Knockout of Liddell Earns Evans Title Shot Against Griffin
UFC President Dana White announced at the post-UFC 88 press conference that Rashad Evans would next fight UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin for the 205-pound title, likely at the promotion’s year end event, UFC 92, on December 27th in Las Vegas.
Evans earned the title shot with a one-punch knockout of former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell in the UFC 88 main event.
Saturday’s event at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia drew a crowd of 14,736 for a live gate of $2.6 million, the second-highest gate since the arena opened in 1999.
“Me, Lorenzo (Fertitta) and Joe Silva decided tonight that Rashad would get the next shot,” said White at the press conference.
The Evans-Griffin matchup will co-headline UFC 92 along with an interim heavyweight championship bout between The Ultimate Fighter 8 coaches Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the interim title-holder, and former champion Frank Mir.
For more on UFC 88 “Breakthrough” click here.
Tags: Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans


Well Deserved. Rashad Has beaten a lot of guys up, to get to this point. He definitely earned it.
yeah guna be good doesn’t have the same rin to it as liddell vs forrest but like ive said b4 u can just go on ur name/history, still in shock about that fight tho cant belive it
WOAHHH…HE GETS A TITLE SHOT????
MAN THATS SOME NEWS…I THINK FORREST WILL DEFEND IT PROPERLY….IT WILL NOT BE AN EASY FIGHT…BUT I THINK FORREST WILL GET HIM…THE ONLY WAY I SEEE RASHAD WINNING IS BY DECISION…
Come on Rashad! Thank G Chuck didn’t get a title shot, his time in the spot light is up. If he were to become champ that just wouldn’t seem right, when 5 or 6 guys can kick his A$$
wow that punch rashad threw was fkn awesome. hes such a cool ass mofo too for not goin crazy after that knockout, every other fighter would had to have shown off after that **** haha. but not evans man, he just kept his cool and how the hell was he so calm like that??
Hell yeah, why not !!!
If Cote & Lesnar can why not Evans while your at it Dana lets give Nate Diaz a shot at LW and Marcus Davies at WW.
Hooray for mediocrity !!!
us and check…rashad is deserving…he has been patient and he fought his way up to title contention..
Machida deserves a shot ahead of Evans far more talented and far more deserving…..
RASHAD HAS A BETTER RECORD IN THE UFC…AND HAS FOUGHT BETTER FIGHTERS IN THE UFC…
AND RASHAD ACTUALLY FIGHTS…MACHIDA RUNS!!
RASHAD DESERVES IT BEFORE HIM…
Us and Chuck is just pissed that “Chuck” got made to look like a b!tch in front of several hundred thousand people.
Evans is 17-0-1. Anyone else at LHW anywhere near that right now? Machida at 13-0. Thiago Silva at 13-0. Shogun at 16-3. Jardine at 13-5-1.
Who else gets it? Wandy is all but signed to a fight with Jackson. Machida, Vera, Sokoudju and Jardine are fighting at 89. Do you want champs to defend or not?
I got it. Let’s let Griffin fight no one for a year while we sort out a run at the title. Then we can all complain about how he never defended. That’ll really be a break from the usual, won’t it? Yeah, we don’t like that so much….
I’ve got it. Franklin is something like 26-3. Next title shot by default, right?
EXACTLY BIZ…
IF WE LET ALL THE TOP LHW’S FIGHT THEN DETERMINE WHO FIGHTS FOR THE TITLE THEN FORREST WILL HAVE TO WAIT TOO LONG BEFORE HE DEFENDS…RASHAD IS THE BEST AVAILABLE..AND HE HAPPENS TO DESERVE IT THE MOST!!
CASE CLOSED!
Evans deserves it. Still a great punch.
Moot point… the decision has been made… Evans is on deck. All the other guys will still get their chance, we’re just not sure if they’ll be fighting Forrest Griffin or Rashad Evans…
O my god !!!! Ice man went to sleep
Now i hope , Tito comes back to the UFC to Kick Evans a$$ and gets a shop at the belt
No way I think Lyoto or Thiago Silva deserves it better
*shot
Lyoto has beaten top fighters from Rich Franklin, BJ Penn, Sokoudjou and latest is Tito Ortiz. Rashad only beat Chuck and Bisping and the rest no name of MMA. They are both undefeated but Machida has fought top fighters, he may be boring to watch but hey he is good and has a great game plan
jayvy you are crazy…machida has not done what rashad has done in the UFC!!!! this is a different organization…we are not talking about what fighters do before they come to the ufc…if that was the case then you can justify numerous fighters being allowed to come to the ufc and get a title shot…rashad has defeated better fighters in the ufc…and he has actually fought!!!! he didn’t run and get the decisions…he actually stood toe to toe with another fighter and scrapped!!! unlike machida…
I like what im see’n in the UFC at the moment
lol Evans a happen man
look at the pic
UFC needs to evaluate the match up and records and who the fighters have beaten. yes a devastating finish like that really is something and will be a money in the bank for the next fight but they need to study and consider it properly. Like what happend to Fabricio Werdum, he lost his 1st fight then won against top contender gonzaga then a controversial win against my main man and country man Vera but i think he deserves it than Brock Lesnar
Ufc keeps pushing unmarketable fighters with good records down while they keep money makers with poor record for a quick title shot. Brock may have won against Hearing but he is just 1-1 in the UFC. Then its sickens me that if a win by Chuck puts him in a immediate title shot, come on man. Good thing he lost! really good thing
Im not a fan of Lyoto or Fabricio but as a MMA fan the UFC needs to put deserving fighters for a title shot and evaluate it pretty good. Pride doesnt care who fighters fight but they put deserving fighters for a title shot.
Rhymes, you have to remember that Anderson Silva had one fight in the UFC before he got a title shot… They have to consider the man and the record that he has and who he’s fought…
The man has a point Jayvy. Besides, Machida is still listed on the 89 card, so he has tons of time to lose his shot. Or if he wins, you push that fight with Griffin back even farther.
Let Evans have his shot. He’ll either lose, in which case he can be called a bum (maybe – it’s a stretch still) or he will win and prove that 18 wins and 1 draw with no losses just may not be a fluke.
In either case, Machida or someone else can always step up after that.
What I’m saying is, let Griffin fight and not BJ Penn himself by holding a title for a year and not defending it. Yes, I know Penn is fighting soon, but it ain’t for his title so it doesn’t count in my mind.
He’s a champ. He should defend. If he wants to move up, take the belt and let someone else fight for it. This weight class hopping is going to get really old really fast.
So yeah. Griffin fights ASAP. That winner fights ASAP. The winner of that one fights ASAP. Don’t mess around because everyone thinks someone “doesn’t deserve” a shot. If you have more wins and fewer losses (or more wins and equal losses) than someone else, you deserve it. Period.
but if liddell did beat evans….after winning against w silva…why wouldn’t he be in contention..those are two top lhw’s…if we would have fought another top lhw and won i would have saw no prob with him getting a title shot…but if he would have beat evans and immediately recieved a title shot..then yea, i would have been annoyed by that!
jayvy…
your making it seem like the ufc always does this…and that is not the case…the brock move was a complete business move…and yea it was unfair…but fights like that are what keep the ufc in business!!!!
sooo we have to deal with it..
Rhymeskill15 I’m not crazy but as a fan of MMA i did look and evaluate how they fight. Lyoto may not have a interesting fight but this i will say to you STYLE MAKES FIGHT. He is elusive and that his style of fighting so his oponents needs to study that and make a better game plan. Im not a fan of Machida but a fan of MMA we have to consider fighters record and the fighters they have beaten.
Evans will get his chance… there will be a new #1 contender. There will be other fights. Evans/Griffin is going to happen, so we can all sit back and enjoy that one.
Ok, let’s put it to rest. 17-0-1 as a professional MMA fighter is deserving of a title shot. Law of averages says he should have lost by now. He hasn’t. Let him fight and quit crying like a bunch of girls because your little pet fighter hasn’t got a shot.
Yes its business and i honestly is indeed excited about that fight i know UFC is a business and that is a business move but like i say fighters who are deserving needs to be fighting for that title
jayvy…
i understand your point…but i do not think that fights that occur prior to entering the ufc should help determine your title contention status…
i just do not feel that machida has beaten a top lhw in the ufc…and i do not feel that he has done enough to fight for a title…
dbiz…
i agree with you!
But having said that I think Rashad and Forrest will have a great fight. But UFC has to evaluate the fighters very well and sometimes set aside business move. I will ask you now in the heavyweight who is much deserving BROCK or FABRICIO?
in the middleweight MARQUARDT, LHEITES or HENDO?
welterweight, ALVES, SANCHEZ, KOSCHECK, YOSHIDA?
lightweight, SHERK, GRIFFIN, FROILAN, STEVENSON?
Business shmisness… MMA is a sport and has to be handles like that or it’s a business waiting to fail. There’s no sense crying over spilt milk… the fight has been made… Evans vs. Griffin for the title. Then who knows who it’ll be?… This wasn’t the last fight in the UFC, it was just the last fight of last night. So what… Liddell lost… again. It’s a new day now and time to move on.
I mean Lyoto has beaten Ortiz who is a former champion before that he had beaten Sokoudjou who is considered top LHW in the world.
Hendo is absolutely NOT deserving of a title shot right now. Do not even bring a 1-2 in the UFC fighter (in this decade) up for a title shot if you are saying Evans doesn’t deserve it.
jayvy…i think that the only undeserving fighter that is fighting for a title is brock…but come on…think about what this does for the business and how many more people it will draw to this sport…if anything we should support this decision…we shouldn’t crucify dana for not giving someone like werdum a title shot…let’s give him a break…
he had to make a sacrifice…and i am sure werdum will get over it!!
