evans with a punch. The thing that convinced me was how tentative Evans looked. he was even less aggressive than Machida and didn't do one thing significant.

I think the guy that will give Machida the most trouble is an in-shape Shogun, rampage could very well catch Machida, but it's going to be tough.

It's going to be interesting how the LHW develops.

What I don't want to see is people discrediting Evans now, the heart he showed tonite was just out of this world, he was basically fighting half knocked out the last 15 seconds. I hope he gets another shot at the title and beats Rampage down the line. Rampage has had his day, let Evans now have some good wins. A rematch with Machida would be great.

**BSanders** · 05-24-2009, 12:23 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by allBthere

just no. even won round 1. Only because of 2 or 3 body kicks...almost nothing happened.

Like I said earlier. in round 2 machida countered w/ a 3or4 punch combo off a rashad jab that really impressed me, but i was even more impressed that shad rolled them a bit and came back right away with his own 3 punch combo. shad also landed a 3 punch combo flush straight up in that round. If rashad didn't get punch drunk, the fight was still a close "who's going to land the big one" fight. To say Rashad was absolutely dominated every second is not true. he got caught, just like everyone does eventually. A good Ramp hook could put Machida's lights out. I'm not saying it will happen, but it's just ignorant to say it couldn't. Machida is a top fighter, but he's not some kind of superhuman, neither is silva and both of them don't deserve that status that they both now seem to be recieving.

Let's see what happens next ... machida's not done proving.

I removed my comment... I just remembered that you are one of the people that support Cpu vs Cpu in video games. We must stick together

**SHO** · 05-24-2009, 12:28 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

I still think that a fit Rua could give Machida problems. Lest we forget, Shogun ran through PRIDE in a similar fashion that Machida has prior to his injuries.

**MizzouBravesFan** · 05-24-2009, 12:29 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by NOBLE

I still think that a fit Rua could give Machida problems. Lest we forget, Shogun ran through PRIDE in a similar fashion that Machida has prior to his injuries.

That's the question, will his cardio be there? It'll have to be against Machida. I do too think Shogun might be the only fighter outside of Rampage that has the chance to beat Machida.

**SHO** · 05-24-2009, 12:31 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Another guy that I think could give Machida a possible challenge is Gegard Mousasi. I would loooooooooove to see this one go down.

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

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