Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida Confirmed For UFC 98
Rashad Evans
With Quinton Jackson likely sidelined with a lingering jaw injury and rumored hand injury, Lyoto Machida is expected to challenge UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans for the title in the main event of UFC 98 on May 23rd in Las Vegas.
Evans informed Sherdog on Monday that Jackson was likely to need time off before fighting for the title and that Machida would be his likely opponent at UFC 98. Sportsnet.ca adds that UFC.com posted banners with the title “UFC 98: Evans vs. Jackson” and added the bout to the official UFC 98 lineup on Sunday only to have it taken down on Monday. Finally, the British tabloid The Sun is reporting that the injuries will indeed prevent “Rampage” from facing Evans at UFC 98 and Lyoto Machida will instead challenge for the title.
The UFC has not yet officially announced an opponent for Evans and is likely to hold off announcing Machida until they’re absolutely sure Jackson will be unable to make the quick turnaround and fight again in May. If Jackson is unable to fight he remains likely to challenge the winner of the UFC 98 main event later this year.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest UFC news.
Update from Kris Karkoski on 3/9/2009 at 4:30pm ET
UFC President Dana White has confirmed to Yahoo Sports that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has torn ligaments in his jaw as well as a hyperextended left elbow and will undergo surgery next week that will prevent him from training for a minimum of five weeks, officilly knocking him out of the UFC 98 main event. White also confirmed that Lyoto Machida will square off with title-holder Rashad Evans in the UFC 98 headliner.
Tags: Lyoto Machida, Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans
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I like this new matchup MUCH MUCH better. Two very intelligent, technical fighters who always have excellent game-plans. This should be a good one.
I wanted to see Rampage ko Evans but i have to say that i am really happy for Lyoto Machida because he deserves a shot at Evean fist. This is going to be a really good fight because they are both fast, they both have great movement. I would say that Machida has the advantage in the standup, i don’t think Evans will be able to catch Machida’s jaw the way he did Chuch. On the ground Machida has better sub skills but Rashad is stronger and can control Machida if he’s on top. Overall i feel like Lyoto is a better and more intellegent fighter than Evans and i don’t think Evans is going to frustrate or lure him in the way he did Chuck. I wanna see Evans vs. Jackson but i feel like this is a better matchup because the styles mesh better. Lyoto in the round 3 via sub or tko.
I think Rampage can beat Evan , and Rampage did the right thing and the smart thing .. he let Machida have first shot at Evans.. and will be 100% healthly hopefully by the time his shot comes up..he’s not over training too… 3camps back to back that would be ruff
SWEET, Machida TKO 4th rd 2nd minute.
It’s better that machida gets evans. Jackson needs time to heel and better prepare for his next shot @ the title. Also, it’s going to be sick to watch to undefeated fighters fight for the title. I really don’t care who wins as long as jackson knocks the winner out. I think machida is on top of his game and so is evans and they match up well.
Evans is going to be a different fight for machida cuz he’s going to dance around, move in and out and lure machida in like he did with lidell and machida is a counter striker just like lidell. Don’t like any of these dudes so who cares.
And Machida will be a different fighter for Evans. Lyoto is on a whole different level then Liddell ever was. Machida takes this and defends the title for several defenses. Rampage has no chance of knocking him out and right now, no other LHW has the overall skills to defeat him. Need Big Nog or Dos Santos to get the HW belt so Team Nogueira will have 3 belts.
dos santos has a chance…big nog is too old and been through too many battles…if he can’t hang with mir, he def can’t hang with velasquez, lesnar, carwin, kongo….Hes pretty much done. just add him to the list…
wandi
chuck
hughes
shogun
ortiz
You know it cuz.
I see Machida drawing in Evans and putting him to sleep.
Rashad will fall the trap and spell that every other person falls trap to and go nighty night.
I would also like to point out that I told people a year ago that Machida would be the champ and everyone told me that I was stupid and did not know what I was talking about.
I will be back in may with the post “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”
And as for Rampage, he needs to rest and then hurry up and get beat by Machida as well. The division is as good as locked.
It’s about time the man gets a shot at the title. Look at who he has beaten in his career, it’s a who’s who of mma. the man just wins. I don’t care if his fights are boring. The name of the game is WINNING, not flash and dash.
not really, werdum was fired just because of how boring he is. dos santos buried him, also. most people don’t watch boring fights so if lyoto wins this could be bad for the sport. I will say that if he keeps fighting like he did against thiago silva and rich franklin, then everything is fine. but come on, look at 90% of his fights. I could fall asleep by accident while watching them…
He was fired because hedidn’t want to take a pay cut, was boring, plain old sucked. Pick one.