Again… don’t forget that Anderson Silva was 1-0 in the UFC when he got a title shot.
but evans beat bisping…liddell..and bonnar…and before them he had to fight avg fighters like lambert..and salmon…he worked his way up…
machida beat ortiz..and ram…thats it..
come on man…evans deserves it more…
I mean Rampage before he entered in the UFC he lost to Wanderlei 2x and Shogun once all three devastating losses, controversial win against Lindland then fought Eastman who is nothing then given a title shot.
Machida might deserve a title shot, but he’s so friggin’ boring to watch, is he really marketable?
thank you dolfang…
that was my point earlier…why is it when brock gets a title shot everybody goes crazy…
but when silva got his nobody had one complain…?!?!!?
and it’s not like brock is in a stacked division…the hw div is depleted and brock is going to ressurect it…
jay..
but rampage was markettable…and i don’t see your point?
Yes he is not marketable but a fighter that has a game plan and style that is hard to figure out. i mean solve it who can?
How many fights in the UFC did Rampage have when he got a title shot?… It doesn’t matter if Evans does or does not deserve a title shot, he’s getting one. he just beat the #1 contender so why shouldn’t he deserve a title shot? His only flaw was his “loss” to Ortiz. They made it a draw because Ortiz grabbed the fence… that was too cheap in my opinion to change the outcome of a fight… and I am by no means either anti-Evans or pro-Ortiz.
Yes business indeed but you dont get my point dont bring marketability but the ability of a fighter.
Regarding all of Machida’s impressive wins…. Franklin and Bonnar? 5 years ago. BJ? 3 1/2 years ago.
Bob Sapp and Gary Goodridge were winning when he had them. He hasn’t really fought anyone lately.
Recent fights? Sokoudjou? Only notable win is little Nog. Ortiz? Been on the decline for 5 years with no fight prospects on the horizon.
Clearly no one in charge at the UFC considers him a viable contender. In fact, it seems you are in the definite minority.
But watching Machida fight is like watching somebody solve a Rubic’s cube… it’s boring…
jayvy…
he might be a good fighter…but he does not deserve a title shot!
and thats the bottom line!
Don’t bring marketability? Are you high?
A Machida title defense would be, in my opinion, an undercard fight because NO ONE WANTS TO ACTUALLY WATCH IT.
If your title fights are undercard-worthy, that shouldn’t be your champion.
jayvy..
being able to market a fighter is what keeps the ufc in business…i mean if it does not exist then the sport of mma will soon be obliterated!!!
I want to end the reign of Forrest asap thats why yeah let that Rashad Forrest fight begin….
and if wedo not bring marketability then the ufc is just going to be another ELITE XC…and we all know whats up with that!!!
If Machida wins a couple more fights against top fighters then nobody will talk about his marketability. Right now he’s on the fringe of getting a chance to fight for the championship. Once he crosses the line, nobody will be able to overlook him. That’s exactly what happened to Evans. Before last night who thought Evans deserved a shot? Not me, but now I do.
Im not talking about business but the ability and the deserving fighters earning the title shot… given for example its not a business and a pure MMA fight a competition. Cant you get my point. I know UFC is a business and they need to earn from exiting fights but as i said as a MMA fan I am putting fighters deserving fighters fight their ass out.
If you look at it solely from the aspect of sport and who deserves the next shot at the title, then the guy that jjust beat the #1 contender should become the #1 contender and not some shmuck with a nice record.
Yes Rashad earn it. there i admit it he indeed earn it yesterday
Machida was supposed to have a fight coming up with another guy that’s 13-0 (I can’t recall his name at the moment) Why shouldn’t that guy be able to claim the same thing?
at the moment its all about what will sell the most PPV,
the UFC need official rankings
Machida will have his day in the sun if he keeps winning and waits… it’ll come.
man we can go on for days bout this!! haah
All… I agree. they do need official rankings… but that might take away from our fun of argueing about who should get the next fight with whom.
Machida is one of the best LHW , but F###!! stop backing up, it pi##’s me off , go forwould
I didn’t use to like Forrest, but I have to give him all due respect. The guy beat Rua… submitted Rua!!! And he backed that up by beating Rampage jackson. My hat’s off to him. He deserves this title until somebody else takes it away from him.
Machida is very talented but for me to want to watch him he’s got to stop running. He’s got to stand his ground and fight… It’s a fight so fight. That race with Ortiz was a disgrace. They should have warned Machida to engage and then start taking points away.
