Rashad Evans Talks Strategy

by mythbuster on Dec 16, 2008 11:47 AM EST Comment 26 comments

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Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Luke Thomas.

Speaking with EuroSport, Rashad Evans, who's set to battle Forrest Griffin on December 27th for the Light Heavyweight title, gave some information about his strategy.

"I don't know how it is going to go. I don't know if I am going to knock him out or get a decision, but I am going to go out there and lay it down.

"I don't want to say I am going to mangle him or anything, I am just going to go out there and let it happen.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to approach the first round of this fight," Evans went on. "It is definitely going to be important in terms of setting a precedent as to what is going to happen in the following few rounds.

"If I am out there and I see him sort of looking relaxed or looking like he thinks it is going to be complacent first round then I will go out there and try to knock his head off."

"I know he does kick well to the legs, but I am not really very worried about it, to be honest.

"If he lands a couple of solid kicks, it could do some damage, but hopefully I am going to keep moving around enough and check those kicks when they come, if not and he catches me then I have to make him pay."

But what does he WANT to do?:

"I have got a knockout from my kick (against Sean Salmon, in January 2007), I have got a knockout from my overhand right (against Liddell) - now I am looking to get a submission, so that way I will have an all-round game."

All in all, I think this will be a very good fight - if it doesn't become a point-war.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Sounds like he's got this all worked out.

/sarcasm

by jebushchrist on Dec 16, 2008 10:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Will this be a good fight?

I am really excited about this fight. I am obviously a Evans nut-hugger and would love to see Evans KO Griffin but lately when I day dream about this fight I see a 5 round battle with Evans and Griffin rolling around and avoiding the others ground and pound. Hopefully if it gets stale they get stood up regularly. I love a good ground fight but Evans needs another spectacular fight to solidify himself in the memories of UFC fans. As another BE member stated, even a loss in a great fight would help Evans. If these guys stand and bang it out to a decision we are in for a treat. Evans wants a submission but I seriously doubt that’s part of his game plan. I myself am very excited about this fight and this whole frickin’ card!

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Dec 16, 2008 10:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Going for Evans all the way here. I’d really like to see Evans/Rampage if he finally gets past Wand.

I dunno, ever since Griffin won the title (which IMO he really didn’t win) I really don’t care for him too much. Which is, probably because I didnt think he won. I guess if he goes out and beats Evans with a decisive win then I’ll be back on the Forrest parade. Still rather see Rampage go on to fight Rashad and take the title and the undefeated record from him.

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 16, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

So you dislike Forrest because you’re convinced the judges gave him the nod? I don’t get that.

by jebushchrist on Dec 16, 2008 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dont know...

I’m just not too big on him now, thats all. I don’t hate him or anything. When Rogan asked him how did he like the sound of Light Heavyweight Champ he was just like “It’s alright, it’s alright” Umm okay, WHAT?

I just think UFC was trying to do everything in its power to get him to the top. Do I think he deserved a shot? Nope, not really. Machida did. UFC was desperately trying to convince me that this was a defining moment in UFC history. You know, because Forrest came from TUF. Oh well anyway, GO SUGAR!! :D

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 16, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Giving Machida the shot without building him up properly would have been financial suicide. It’s bad enough to give a relative unknown a title shot (however good he is) but when his style will be seen as boring by a huge chunk of viewers? Bad times for the UFC. It’s not all about who deserves it. It’s also about who people want to watch. Whether that’s fair or not is up for debate.

I’m sure Machida knows what he has to do in his upcoming fight. He needs to stop Silva. Outpointing him isn’t going to increase his stock at all.

by ricker2005 on Dec 16, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TUF 7 premiered on April 2. Machida fought Tito at UFC 84, which was in May. Prior to that, Machida had beaten Heath, Nakamura, and Sokoudjou. Forrest defeated Shogun. Machida didn’t deserve the shot (he still doesn’t now) and Forrest had a pretty legitimate claim (beating the consensus number one).

by Rundownloser on Dec 16, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Forrest said

it is not like being King of the World. He was trying to be funny. What is wrong with someone not constantly talking? He is taking lessons from Randy, who I think we can all agree was a class champ.

by dnevil001 on Dec 16, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Woah

Machida was just off the top of my head. Relax…

Point is, I know why UFC did it (pushing Forrest) but I didn’t like it. Forrest gets OWNED by Jardine and then wins 2 in a row to…. Hector Ramirez and Shogun. Whatever…

Forrest is going down via Nipple Twist! :P

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 16, 2008 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Btw,

Who’s Hector Ramirez? lol

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 16, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oddly enough, when I read the first line of his quote as “but I am going to go out there and lay on him”.

by ricker2005 on Dec 16, 2008 11:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

As a follow up question: is Forrest just too big for Rashad to lay and pray his way to victory?

by ricker2005 on Dec 16, 2008 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Forrest is going to Triangle him when he gets Forrest down and goes for some ground and pound.

by lbk on Dec 16, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Forrest is going to triangle himself?!!

SWEET!!

lol!

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 16, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gross

No one wants to see that.

by jebushchrist on Dec 16, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

or the “him” referring to the main subject of the post..rashad evans maybe?

by lbk on Dec 16, 2008 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really don’t see Forrest tapping away his title. If Rashad gets something sunk, things could get ugly in a hurry.

by subo on Dec 16, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly what i was thinking

Whoa! Thats weird subo. I was going to express my concern that Griffin won’t tap if caught in an arm bar but then I realized that Evans is probably not really going to go for a submission. I think Forrest is smart enough to tap. Does anyone think he wouldn’t? It’s an interesting question.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Dec 16, 2008 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just don’t see Forrest tapping. Break or no break. Not for his title.

by subo on Dec 16, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Has he ever said he wouldn’t tap?

I see no reason to be out for a year with a broken bone over a title, it doesn’t make sense to me to think that, or where you’re getting the idea that Forrest is thinking like that.

by Phildo on Dec 16, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you guys seen his arm?

He already had his arm snapped in a freaking smoker fight, didn’t quit, and went on to win.
You can still see the bone protruding under the skin.

by jebushchrist on Dec 16, 2008 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pic please

by subo on Dec 16, 2008 5:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t have a pic, but I believe it’s still on YouTube and he was fighting Edson Paredao.

by jebushchrist on Dec 16, 2008 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It his heart… I can’t ever see him ending a fight willingly with him as the loser. I just don’t.

by subo on Dec 16, 2008 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, and I don’t see Evans subbing anyone either so I don’t think he has much to worry about.

by lbk on Dec 16, 2008 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever the outcome, I’m psyched for this fight.
With that out of the way – Rashad is far too experienced and smart to give one iota of information Forrest can use against him while preparing for the fight. “Going out there and laying it down” is a given, but I think we can safely forget him talking about going for a sub “to round out his game”. Bottom line – either of these guys will take the W any old way they can, unanimous decision, split decision, KTFO, sub, ref stoppage, don’t matter. The winner walks from the cage with that belt.
Forrest took a split against Rampage, subbed Shogun and beat Ramirez by unanimous decision. Rashad KO’d Liddell, took a split against Bisping and tied Ortiz. Nice – but come Dec 27, that won’t mean squat. They could have both beaten Fedor, it still wouldn’t mean squat.
May the best man win – and having a great fight in the process would make me REALLY happy.

by lhasafi on Dec 17, 2008 3:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs