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UFC On Fox 2 Fight Card Primer: Rashad Evans Vs. Phil Davis

By Tim Burke
via <a href="http://video.ufc.tv/photo_galleries/UFC_on_FOX_2Weighins/UFC_on_FOX_2Weighins_66.jpg">video.ufc.tv</a>
via video.ufc.tv

In the main event of the UFC's second card on Fox, the world will get to see two of the best light heavyweights in the world face off in a five round bout. On one side, the brash former champ desperately needs a win here so he can go on and finally fight his nemesis. Across the octagon from him is an upstart prospect looking for, by far, the biggest win of his career and a possible shot at Jones (a guy he is constantly compared to). Rashad Evans (16-1-1, 11-1-1 UFC) meets Phil Davis (9-0, 5-0 UFC).

Evans occupies the 3 spot at lightweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Davis is at number 7. Dana White has already stated that if Evans can get the win and escape the fight injury-free, he will finally get his shot at current champ and former friend Jon Jones. White has been non-committal about whether Davis would earn a shot with a win, but he certainly wouldn't be far off if he doesn't get it right away. This light heavyweight UFC on Fox 2 fight will be the main event of the evening and will be aired live on Fox. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

How do these two stack up?

Evans: 32 years old | 5'11" | 75" reach
Davis: 27 years old | 6'2" | 79" reach

What have these two done recently?

Evans: W - Tito Ortiz (TKO) | W - Quinton Jackson (UD) | W - Thiago Silva (UD)
Davis: W - Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UD) | W - Tim Boetsch (SUB) | W - Rodney Wallace (UD)

How did these two get here?

"Suga" Rashad Evans has been in the UFC for over six years now, and has just one loss on his record. He was the TUF 2 winner at heavyweight, but immediately dropped back down to his natural 205 pound division after the show. He managed to pick up wins and clips for his highlight reel over the next few years, with the only blip on his record coming in a controversial bout with Tito Ortiz that went to a draw. After a huge knockout of former champ Chuck Liddell, Evans earned a title shot against Forrest Griffin and took the belt home with a third-round TKO win. However, he lost the first bout of his career in his very next fight, getting knocked out by Lyoto Machida. After beating Thiago Silva and Quinton Jackson, Rashad was scheduled to face Mauricio Rua for the title at UFC 126 but an injury forced him out, and then-teammate Jon Jones stepped in and won the belt. Their relationship deteriorated, Evans left their camp, and the two are now mortal enemies. They were scheduled to meet at UFC 133, but Jones got injured this time. Davis stepped in, but got injured himself and bowed out too. Evans met and defeated Tito Ortiz instead. Rashad must now get through Davis to finally meet his former friend for the belt.

"Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis was the 2007 NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion at 197 pounds, and made the transition to MMA shortly after his wrestling career ended. After just four fights in the minors, he stepped into a UFC cage for the first time at UFC 109 and defeated Brian Stann by decision. His next outing at UFC 112 was even more impressive, where he submitted fellow top prospect (and now current training partner) Alexander Gustafsson with an anaconda choke. A decision win over Rodney Wallace and slick kimura submission win over Tim Boetsch erned him his first shot at a main event fight, and at UFC Fight Night 25, he defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by decision. After briefly being scheduled to face Evans at UFC 133, Davis injured his knee and was forced onto the sidelines. This will be his first bout in 10 months, and is clearly the most important fight of his career to date.

Why should you care?

Even if you ignore the fact that it's two of the best 205er's in the world competing in a five-round bout on network TV, it's still an excellent style matchup and should be pretty exciting. Can Rashad control Phil's wrestling? Can Davis avoid Rashad's heavy hands? Will the both have the cardio to go five if necessary? This bout has all sorts of storylines, and it's a perfect main event for Fox.

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