Alright lets us break down the top contender in the UFC
Heavyweight next to Brock
1. Fabricio Werdum
2. Cain Velasquez
3. Shane Carwin
4. Cheik Kongo
5. Gabriel Gonzaga
Light Heavy Weight
1. Rashad Evans
2. Lyoto Machida
3. Thiago Silva
4. Rampage Jackson
5. Rich Franklin
Middleweight
1. Yushin Okami
2. Nate Marquardt
3. Dan Henderson
4. Michael Bisping
5. Thales Lheites
Welterweight
1.Thiago Alves
2.Josh Koscheck
3.Diego Sanchez
4.Yoshida
5.John Fitch
LightWeight
1. Tyson Griffin
2. Kenflo
3. Sean Sherk
4. Nate Diaz
5. Joe Stevenson
Please share your thots on this
Chiek Kongo?… seriously??? No way…
1 fight and Franklin is in at 205. I like Hammil but beating him wasn’t that impressive a win for Franklin. Rua Evans Liddell maybe
The fight against Shogun. he did not fight the OLD Shogun or the Shogun of Pride coz no.1 before the fight Shogun sustained a knee injury that prohibits him from training hard. he did not fight the SHogun of Pride like what rampage said before Forrest did not fight the old shogun
Rich Franklin ahead of W. Silva after one fight?… I don’t think so… Michael Bisping even being on a list at all… nix… welterweights… What in the heck were you thinking???… Lightweigts… not too bad…
LW
Kenflo-Tyson are tied
Alright
Forrest beat the only Shogun that was in the ring with him. He made that man tap. Griffin won. Shogun is a great fighter, but he lost.
I would think Gonzaga would have to beat one of the other 4 to be on the list
I am a Shogun fan, by the way…
BTW
Thanks for the game Jayvy…
idk about your hw and lhw rankings…franklin on one fight at hw!!??!?
and you put him before w silva…
if your going to put franklin then you need to put A silva…
and thiago silva has done nothing!!!!!!!!!!!
come on man…you need to revise the lhw rankings asap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take Henderson out of the top 5 for a shot. Take him out. NOW. 1-2 in the UFC in the last 10 years and #3 on your list?
Come on. At least restrict it to guys who have won at least 50% of their UFC fights in the last decade.
I would have to think Kongo would have to beat somebody to be on the list… Cro-cop?… see Gonzaga…
one fight at *lhw
Title shot aside where is Brock after Herring. I would say behind Gonzaga maybe 9-10
Yes he won with a rear naked choke but its not the Shogun of Pride…. Yes he won. If you will take a look at the fight Shogun is not the fighter he used to be in Pride coz he has a knee injury prior to that fight but he did not make it an excuse… SHogun still fought forrest and forrest won
lets go FORREST GO AND KILL RASHAD!!! im pulling for forrest in the fight
DBiz,
You’re awful tough oin Henderson. He lost to Anderson Silva and Rampage Jackson fighting out of his weight class. You really HAVE to consider tht guy to be one of the top middleweights in the world. A list without him on it would be bogus.
After 2 losses Napao is getting an overhaul which is why he fought Tito’s boy on the Undercard and is fighting the unranked guy on 11/15
Dan has to pick a division for consideration go three fights and relook at him them.
If Shogun made no excuse then maybe you should follow his lead. He fought – he lost… he’s coming back. he can still prove himself, but you really have to let it go… Forrest got in the ring with whatever injuries he may have had at the time and he fought the only Rua that was in the ring with him and Forrest beat him fair and square… no excuses…
Im a Tito fan , i just want to see him fight back in the ufc,
Tito vs Evans or Tito vs Forrest
it could happen at the moment if the UFC just want to sell PPV, but rankings would be the way to go so fighters know where they stand
Dan Henderson lost his first 2 fights back at the UFC against the top of the division and let us give him the respect and that is for the world unification bout so he needs to be on top 5 list
top 3 MW’s IMO
1.anderson silva
2.rich franklin
3.dan henderson
and hopfully since rich is gonna be in LHW amir makes his way up
Well Tito Ortiz needs to win against those on top 5 for him to earn a title shot. Yes he is a PPV drawer but he is not the old TITO anymore. He lost the prime
IS it UFC or Zuffa fighters cause I got to put Filho in there ahead of him. Good or bad he’s got the belt and is undefeated…
I like amir too, but he’ll have to actually have a fight or two before I would give him consideration… but this is the UFC… Lesnar got a shot after 3 fights (1 of them was a loss)… Silva got a title shot after 1 fight… Jackson got title fight after 1 fight… Amir? who knows…
Anderson Silva and Paulo Filho will not fight each other… i think even you put money between those two. they are friends. I think if the merger pushes i think Anderson Silva will move to LHW to pave way for Filho
Paulo Fihlo won’t fight anybody that he’s friends with… at least if their initials are Anderson Silva, so I won’t give that guy any consideration until he’s willing to fight whomever they put in front of him.
Silva did earn it coz he deserves it…Cage Rage middle weight and Shooto Middle weight before he entered UFC. He has the credentials to show he deserves the immediate title shot.
If he deserves it, then why shouldn’t other guys deserve the same consideration?
no let me redo this top 5 guys in all wieght classes not contenders some probaly are but not saying top contenders
LW
1.Bj Penn
2.Kenny Florian
3.Tyson Griffin
4.Sean Sherk
5.grey maynard
WW
1.GSP
2.diego sanchez
3.tiago alves
4.josh koscheck
5.jon fitch…
MW
1.anderson silva
2.dan henderson
3.travis lutter
4.
5.
