Liddell KO Earns Evans Immediate Title Shot
In a press conference held after UFC 88, Dana White announced that Rashad Evans would next be facing Forrest Griffin for the light-heavyweight title:
"(UFC CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta), (UFC matchmaker) Joe (Silva) and I got together and thought yeah, he deserves the title shot," White said. "How could you say, 'No, he doesn't deserve the shot' after [the Liddell fight]?"
White said he had a date in mind but wouldn't share it until the organization has the opportunity to announce some other upcoming cards.
Sugar Rashad's stunning upset increased his overall record to 12-0-1 (7-0-1 in the UFC). I wouldn't argue that Evans deserves a shot at the belt more than the winner of the (postponed? nixed completely?) fight between Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva, but timing is certainly working in his favor; Griffin needs a title defense, and Evans is available. Unfortunately, the UFC's hope of a big money fight between Chuck and Forrest is now up in smoke, and they'll have to put in major effort to convince fans that a title scrap between two TUF winners is equally worth buying. After his nipple-tweaking, pop-n-locking, Fred Sanford-imitating ring antics last night, Evans's likeability is still a big question mark.
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sugartits Says:
I was a rashad nuthugger as soon as he got into the tuf house, i knew he had potential. His footwork is great as well.
BigGayAl Says:
His likeabilty in question????!!?!! What's not to like about a sexy chocolate stud twisting his nipples?
Rashad's Right Nipple Says:
Can you tell that he paid more attention to me than the left one?
That why I helped with that overhand right that will help end Chuck's career.
Right now Rashad and I am practicing our dancing in front of the mirror, then he promised me a bubble bath and he might lick champagne off of me!!!!
BigGayAl Says:
I always thought this sport was for homophobes... Now I can see that The UFC is really trying to welcome the gay community!!! Horay!!! Super!! Thank you sooooooo much Dana White and Rashad Evans, for giving me and my boyfriends a great show to whack off to!!! And to Rashad- you can mount me any day! Hallelujah, It's raining men!!!
thomas Says:
bullshit, no chance rashad deserves a title shot over lyoto machida or thiago silva.
both have 5-0 winstreaks in the ufc and have been dominant in those wins and have fought tougher competition.
rashad has looked rough at times, especially against a washed up tito, and bisping who couldnt hack it at 205
MMANewbExpert Says:
I don't see why a bit of show boating makes Evans unlikeable. He's not standing over the guy laughing at him or anything. He's having fun and showing his personality. Why are boring personalities like Randy and Liddell the popular ones when great fighters who aren't stiff as boards like Rashad not likeable. Bah. UFC needs some people who aren't boring in interviews.
mkgoat Says:
Can you imagine the nightmare if they had waited for a Machida-Evans eliminator for the UFC? No way they would show that fight with how both usually fight, would not even make the main card for a Spike show. That said, congrats to Rashad, you made me a shitload of money last night.
PS. If you don;t want a guy to dance, hit him.
Lilchet Says:
Give him another one or two fights against a top 10 contender then we'll see about him getting a title shot.
alan Says:
damn he might be oone of the few ppl i hate to see get a title shot....how this crap fighter can get a perfect record for so long is just mindblowing.....chucks era is over, looked heavy and his stomatch was bigger then usual and i think he should retire not that i dont like him its just that i like him to much to see him lose to fighters like rashad and jardine its sad really. just happy that dan and rich won or id punch the shit out of my plasma tv :D
MMA FAN Says:
he isn't a top ten light hw..
he deserves it, don't get me wrong. I guess the ufc doesn't all their champions to be brazilians
MMA FAN Says:
he isn't a top ten light hw..
he deserves it, don't get me wrong. I guess the ufc doesn't want to have all their champions from brazil
mmmiles Says:
I agree, his showboating will not endear him to the crowds, especially after dropping someone like Liddell (my money was on rashad). This will affect his ticket draws. The ufc wants a big friendly winner, and rashad manages to look a little sketchy. I think if you want to be a little loopy you have to go all the way rampage-style, or not at all - otherwise it comes off a little funny.
Or just keep it up until people get used to it. Either way, great fight and look forward to Evans-Griffin.
Nigga G Says:
this nigga g, got sum power!.....3 letters to the snow man, popsicle or whatever he calls himself...No ice after all that heat!
Anonymous Says:
Are you all fool? He is the first fighter ever to knock out COLD Liddell (Couture and Rampage hurt him but never that way), who, by the way, is one of the most difficult fighter to hit.
Bunch of Douchesse!
Derekrva Says:
I can't believe all the Rashad haters on here. Knock out a legend and this is what you get.
"bullshit, no chance rashad deserves a title shot over lyoto machida or thiago silva.
both have 5-0 winstreaks in the ufc and have been dominant in those wins and have fought tougher competition.
rashad has looked rough at times, especially against a washed up tito, and bisping who couldnt hack it at 205"
And who is Lyoto's big win over...an even older Tito. What else do you want from Rashad? He has hung with everyone they put in front of him and now every one wants to bitch because he dances and doesn't get hit...(sounds like a certain chino-brazilian I know) Guess it doesn't help he flatlined Chuck.
