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    Cagewriter

    UFC on Fox 2: Evans says Davis isn’t ready for the big stage

    By Steve Cofield | Cagewriter – Tue, Jan 24, 2012 10:53 AM EST

    A rare bad day for Davis as he works submission defense (Getty)Phil Davis is talking a damn good game getting ready for his UFC on Fox 2 main event fight against Rashad Evans. It was so good recently that Evans had finally had enough saying it's all lip service until their face to face in the Octagon.

    "When you get hit in the mouth, things change," Evans said during the UFC on Fox 2 conference call (2:15 mark). "When you got hit by 'Little Nog,' you didn't know what to do. When I hit you n the mouth, you're going to feel it."

    Davis set off Evans when he said the former UFC light heavyweight champ wouldn't have to worry about a title shot after this fight. Evans unloaded on the young Davis, also suggesting he would freeze in a fight of this magnitude.

    "He ain't ready. He knows he ain't ready. You're just a boy," Evans, 32, said of the 27-year-old Davis. "We're going to see what happens. When those lights hit you and the crowd is roaring ... we're gonna see what kind of man you are, what kind of fighter you are."

    Evans then went onto say he's a real fighter. He fights because he loves it while Davis fights because it's a job that pays. So the heat has kicked up a notch for Saturday night's fight on network TV.

    UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones did his part to pitch the bout. He came out with some pretty strong words about Davis' chances in the fight, saying "Rashad's chin sucks." Jones said Davis by knockout is possible.

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    17 comments

    • Tom
      Tom  •  Palm Harbor, Florida  •  3 months ago
      "Evans then went onto say he's a real fighter. He fights because he loves it while Davis fights because it's a job that pays."

      If Evans loves to fight so much, why does he sit out and not fight when a Champion gets hurt? If he loves it, why is he so worried about holding onto that #1 contender status. Evans is all about the money, the belt, the PPV bonus, etc... Pretty sad when you are accusing your opponenet of being exactly the way you are.
    • Dr. High
      Dr. High  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Must suck to have no life like you, Joe.Liar, quitter, whiner, #$%$ Your act is tiresome.
    • Darrell S
      Darrell S  •  Minneapolis, Minnesota  •  3 months ago
      Evans said, "When you get hit in the mouth, things change"

      He is speaking from experience he hasn't been the same fighter since Machida knocked him out.
    • Taintastic
      Taintastic  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Interesting, Evans crumbled like a cracker when punched in the face by the Dragon, short memory I guess.
    • brian g
      brian g  •  New York, New York  •  3 months ago
      Rashad's last competition was Tito Ortiz. Phil Davis should definitely win this fight. Not to take too much away from Rashad's accomplishments, but choosing to sit out and wait for a title fight while he was healthy was a ridiculous move by a man with more ego than "love" for the sport. If Rashad fights because he loves it, he wouldn't have waited so long for Rua. It is hilarious to me that he got hurt soon after Rua came back and Jones took hold of the belt. Eventually someone will come along that may have a shot vs Bones, but it isn't going to be Rashad Evans and he's so rusty that Phil Davis will probably beat him stupid.
      • Jonathan Remache
        Jonathan Remache 3 months ago
        Good point. He loves to fight yet he sat out and waited for Rua? Wow.
    • Evan
      Evan  •  Kansas City, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      I am surprised no one has mentioned that Davis has a four inch reach advantage against Rashad. I mean that isn't a game changer but it certainly gives Davis an edge. Also people dismiss Davis because he didn't dominate Lil Nog. The thing is you have to consider nogs previous opponents, Jason Brilz and Ryan Bader. Nog's takedown defense should have been stellar after those two fights. What top wrestler has Rashad faced, a 36 year old tito ortiz on two weeks notice, come on. Davis certainly has a good shot.
    • Nick
      Nick  •  Harrisonburg, Virginia  •  3 months ago
      I think Rashad Evans is going to knock Phil Davis out. Everyone here seems to be counting him out already due to rust, but I feel like after the Tito fight he's confident again. Phil won't be able to take him down and he'll probably panic and do what Brock did against Overeem and just try to bang.
      • Arch
        Arch 3 months ago
        phil will take evans down repeatedly unless rashad can't get back up from the first one.
    • The Unsilent Majority
      The Unsilent Majority  •  3 months ago
      "It was so good recently that Evans had finally had enough saying it's all lip service until their face to face in the Octagon."