LHW
1.forrest griffin
2.rashad evans
3.wanderlei silva
4.quiton jackson
5.lyoto machida
HW
1.couture
2.NOG
3.werdum
4.mir
5.gonzaga
There is more than one way to look at things… If you think a guy has to work his way up in the company, then a lot of these don’t deserve to be where they are, but if you think a guy deserves to be moved up based on ability, then not only they deserve it but others de=serve some consideration too… Dan Henderson for example.
wait for got the last to MW’s i was gonna go back to it but forgot so here it is
MW
4.nate marquardt
5.amir sodallah… maybe need him to fight more first
Not bad… I didn’t notice Lesnar on your list… was that just an omition?… lol
Anderson Silva , he deserves it
I will ask you about ufc 85. Vera and Werdum did the ref stop it so fast?
I’m a filipino and i think vera was robbed and if he won that fight i think ufc will bring
Couture vs Vera
And Anderson won’t fight Paulo or Machida
Vera was hosed
I hate Werdum
And he hasn’t offered to fight Cro Cop
He lost that fight… He was getting pummled and the ref stopped it. he should have defended himself and got out of there. That’s the rules… You can’t go back and change things. A Liddell fan might say let’s go back to right before that big punch, Liddell was winning… It doesn’t matter… Liddell lost… Vera lost… It’s over with.
Yes they are all from the same camp The Black house camp so there is no way for them to fight each other.
Zuffa or UFc ? was for more than one case…Carlos condit is top 5 WW if all zuffa fighters are considered.
He did lose its just it was that same ref as the KImbo fight so it made ofr an interesting question.
Vera will get his chance if he keeps winning. I hope he stops that idiotic whatever it is that he does after he wins… I hate to see him do that… or Silva spin around on one foot… or Liddell to run around backwards with his arms out… Just be spontaneous…
I was going to suggest Vera -Gonzaga at HWy but I forgot Brandon was on the LHW section now…If he went back who gets it?
Let us breakdown UFC 90, 91 and 92 coz 89 is a bit boring
Anderson Silva will tear apart COte thats for sure even Cote was dreaming he has solve Silva
91
Couture might win a decision or a submission
92
Big Nog will submit Mir
or if this pushes RAshad and FOrrest
Rashad will do the same to forrest
all top wieght wieght im doing this because im bored
1.bj penn
2.kenflo
3.sean sherk
4.joe stevenson
5.tyson griffin
6.grey maynard
7.frank edgar
8.clay guida
9.hermes franca
10.roger huerta
remember IMO
but this will probaly change over time like after i see tyson griffin vs sean sherk and stuff
Carlos Condit and GSP would be a heck of a match
The Black house camp KICK A$$
and vera did lose fair and square i mean coe one werdum bbeat gonzaga which realy impressed me!
and i think vera is like super overated vera will never get both titles at the same time and hold it i bet he will never even get a title
You’ve got Frank Edgar at 7 and Clay Guida at 8… I think Edgar is far better than Guida. I also think Guida would help himself if he would cut his hair. It has to be a distraction when his hair gets in his face and covers his nose and mouth or covers his eyes. I would probably move Guida down to 10.
Vera needs 3 big wins to make up for Tim, Werdum,and…Resse Andy?
Liddell maybe although I would rather see Chuck vs Rich Franklin followed by Silva 2 . Best day I say Napao gets Vera with the weight.
Yes Vera is day dreaming when he said that he will both titles.. i agree with that
I think every fighter’s fist desire should be to be the champ. If the UFC were to offer a guy the chance to fight for a championship and he turned it down, they should strongly consider dumping that guy. The fighters don’t make their own match-ups, the UFC does that… to be more spefic, Joe Silva does that. If Silva says Fihlo has to fight Silva and he said no, then they should dump him and go on to #2. If he doesn’t want to ever fight with a friend, then he has 2 choices A.) Don’t make any friends 2.) Don’t be a fighter.
I’ve got to like Vera… he’s a USAF vet…
Off topic… I feel bad for the people in Cuba. They are being battered by Hurricane Ike right now. The eye is about to make landfall and then it will get worse until the mountains weaken it, but it’ll still be a hurricane as it makes its way all the way across the country. It’ll be like that for hours and hours… hearing the wind and rain hit your house… wondering if your house will hold on… hoping a big tree doesn’t land on top of your house… it’s not a lot of fun and they’re living it right now…
Nobody saying anything… They must all be working on their top 10 lists… I’ll be quiet… sshhh!
Jayvy, i have to disagree with your top contenders for light heavy. wheres wandy? Rashad is #1 i know that. the reason Machida isnt getting a shot is A. the simple reason, people would rather see (god this is hard for me to say, im such a chuck nut hugger) chuck get KO’d, create a major upset, and have rashad move up than see lyoto win 5 matches in a row in a boring way. Machida hardly is ever an aggressor. y is rich franklin even on there? He won fight so far at light heavy against a guy who isnt in the top ten yet. I would lower Machida is the rankings, take franklin off, nad put on Wanderlei. Wanderlei just dominated his last fight, and if he can beat rampage in november (like the rpevious two times) he’ll definatly be the next challenger after evans. Wanderlei vs evans would be a good fihgt in my opinion. And where is Mir on your top contender list? he is fighting norguira for the interem belt. He was originally the top contender until randy came back. There are also a lot of controverial choices u made. why is tyson ahead of florian? why the hell is Okami the next top contender for A. silva?
i’ll whisper this comment… i just looked at the poll and 84% of the people that answered the poll think anderson silva will beat patrick cote… that also means 16% think cote will win… WHAT IN THE HECK… oops… sorry guys… what in the heck are they thinking!