This has the potential to be the most boring fight off all time that ends off with a splash that no one seen coming. I picture everyone napping by mid-round 2 and waking up to a winner Rd.3 or 4.
IMO Rampage vs. Evans would have made a more exciting fight. If Machida wins, I hope Rampage takes the Evans fight first. It’s better for him to build his confidence a little more by clearing the division, then taking the title. Chuck did it…
i don’t think Evans is going to make Machida fight his fight. They both tend to run until their opponents give in and come to them. Rashad’s last 2 fights were exciting, Machida’s were not. So even though i think that Machida is going to win, he better win by finishing Evans or else he’s just another guy who’s boring and wins coward style…he did finish Thiago Silva, but if he’s going to be champ he needs to be more exciting. At least Liddell finished his fights when he was champ. Anyway Rampage ko’s the winner of this fight.
no personal attacks… you know better, gunslinger – Justin
im sorry just i just got carried away by someone calling machida a coward!
I know, just trying to be fair.
Coward style? Being elusive and not getting punched is coward style? He is a tactical fighter with an amazing technique. Many people don’t like Machida and call him a boring fighter because he doesn’t charge in and throw punches. Guess that’s why he is 14-0, will be 15-0 after this fight and continue for quite some time.
no personal attacks – Justin
He does have great technique. I’m not saying Machida should come out like a crazy guy just throwing punches. I’m simply saying that great fighters know when to move in for the finish instead of just being “elusive” and waiting to counter. I will say that in his fight with Thiago Silva Machida was attacking and did get a nice ko, but like i said, great fighters make things happen instead of just being “elusive” and waiting for things to happen. But WILL i do respect your opinion.
He did come out with an attacking style against Silva, I think mostly because of the label he has received from fans about being boring. He needed that amazing KO to be marketable as a main event fighter. If he chooses to remain tactical or go in for the kill, I still enjoy watching his crisp striking. But you are correct, having the ability to go in for the finish does separate a great fighter from an average one.
So a brutal knockout with 1 second remaining in the 1st round by Machida was not exciting to you…….awesome.
A brutal ko with 1 second remaining was cool to watch,it’s just that Machida is capable of doing amazing things man, i want to see him ko guys more often because he can be more exciting.
i think Machida earned the shot anyway. logic prevails.
Evans: If he’s able to take down Machida he can control him and drop some ground-pound.
Machida: If he takes Evans down he can submmit or ground-pound him.
Evans: Standing he can problably get Machida if he gets close enough.
Machida: Standing he can pick Rashad apart with leg kicks,jabs and in the clinch he has better muay thai,lets not forget his Karate.
Bottom line, whoever can control the other fighter will win.
guess machida was guna get his shot sooner rather then later, it could be a short lived rain tho if he does beat evens, a well rested rampage spells trouble for any one, i will be rooting for rashard in this fight tho for some reason i dont like machida!
me too man. lyoto only has like two good fights to watch, but he did decapitate Rich Franklin if you didn’t know. but yea rashad hopefully is going to be capable of beating lyoto at his elusive game plan. I think the only way you can beat Machida is if he gets KTFO
Rich Franklin, Sokodju, BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva. Oh I see the competition was not good enough for you guys. Get out of here
See I agree with all three of you guys. I think Machida is an awesome fighter and has the potential to reign 205 for a LONG time, probably longest since Chuck. The problem is that he is not a very exciting fighter, but maybe that will change as I’m sure he or his management are aware that many people feel that way.
This happens to be one of his better fights though. Check the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ewuXCEwLBE
Thanks for that link, Figs.
I would have loved top see the Evans Jackson fight. Too bad it might not happen. I got goose bumps when i saw the two stare each other down in the octagon. I dont know about any one else but i was really looking forward to seeing that fight in just a few short months.However, this new fight announced is a really good fight as well. I think that Lyoto is a much better fighter than Rampage and i will finally get to see what i have been waiting for since Rashad Evans entered the octagon a couple years ago,Him getting knocked out..
machida wins easily and makes rashad look like a rookie mma fighter just like everyone else machida has fought machida for president!
Sorry, I don’t want a Brazilian as president… not to mention that wouldn’t be very constitutional
Defense wins championships…
This isn’t football dude.
think about it DUDE…
Dont be surprised if this fight reminds us all of Monson/Sylvia: ref coming into the center mid-fight and telling them, “This is a fight. You need to fight.”
Evans needs his clock cleaned. Hope The Dragon dethroned Rashad in the first round. I hope it’s a humiliating.
I cant stand watching Machida fight, plus I think Rashad is faster and stronger than Machida. Ring IQ appears to be the same so im goin with Rashad in this. Also its a better case scenario for Rashad to win I think: With Machida out of the way, Anderson Silva can FINALLY make a full time move to the LH divison. In which he will eventually win the belt. Rich Franklin can move back down to MW and win the title back and then all will be right with the world!!!!