      Your English teacher must have hated you. THEY'RE. Stop typing the way you talk.
    • The Reject
      The Reject  •  Hartford, Connecticut  •  3 months ago
      Rashad is the more well rounded fighter. If you were giving Davis the edge in any category it would have to be wrestling, but even then Im not sure he ha better wrestling (For MMA) than Rashad. Davis' standup game is sloppy his hands arent that tight and he leaves his chin open. Rashad should win this fight. No reason why he shouldnt.
      • Arch
        Arch 3 months ago
        by that description i'm not sure that you've seen phil davis fight. he absolutely has better wrestling than rashad, its not even all that close. he doesn't set up his takedowns with striking because he doesn't have to, he chain wrestles until he gets the takedown. his offensive striking is very awkward but defensively he is sound. lil nog is a better boxer than rashad and he couldn't touch phil in three rounds. we'll see if rashads quickness will be more effective than nog's technical boxing was.
    • OGNutcracker
      OGNutcracker  •  3 months ago
      And Cofield and Chiappetta moan and whine about not getting more coverage. The numbers don't like boys, and you guys are covering a sport that can't even hang with Auction Hunters. Time to sit down, shut up and accept your place in the hierarchy of sport. Auction Hunters. Hahahh. Yeah, ok Dana, I am sure the NFL,NBA,MLB,Boxing,X-Games, etc etc are laughing at ya.
      • starky
        starky 3 months ago
        quit typing your bias bs against mma. i am tired of you saying the same sh!t. you think we give sheat what you say. the fact is this sport is beginning to take off and will only get better in time. the other sports u mention like nfl mlb etc have been mainstream sports for decades. so you just cant compare them yet. if you dont like seeing the coverage then why read it? so shuddap!
    • OGNutcracker
      OGNutcracker  •  3 months ago
      Who cares. 1.2 million viewers on FX1 while its replacement on Spike, Auction Hunters is averaging 1.7 million viewers per week. It would seem Spike saw the writing on the wall when they dumped the UFC and went after a more mainstream audience. The UFC getting taken to the wood shed by Auction Hunters. LMAO... I told you this trend is dying.
      • Tommy
        Tommy 3 months ago
        hahaha, OG, you are truly out of touch with reality!! Have you noticed that boxing isn't even on the top headers of the sports, its under "more"..... boxing, is the dying sport. I suppose you didn't realize that spike was the one that got dumped, not the other way around!! By the way, did you happen to see the huge multimillion dollar contract the UFC now has with FOX?? Can you read, or do you just regurgitate statements from some silly show about cake building, or epic cookoff challenges!!! LMFAO!!! Fact.....Fasting growing sport in the world!!! There are more MMA fighters that are known than any of the boxing folks. Only Pacman and Floyd " I'll wait till pacman is too old to hurt me" Mayweather are the only real recognizable names......unless your'e talking ancient history.
    • OGNutcracker
      OGNutcracker  •  3 months ago
      UFC on FX1 did 1.2 million viewers. LMAO.. That is embarrassing. Spike averaged 1.9 its' last three Fight Nights. Looks like the move to Fox was pure genius... Giants/Niners did 54 million viewers. I thought the UFC was going to overtake the NFL, MLB, and NBA?? Try overtaking your replacement on Spike, Antique Hunters first.. Effing comical the hyperbole on Cagewanker and from Dana the Doughboy.
    • OGNutcracker
      OGNutcracker  •  3 months ago
      Oh, and the Carano movie Cofield shilled for on here. 5th place over the weekend. Steve, not only do your fight picks suck, but so do your movie picks. It would seem the 'mainstream' is speaking loud and clear. 1.3 on network TV and another MMA themed movie that tanks. End of story.
    • OGNutcracker
      OGNutcracker  •  3 months ago
      don't lie***
    • marc
      marc  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Rashad will get his mouth shut. Neither one of these guys wants anything to do with Jones.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  3 months ago
      What's going to be more of a factor? Davis' inexperience or Rashad's ring rust? I think Rashad is the more well rounded fighter and he's going to get the victory - probably by decision. Jones is going to destroy whoever steps into the cage with him next.
    • Kevin Sing
      Kevin Sing  •  Hong Kong, Hong Kong  •  3 months ago
      Ever since Rampage made fun of Rashad's nipple pulling, he hasn't done it.
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