According to a Yahoo! Sports report, Saturday night’s UFC show on Fox is, in the long view, the single most important show for the promotion in several years.
The event is a game-changer and a big promotional gamble, as the results of Saturday night’s top fights – Rashad Evans (21-1-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0), the five-round main event from the United Center in Chicago, and Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) vs. Michael Bisping (23-3) – will determine whether or not some of the biggest projected UFC title fights are going to happen this year.
Here’s some picks and predictions for the main card of UFC on Fox 2:
Rashad Evans (21-1-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0)
In order to be a legend, you have to beat a legend. That will be the mantra for the undefeated Phil Davis, as he takes on the six-year UFC vet and former light heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans.
The 32-year-old Evans hasn’t quite reached legendary status, but he does hold notable wins in the octagon over bona-fide future hall of famers like Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson and Chuck Liddell.
As for Phil Davis, he hasn’t lost in his five UFC appearances and all of his wins have come against elite competitors, with the exception perhaps of Rodney Wallace, so he’s not a walk-through challenger. Most fight fans want to see the long-hyped clash between Evans and Jon Jones later this year, but a win here by Davis would put his name in front of Evans’ for a title shot.
“Some people may say I’m already the No. 1 contender, but I’m a fighter not a critic and I will go through anybody who stands in my way until I got a shot at the UFC title,” Evans