Wait COLE MILLER,
Did you put SHogun on your list? I’d be the first to say that he’s yet to impress in the “UFC” but he’s not done yet. You should and probably will replace shogun with lidell on your list of who’s done, after shogun FINALLY ends lidells career.
As for evans and lyoto,
They both are no fire and have ways to beat eachother so it will be great to watch. If i have to choose, i choose evans to win so we can see if he can back up the $hit he was talking to rampage.
shogun could barely beat coleman i put no stock in his past since he can barely win fights over jello at the retirement home the ufc isnt pride and shogun hasnt showed anything in his time in the ufc
i see machida taking this by UD not losing a round, rashad’s chance is to win by tko/ko.
I rather see rampage fight Evens but as long as it’s exciting i’m fine with it
And the NEW! UFC Light . . . . Heavyweight . . . . . Champion . . . . . . Lyoto! . . . . . The Dragon! . . . . . Machidaaaaa!
This is going to be a great fight but i’m afraid it might not be a very exciting fight at first either. Both fighter are counter strikers and it will be extremely technical fight and both fighters dont push the pace all to well. who ever gets frustrated and screws up first is going to lose because both these guys have one punch knockout power.
I’m glad Jackson is gonna sit this one out, he looked absolutely beat after his jardine fight, and if he really was overtrained he’s gonna need time to do his training camp right. IMO, I think Evans and probably Machida can take him either in may or at a later date, but i’d rather see either fight with jackson at 100%.
great point timcat on bringing up machida’s resume. how can you guys say he is boring? wtf the guy finds ways to win (what a champ does) and is undefeated, not because he fights midlevel fighters. Anderson Silva has the same style as machida and people seem to love him the difference between them is silva prefers striking and machida doesnt. however he has shown he can throw bombs just ask thiago silva. evans has yet to face a guy that is on machida’s level and that will show at 98. thiago silva landed some punches on machida and machida took them in stride. he has a solid chin. I doubt evans will beat him. I say machida by tko. this is also good news for rampage, cant wait to see him at 100%. the main advantage here is machida’s kicks. they will neutralize evans striking due to his leg being destroyed just like forrest did to rampage. If evans beat machida I will admit I was wrong and will give evans his props.
Either one of them can win. We all know Evan has knock out power.(just ask Chuck liddel) But Machida is just so different. Pluse hes beaten some of the best fighters in the sport like Rich Franklin and Bj Penn. Although it was open weight classes so he was like 30 pounds heavier durning that match.
Lyoto deserves this shot. And I predict that he will win easily.
im gonna laugh if this ends up being the fight of the year! lol
and yes justin machida for president.
that would be cool. hope he at least loses a round but to me he has to much skill i don’t know if he can ko more people now or it was just against thiago. i hope machida wins but loses at least a round. hope he doesn’t end up cocky if he wins and defends it for a while.
Do you think if machida does win do you think he’ll beat rampage whenever they fight?
just read the worlds most dangerous man got popped for roids…so much for the comeback…lol
but to stay on topic…this fight is a coin flip
Like this fight. I’m going with Machida on this one. For some reason, I hate Evans.
* I didn’t read the above comments*
Lyoto v Evans, hey whynot.. Now everyone who debated which fighter should get the next shot after Evans originally turned down a fight against Rampage (before UFC 96) got I guess in turn what they all wanted.. Rampage turned down the fight and FINALLY Lyoto gets his shot, because he deserves it more by beating Thiago Silva, all in jest kids, Hey this should be a really good fight, even tho both are considered “counter fighters” if Lyoto comes out with the aggression that he had against Thiago that would be awesome… And even if Evans does take it down to the ground Lyoto imo has the edge there, no that essentially makes it a standup battle.. Evans has the ko power and Machida has shown he does as well.. Should be a really good fight and I can’t wait, SOME ONE’S 0 GOTTA GO….
I beleive every 1 got their wish on this one. Either way Machida got his shot who so many people swear he deserves,
Rampage will be 100% and will get his shot at the title who so many people swear he deserves,
And Rashad will get what so many people swear he deserves one way or another!!
Rashad and the Jackson camp wanted Rampage soooo bad at this point, that they were willing to send in Jardine as a scout to get a feel or some weakness to go on and Plus they knew Rampage was tired by fighting so much. Perfect timing to fight him. The whole Rashad stare down and saying he is making excusses was to help provoke Rampage or goat him into taking the fight so quick because they wanted no part of Machida at all!!
If Rashad wanted Rampage that bad he would have taken the fight instead of their camp having Jardine to fight him.