Mir is in the title picture so he is not included anymore in the list we are listing next contender and mir is already a title contender. Okami is next in line coz he just got injured and was replaced by Cote
Yup lets pray no one will be injured
i didnt even here okami was to fight silva, srry i was in europe for a while. what i thought was that almeida and cote fouhgt for the contender spot, and cote won and became the contender.
I think if Lyoto and Thiago fights each other the winner will fight Rashad – Forrest
MMAMetalhead,
Should we take it that you don’t completely agree with every choice?… lol…
Okami earns it before the Cote vs Almeida fight. Unfortunately Okami got hurt and Cote got lucky he doesnt have to wait for Okami Silva winner
Okami lost only to Rich Franklin then won his next 2 or 3 fights. UFC gave him the title shot with a win against Tanner then the Cote ALmeida winner has to wait for OKAMI and Silva fight
Has Cote improved that much since he fought Leben? Leben won that fight and we all know what happened to Leben when he “fought” Silva.
I heard thiago is injured and out according to Yahoo sports. Thats a shame. Personaly i think wandy should get a shot. He didnt get it as easy as some of the other pride guys. rampage got an easy armup match of eastman then fought chuck. Henderson got a title shot off the bat (though he was champion.) Wandy had chuck as his first match in the cage in over ten years. Theres a lot of questioning of chuck since last night, but i personally believe that chuck still has a chance, he knows good jits and wrestling, now he needs to use it! anyways, back to the point of wandy, he fought chuck, and chuck was ready and on for tat fight. Not an easy road. Wandy did just come of a dominant win over jardine. If he beats rampage, that will be a great match for forrest/rashad (whoever wins) because wandy DOESNT stop till u KO him. And wnady style is muy thai but its a very…unorthodox muy thai style with the short looping punches. lol and is greg jacksons camp sticks with history, theyll be great at putting fights up for chuck, and horrible for putting fihgts up for wandy.
Yup Thiago is hurt so UFC is looking for an opponent for MAchida but rumors are circling that he will wait for the winner of Evans – Griffin UFC 92.
One main reason why Chuck lost because of his being one dimensional fighter. He is a kickboxer yes but young MMA fighters now are well rounded like Evans good game plan from Greg Jackson and Jardine. Chuck needs to train more on the other MMA discipline. Thats goes also to Matt Hughes his oponents already knows what he will do and that is to shoot for a take down but before he take a foot he is already hit with a knee or a kick like what happend to his fight against GSP and Alves. Chuck has a great KO power but he needs to train BJJ, Muay Thai everything MMA has to give. The fighters now are smart and if you will see Rashad times it perfectly and waited patiently and got the kill.
Rashad has evolve from a wrestler to a well rounded striker as he has shown yesterday
I just saw the second round of that fight for the first time. The reason Chuck lost is because he walked around with his hands way down low. he didn’t give defense a thought in the world. He will definitely have to retrain himself to keep his guard up. Rashad took advantage of that with a big overhand right.
Chuck needs to think of his strategy coz fighters i mean young fighters are wise nowadays. He needs to work hard and train other discipline for his 3-4 fights left in him.
Chuck will be back but he needs to win against Machida, Thiago Silva, Franklin and Rampage if he wants his belt back… Its a long long way up for him to get the title shot.
Chuck needs to train with other camps like Greg Jackson’s camp or ATT or go to Xtreme Couture. Leave Hackleman for the meantime and train full MMA
It really doesn’t look like he’s well prepared with Hackleman, but he won’t leave that camp. I definately think Jackson could do more for him, but that ain’t gonna happen. He’ll fight his next fight with his hands down low and he’ll probably get caught again. he’s not as fast as he used to be.