Remember when Jardine embarrassed Forest a year ago...get ready to see it again shitbirds.
rashad vs chuck vid link Says:
http://www.mmatko.com/chuck-liddell-vs-rashad-evans-fight-video-ufc-88-mma/
Mr. Whitefolks Says:
Who the f*ck does this guy think he is? enjoying his victory with a comical impression of fred sanford. To think that he has the nerve just up and punch out an american treasure like Chuck Liddell to further his career.
Shame on you Sugar Rashad!!! Shame on you for working a plan and it working out for you!!!
Chuck Nuthuggers everywhere should protest the UFC and Jacksons MMA to let everyone know that travesties like this should never be repeated.
Aaron Says:
Ok seriously- what is up with all of the nipple tweaking? First, GSP licked his fingers and gave himself some live, and now Rashad, who was much more obvious. Is this some Greg Jackson Jedi mind trick???
Aaorn Says:
edit*** gave himself some love (tweaking his nipples)
Markdog Says:
Thanks for the link! It's taking me forever to download the whole thing. I was even more silenced than the rampage/chuck fight. It was like a bad dream all over again. But shit, way to go Rashad. Although, I didn't understand the nipple thing. Was is cause of his man boobs in the UFC 88 Poster, maybe?
Anonymous Says:
nice, loved it. just what i wanted to see... "you got knocked the 'F' out"
Liddells Hands Says:
maybe if Liddell would learn how to fight with us up and his chin down he wouldnt get KOd so damn much...
B-tard Says:
I can't believe everyone's talking about the nipple rubbing and no one's listened to his interview on ufc.com where he chalks up his victory to using Nate Marquardt's cup.
walrus Says:
You know, a lot of people seem to be biased, or possibley rascist against Rashad. And, don't get me wrong, I'm white -- and in that, I have a lotta white pride. I wanted Chuck Liddell to win -- bear in mind it has nothing to do with race (Chuck's a hero of mine). But it is completely out of line to be rascist against Rashad. I hate the "gangster, black mentality" that we see all too much in recent times. However, do not associate Rashad Evans with that specific persona -- he is a stand-up guy, and in that a stand-up person. My heart goes out to him -- even though I wanted Chuck to woop his ass. Unfortunatley, Chuck got arrogant and decided to step into a fighter with much faster fists.
both good guys. The best to them.
"You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down." aka Markd Says:
B-tard, I'm gonna check it out in a bit.
&
Walrus, I'm Mexican and I feel ya (I was going for Chuck too). Hands across CagePotato!
Markdog Says:
Who would have thought a few years back that TUF 1 winner would be the UFC champ, and TUF 2 winner the #1 contender? Out with the old, in with the new. I wish Rashad would have stayed a heavyweight and done Brock like he did Chuck! Hahaha, just messing around.
Who Cares Says:
"bullshit, no chance rashad deserves a title shot over lyoto machida or thiago silva."
"both have 5-0 winstreaks in the ufc and have been dominant in those wins and have fought tougher competition."
HAHA now i will admit i wasn't for giving Rashad a title shot if he won the fight, before the fight. But after watching how the fight went i think you have no choice. Rashad just turned the UFC poster boy into a highlight and since the Thiago - Machida fight isn't going to happen soon. I don't think the UFC has much of a choice either.
Go Rashad! i didn't give you much of a chance against Liddel but you proved me wrong now please go knock out Forrest!
Billy Bad Ass Says:
The Fred Sanford imitation is what made me like him 100%
Tons of likeability. Him and Forrest are colorful and that press confrence will be hilarious... I hope anyway.
Billy Bad Ass Says:
Plus it just increases the whole "farm system" idea that is TUF. Two past winners going at it for the title? Hell yeah, then feed whoever wins that to the winner of Silva-Rampage III
sweatslinger Says:
i think rashad evans is a showboat an he got lucky with that punch... thats the way it is it dont matter how bad you are you get hit hard enogh in your jaw your out....he will never have a quarter of the fans that chuck has... he will be a nobody in a hyear or two an chuck will still be fighting. nuff said
wtfxor Says:
lol you guys are hilarious...you make no sense whatsoever...
chuck liddel was lined up for a title shot anyways?! lol ..omg he beat wandy *gasp*, after dan henderson beat wandy...got beat by rampage before that...just like henderson.. get the fuck outta here.
chuck looked like chuck, slo-boxing FTL. you get ktfo when you pretend youre fighting a heavy bag...
and hating on evans for dancing..everyone has their own groove..thats his...
crappy fighter?! he beat the shit outta tito got robbed.....machida ran the entire time
thiago alves beat a washed up matt hughes.. omfg he's jesus!
stop hating on rashad and watch how this shit unfolds... go hate on kimbo summore or something
What should be going on in Joe Silva's head... Says:
Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans (for LHW title)
Lyoto Machida vs. Quinton Jackson (for #1 contender)
Wanderlei Silva vs. Chuck Liddell (winner gets winner of Rua/Silva for a title shot)
Mauricio Rua vs. Thiago Silva (winner gets winner of Silve/Liddell for a title shot)
Rich Franklin vs. winner of Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera (future contender/injury replacement match)