But this is just my thoughts!!
Oh yeah Evans/Machida has the potential to be the most boring fight ever in mma history. I think we would get more action out of watching tiger woods play at the pga’s!!
On the topic of machida deserving a title shot. Outside the fact that UFC puts who they want in there to fight for a title no matter who we may feel deserves it or not Machida beat Silva, Franklin, Ortiz, Sokodju, Penn!!
NOT 1 of those guys are in the top 5 LHW’s! Not 1!!
But,But I do feel he is more capable then anyone to be the champ.
He like Rashad is a evolving fighter, so much so with this guy {machida i mean} I think he is evolving MMA.
But that again is just my thoughts.
More boring then Quarry/Starnes, I don’t think so. The reason Machida has not fought a top 5 LWH, they DID NOT want to fight him. Forrest and Rampage both stated they did not want anything to do with Machida. They knew that they would lose and it would ruin their chances at a title shot, so Machida had to take the fights given to him. He has waited patiently for his chance and now it is here. When he wins the belt, Forrest and Rampage will have to fight him and they will all be amazing fights.
please tell me where you got that info from so i may read it my friend.
Machida will be the new LHW champ .. Even though I like Evans , and would pick Evans if he were fighting anyone else. I gotta go with machida , he’s the best and will
Be for a while. His fighting style is unbeatable.
excellent news
Im salivating at the prospect of this fight I have to say!
Stylistically it is very interesting indeed. Both fighters prefer to counter attack but one must ask, if both fighters stay cautious which one will win? I simply can’t see any other winner other than Machida if neither fighter uses sustained aggression – Evans will get shredded by kicks from outside his range and lose a decision.
For me, Evans will have to do something very very special to win this one and do something that no other fighter has even come close to doing – ie learn how to cope with Machida’s skillset and unusual standup style. If he does that and wins, he will be a champion who totally deserves his title. Its hard to see exactly what he can do though to give himself an even chance of doing that. However this fight goes, its hard to see any other outcome than a Machida win – other than the old one punch wonder – but who has managed to hit Machida square in the face yet? Answer – not a single person.
He won’t be able to find anyone half as good as Machida to train with and thus he might find himself in the ring with an opponent he just can’t handle – an opponent who is dramatically more skilled and more powerful than any training partner he can use in the buildup. I cant wait.
lyoto!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Oh, and about the ‘boring’ thing, I thought the Machida vs Ortiz fight was the best fight I have seen in a long time. Having watched UFC for a while, one gets a little bored with endless lines of boxer/wrestler/ground and pounders slugging it out. Others seem to find that style fun – I dont – not at all.
When I saw Lyoto Machida for the first time against Ortiz his style absolutely exhilirated me. No other MMA fighter can do what Lyoto does and be so hard to hit, yet at the same time be so clinical in exploiting gaps.
For me, Lyoto Machida is the most exciting fighter I have ever watched! How’s about that for a statement?!
i agree. its a pleasure to watch lyoto. his fighting style is considered art in some ways..
I love Machida’s style. Pound for pound he is the best fighter right now. He never takes damage, is undefeated and has never lost a single round EVER in the UFC according to the judges scorecards.
This ppv just became no longer worth 44.95!!!!With all the talent the UFC has and this is all they can come up with 4 PPV? Garbage!!!
What ever happened to the good old days in the ufc when there was Title fights in every event. With KO and submision. Now it usally goes to a decision were most of the time the judges are complete idiots about who they pick as the winner (Matt Hamil vs Micheal Bisbing).
Funny to see people cheering Lyoto on on this particular site. I have been arguing with most people here that Lyoto is the next big thing for over a year only to hear how boring, blah blah, cry cry, overatted this lucky that.. if you can’t hit the guy he’s going to rape you. Discussion ends.
Glad he finally gets a shot.. too bad LHW will be on lock down like MW is after Lyoto gets the belt. Seriously tho.. lots of posers here
Vinz, I think that with most people that have become new fans of Lyoto, have done so due to the destruction that he put on Thiago Silva… Now mind you I have read many place that he doesn’t desrve the shot due to his lack of top competition he has face in the UFC.. I have stated in the past tho I like his style and I personally have found him exciting in the past that I would like to see him fight tougher comp (pre Tito fight), but hey he is next in line and If he does beat Rashad (I think he will) then best of luck because once you are #1 there is only one place to go… I doubt he will retire undefeated but hey crazier shhh has happend in the world…
Lyoto will Straight up KNOCK out rashad. I’ve been saying this since the first time I’ve seen Lyoto in the UFC. Finally rashad will get KO’D SOMEONE need to do it.
i think evans and machida are the most skillful quick fighters. there might be a little extra dancing around for some of you but please, don’t blink