ppor ppor chuck, looks like the icemans hotness has gone cold…
i remember the days when chucks feet were as deadly as his hands. but this just goes to show
the younger more rounded guys are winning more over the older specialized guys…
tito and his gnp are outdated
chuck and his one punch deadlyness are seen before the punch is even thrown
big tim, size does matter unless you cant use it properly
and of course, poor poor gracie needs to do more than bjj…
the up and commers are doing all of the above all the time, they dont focus on one aspect of fighting as there are situations where you need to know more than how to box or grapple
chuck has been great for the UFC but i think he needs to step back and allow the younger guys to come in…
samething for randy, hurry up fight fedor and retire and go take some acting lessons with the purse money
Chuck and the others should never “step aside”. If the young guys want to take over, then they should have to TAKE IT and not have it given to them. Chuck has had a great career as has Randy. If it’s over, then so be it, but they will make that decision when they feel the time is right. Look at Couture… the heavyweight champion of the UFC at 45 years old. Give credit where credit is due and respect where respect is due. Your name is jiujitsuman… without Royce gracie you would have never known of jiujitsu. Just a little respect… that’s all…
ufc FAN IS DRUNK fitch beat alves and sanchez and he would do it again fitch is the rich franklin of welter weight its a fact man
Now young fighters are all well rounded MMA fighters while the old fighters are one dimensional but deadly. there Gracie BJJ is tops and it pave way for young guns to take BJJ. Couture with his wrestling, young guns has wrestling, Chuck Lidell with his Kickboxing and Striking the young guns has striking. I mean we respect the fighters who built the MMA but if they want to stay in this business with this young guns they need to train to be well rounded. Yes they earn the respect but their time has passed specially on being one dimensional fighter. They are the idols of the young guns but the young guns are wild
I don’t get the Machida hate.
I think the guy is fun as heck to watch fight. He’s tactical and smart, and he lays a beating on his opponents without getting hit.
He didn’t run from Ortiz. He beat the heck out of Ortiz. He knocked him down a couple of times and almost had him TKO’d a couple of times. He probably would have TKO’d him at the end of the second round if not for the bell. He also completely dominated Sokoju without taking any punishment. He layed Sokoju out and then submitted him — how can that be running.
I watched UFC84 with two friends and all three of us thought Ortiz/Machida was the best fight and that Machida was impressive as heck. I then discussed the show with a coworker the next day, and he said he and his friend both thought the Machida/Ortiz fight was the best on the card and he said he was impressed as heck with Machida.
Just because a fighter is smart doesn’t make him boring. Machida lands a lot and does a lot of damage.
I’d love to see Machida get a title shot. I really don’t get “fans” who think strategy and skill equates to “running.” I’d like to see any of them manage to lay out the damage Machida does without getting hit. It’s impressive as heck.
We respect them but for them to stay in this wild sport they need to train to be well rounded fighter. Like GSP at first he doesnt have wrestling but now he is better than those collegiate wrestlers like Koschek and Fitch. Another example BJ Penn at first pure BJJ,but as time goes he evolve in being a dangerous striker that he is today. Rashad Evans, wrestler but showed yesterday how well he is in striking. This is a wild sport gameplan and proper training is the key to survive like Couture is doing he is 45yrs old but master in gameplan and now has better striking aswell. one dimensional fighters now doesnt survive in the sport, the wild sport of MMA
Bottom line — If the young guys want the old guys to step aside, they’ll have to move them out of the way. Is Chuck done? I doubt it. He’ll be back and he’ll beat the crap out of some young guy that thinks he sees flaws in Liddell’s game. They didn’t get to where they are without being awful good at what they do.
Chuck out of the way!!! young guys disposed him quickly one punch…. Next please
Another example Jardine oopps beaten Chuck
while Chuck defeated WAndy both past their prime
Another one dimensional fighter is Cro COP look at what happend he ran out of UFC
Chuck will be back… It was guys like you that wrote off Couture and who’s the heavyweight champion now? May the best man win. Last night was not Chuck’s first loss and it probably won’t be his last. I don’t understand the thinking behind you and some others that think the older fighters shouls just step aside and let the younger fighters win… Are you saying they can’t beat the older fighters and move past them? Evans won last night and it looks like he’s on his way now let the other young guys earn their shot too. Step aside??? Why should they? They’ve earned the right to be where they are…
Chuck is also an accomplished jiu-jitsu fighter. He has had so much success at boxing that you young kids have never had the occassion to see that. Maybe next time you will.
evans will win the title is said evans will hold the title before 2009 and maynard will hold the title at lw before 2009 is over…..bisping will have the mw title by 2010…..kos will be champ by 2010 and randy vs fedor will deside the best hw ever in 2009 and randy will win…those are just some predictions for fun
You had me nervous till I read that last line… for fun…
I can’t stand bisping
Maybe a good fight would be Franklin vs. bisping
I would love to see anybody fight bisping as long as they beat the crap out of him…
Early rumor about Tom Brady: torn ACL… out for the year…
Chuck is still in the top 5 LHW’s
Until ufc (zuffa) gets independent rankings – it will just be f’n wwe…
F – u Dana –
Hope you and your bff chuck can cry me a river…
Looks like Affliction is real if you want real fights.
The future is not that Sob dana …
It’s real fighting.
Dana please make a real ranking system – until then it’s just a bunch of Vince Mcchman bull sh##t
Dave, is there something on your mind? Don’t be too shy to just speak right up…
We all could go on for days about official rankings in the UFC , and who could fight who at what time?
i think that the UFC should have official rankings
and only the guys in the top 5 should get the chance to fight for a belt depending on who is fighting who at that point.
DBiz
Again i’m not a Liddell fan at all, although i expexcted him to beat Evans and i lost money on that lucky shot.
