UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

[Pappy Knuckles]

Main Card
Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen
Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar

Preliminary Bouts
Brock Larson vs. Chris Wilson
Patt Barry vs. Tim Hague
Phillipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley
Houston Alexander vs. Andre Gusamo
Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff
Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop


For an MMA fan this is going to be one hell of a week. First UFC Undisputed 2009 is released, then we get this PPV over the weekend.

Fights I'm most looking forward to:

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar

If Rashad beats Machida I think most of his haters are going to jump off a bridge. I like Machida and I think he's a great fighter but I can't root against Sugar Shad.

I'll never EVER pull for Matt Hughes in a fight. Go Serra.

Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar should be sick. Edgar deserves a big win so hopefully he takes out the steroid shark. Pretty sure this one will be a war that goes to a decision.

Houston Alexander's preliminary fight should only last a minute one way or another so I'm sure we'll get to see that. I'd also like to see Pat Barry and Yoshiyuki Yoshida.

[Cyros]

Here you go:

[sven]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles

I'll never EVER pull for Matt Hughes in a fight. Go Serra.

I feel the exact opposite. Go Hughes. Though I wish they could both lose.

Sherk vs Edgar is my most anticipated fight on this one. Which feels weird since I used to be such a Sherk *****.

[ex carrabba fan]

The Assassin! Hopefully this fight doesn't send him into retirement.

[Gotmadskillzson]

I beat Matt Hughes got to be feeling pretty crappy right about now. I remember years ago he was giving Rashad Evans so much crap about showboating and how he won't ever make it anywhere in the UFC with that attitude.

Look at Rashad now, he is the champ with 2 KO's on his record. With one of them being against Chuck Lidell. Hell I don't think Matt Hughes ever knocked anybody out in his career with a punch or a kick.

That being said I think Rashad will beat Machida. Rashad is faster, punch harder and has excellent take down skills. So therefore Machida won't be able to run around the ring all fight long like he normally do.

[DueceDiggla]

I think the Sherk/Edgar fight is going to be a snooze fest, lay and pray wrestling match. Sherk is just a much better version of Edgar. I'll say Sherk by UD.


Evans/Machida should be a good one. I really don't know who to take, but I'm leaning towards Machida right now. The guy knows how to avoid danger while getting his shots in. I don't think this one will go to a decision though. I see Machida stepping in for one of his quick attacks where he is in and out, and one of them getting caught with a KO. My gut tells me flash KO for Machida.

I'm looking forward to the Serra fight,but I think Hughes will win GnP. Hughes is the better fighter, and he has more fight left in him. I do want Serra to win though.


Hopefully the McFedries fight isn't on the main card. I'd much rather see Yoshida return from that KO.

[Hogle]

GO Machida and Foupa Pokam

[goh]

I forget if the saying is you can judge a man by the company he keeps or you can't but thought it'd be fun to go over anyway.

Machida...

Trains with Anderson Silva
Machida,Anderson Silva,Hendo - only people to have beaten Franklin
Machida,Hughes,GSP,Pulver - only people to have beaten Penn
Machida,Liddell,Couture,Frank Shamrock,Mezger - only people to have beaten Tito
Only one to have beaten Thiago Alves
Hasn't been hit since round 2 vs. Sokoudjou,hasn't been taken down successfully since....umm.....
Hasn't lost a round since 2004,only one he has lost.

Evans...

Trains with GSP
Evans,Dan Severn,Jeremy Horn,Tito,Jardine - only people to have beaten Forrest
Only one to have beaten Bisping
Hard to toss in Liddell after recent events but he beat him too.

Both beat Bonnar.

I think Machida takes it in round 4 after Evans gets impaitent/frustrated that his showboating and disrepectfulness has had no effect and he foolishly rushes in.

Hughes by armbar in the 2nd.

McFedries by KO.

Miller by sub.

Edgar by unanimous decision