Advertisement

Fight breakdown: Bisping-Evans

Yahoo Sports

NEWARK, N.J. – Michael Bisping and Rashad Evans square off in the main event of UFC 78 at the Prudential Center in a light heavyweight pairing of winners on The Ultimate Fighter. Here is what each man must do to win:





Keys to victory

BISPING'S KEYS

EVANS' KEYS

1. Stay standing: The fight completely favors Evans when it hits the ground.

1. Give angles: Evans has a tendency to square up while on his feet, a mistake he can't afford against Bisping.

2. Hook off the jab: Evans will be ready for a piston-like jab, but Bisping has to add in a hook that could catch Evans unaware.

2. Work on the floor: Evans undoubtedly will get Bisping down, but he needs to try to improve his position and not just keep him pinned.

3. Scramble: If he's taken down, Bisping needs to scramble as quickly as possible to get back to his feet.

3. Cut kicks: Evans can disrupt Bisping's standup by kicking at his legs.

4. Use his kicks: Bisping is a powerful kicker who needs to use his legs to keep Evans at a distance.

4. Start early: Evans was cautious against Tito Ortiz early; he needs to start quickly and put Bisping on the defensive, forcing Bisping to back up.


Rating the fighters

Comparison of Michael Bisping and Rashad Evans
on a rating of 1 to 10 in several categories:

CATEGORY

BISPING

EVANS

IOLE'S SKINNY

Punching power

8

7

Evans is improving rapidly with his hands.

Wrestling

6

10

Evans wrestled at the Division I college level.

Kicks

8

8

Evans' head kick to Sean Salmon was spectacular.

Ground and
pound

9

7

Bisping is a strong finisher.

Takedown
defense

5

9

Matt Hamill repeatedly took Bisping down.

Chin

8

8

Evans was able to withstand blows from heavyweights.

Submissions

8

7

The fight is unlikely to end in submission.

Stamina

9

9

Each man can go hard for five minutes a round.

Strength

7

9

Evans is powerful once he gets his hands on someone.

Intangibles

9

8

Bisping is determined to erase the doubts created in the Hamill fight.

Total

77

82

Bisping is a light heavyweight who can make middleweight; Evans is a light heavyweight who used to fight at heavyweight. Size is going to be an issue, and Evans figures to take Bisping down and stop him late via ground and pound.