Hendo deserves to be in the top 5 how can he not be.
Evans has only beat an old Chuck drawn & should of lost Ortiz and clearly got lucky against Bisping.
Machida has beat Penn,Ortiz,Franklin,and Sokoudjou deserves shot more than a man who was crapping his pants against an old man
ALL_VICTIM says:
Chuck is still in the top 5 LHW’s
—–
Not if he doesn’t learn some real boxing. If you don’t come in jaw first, he’s nothing to fear.
The PIT is going to have to slow their training program and start taking some themselves.Everybody has to alter their game even Chuck Liddell. The last time I heard they brought in someone different it was Eddie Bravo for Couture 2.
Can’t wait to see how this card (12/27)fills out.
Chuck is not TOP 5 LHW with his loss Saturday coz 1 he is just 1-3 in his last 4 fights. He is an accomplished fighter and a legend in the sport but in order for him to stay in this wild sport he should train more in BJJ and other MMA discipline stuff for him to survive. Changing his game plan wont hurt but will definitely earn him something.
If Chuck is an accomplished jiu jitsu i mean why didnt he implement that. You are saying he is an accomplished this and that but in this sport which is evolving so fast you cant be focused in one strength.
chuck is not in the top 5 lhw…
i would put a couple heads before him…
1. rampage
2. forrest
3. w silva
4. evans
5. franklin
they are not in any specific order…i just think these 5 are better than chuck..
Let Rashad and Forrest fight then Lyoto Machida, Thiago Silva and Shogun is there to rip whoever will win in that fight
jayvy…
come on man…machida, silva, and rua!?!!?
rashad would overpower machida…t silva is not even impressive…what has he done!?!?!?
and rua is not the same fighter…evans or forrest would destroy any of those 3 fighters..
I CAN’T STAND PEOPLE SAYING THAT MACHIDA DESERVES A SHOT. HE DOESN’T EVEN FIGHT. HE JUST BARELY DOES ENOUGH TO GET THE WIN. EVEN THOUGH HE WINS. THERE NOT IMPRESSIVE. WHY WOULD THEY THROW HIM A SHOT… AND WITH RUA NO WAY HE LOST AND JUST GOT DOMINATED AND PEOPLE STILL SAY HE DESERVES… NOPE SORRY. IM WITH YOU RHYMESKILL
Rhymes,
It has definitely become the uprise of a new era of fighters. Just reading your last post and thinking of the status of fighters careers…..it’s crazy that in just the last 3-4 years how many fighters have risen to the top, come and gone. (from the UFC specifically.)
Lets see in the future… MAchida may be boring but its being said that he is considered one inline for the title THiago silva as well. UFC 89 – Machida and Thiago Silva would be the eliminator match up and its documented that if that fight pushes through the winner will be next for a title shot. now since THiago is hurt. i think UFC will sit machida out and will wait for forrest rashad winner. MAchida is boring i admit that but fighters cant solve his elusiveness. his wins majority are decision but lets face it its his time.
Im not a fan of Machida but i think he deserves it next to evans
How will Evans overpower Machida? How will he solve the Machida code? Thiago silva, what has he done? Undefeated fighter undefeated in the UFC.
Lets face it that the next in line for the title shot are
Machida-undefeated career and UFC record with notable wins agains Ortiz, Sokoudjou, Rich Franklin and BJ Penn. he may be boring but he has a good game plan
Thiago Silva-undefeated career and UFC aswell. up and coming young fighter. Wild wild fighter
Rampage-he deserves a rematch against Forrest but since the LHW is stacked with great talents he has to wait but he deserves to be next aswell.
This are my opinions Rashad deserve the title shot coz of the devastating knock out he delivered against Chuck
DBiz
If you don’t come in jaw first,
LMAO
F###!!! Chuck at the end of the day
I’m a Tito fan
Machida need to press the fight and not back up, points should be taken away from backing up all the time LIKE A BIT*H!!!!
But i see Machida being the next LHW champ
he is good at when he does
Style makes fight if its his style then let his opponents figure how to beat him… Every fighter has their own style of fighting he is not running or backing up. he is just defending the attacks. If you saw his fight with Ortiz he is did not ran but what he implemented his gameplan and that is to stay away from tito and counter punch every tito gives him
Style makes fight every fighter has to solve their opponents mystery
Tito Ortiz said during the post fight interview with Joe Rogan that Machida is an elusive fighter and is hard to get. Joe Rogan also said during the fight Machida is not running he eludes the attack of his opponents. He counters every attack that is given to him… Analyze the fight and you will see what im talking about.
Good post Javy…Joe Rogan was spot on….
yup thanks…i think joe rogan said it 3-4 times during the fight and he was the one who brought that up to tito and tito agreed with him.
Machida = Over hyped Kalib Starnes
Kalib Starnes didnt even make an offensive barrage so it means they are different… Machida attacks and counter attack his opponent
Kalib marathon while Machida laid back
lucky punch evans .keep dancing ,cant wait till they knock u out