Evans puts title, cash on the line
Rashad Evans hopes to pick up a few extra bucks while he’s in Las Vegas, on top of the purse he’ll collect for fighting Lyoto Machida.
That’s because Evans placed a bet on himself as a plus-210 underdog — pretty good odds for an undefeated champion.
"I’m coming into this fight still the underdog," Evans said, not offering to say how much he bet on himself to win. "Every time I fight, people pick against me."
Evans will try to keep his light heavyweight title — and win his bet — when he steps into the cage with Machida in the main event of UFC 98 tonight at the MGM Grand Garden.
He knows the task will be difficult.
"Machida’s tough, and there’s so many factors to worry about," Evans said. "He’s elusive, hard to hit and a very irregular striker."
Those skills have added up to a great deal of success for Machida, who, like Evans, never has lost.
In fact, Machida has not lost so much as a round in compiling a 6-0 record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Still, Evans is confident about his chances.
"Most of his fights, I’ve seen something I can use for myself," he said. "He doesn’t get hit much, but he does have holes."
Evans, 29, entered the UFC as a wrestling specialist and made his presence felt by winning the Season 2 title on the TV reality series "The Ultimate Fighter."
He relied on the wrestling skills he perfected at Michigan State to grind out victories, at one point early in his career winning five straight bouts by decision.
He ended that streak with a knockout of Jason Lambert in September 2006, and then things changed for Evans.
In his next bout, he knocked out Sean Salmon with a head kick that has made nearly every UFC highlight film produced since.
"For eight weeks (training for that fight), I practiced kicking, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m a wrestler. My feet never leave the ground. This is stupid,’ " Evans said.
The result convinced him to expand his game.
After a draw against Tito Ortiz and a decision over Michael Bisping, Evans has knocked out two of the world’s top light heavyweights — Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin — to propel himself to the top of the UFC’s most prestigious division.
"The wrestling still makes an appearance here and there," Evans said. "But I like to hit."
Machida, however, is not easy to hit. Evans knows that he can’t get caught up in his opponent’s style.
"Everybody pretty much says the same thing: ‘Don’t get caught up in his game and chase him around,’ " Evans said.
Tonight’s co-main event features two fighters who have been proclaiming their dislike of one another for several years.
Matt Hughes and Matt Serra finally will settle their differences in a grudge match nearly two years in the making.
Both are former UFC welterweight champions in the twilight of their careers, but each has plenty of motivation.
Serra has done more of the talking, but he says he will be able to keep his emotions in check when the bell rings.
"I’m a professional," Serra said. "I’m going to stay focused on staying technical."
Also, former lightweight champion Sean Sherk will look to continue his comeback from a steroid suspension when he meets rising star Frank Edgar.
Local fighter Mike Pyle was added to the undercard Friday.
Pyle, a veteran of World Extreme Cagefighting, Affliction and Elite XC, was signed by the UFC this week when it became clear that welterweight Chris Wilson might have to be scratched because of a medical issue with the Nevada Athletic Commission.
The fight will mark Pyle’s UFC debut. He’ll take on Brock Larson, who fought just last month but took only 2:01 to submit Jesse Sanders.
Eleven fights are on the card, with the five-bout main card going live on pay per view at 7 p.m. The first fight begins at 4:45.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.
UFC 98 breakdownA breakdown of the fights on the pay-per-view portion of UFC 98 at the MGM Grand Garden:
Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida — Machida is good at frustrating his opponents with his elusive style. Look for Evans to resort to the wrestling skills that brought him into mixed martial arts and try to get Machida on his back. Machida should win the fight, but Evans is a tempting bet as an unbeaten champion getting plus money.
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra — Serra was rumored to be having trouble making weight Friday afternoon. It would have been tempting to pick him in this fight, but the weight issues lead one to believe that all of the emotion has taken away some of his focus. Hughes will try to get Serra on his back and win a decision.
Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam — Drew McFedries has not always delivered victories, but he has provided excitement. This has the potential to be the most exciting fight of the evening. Foupa-Pokam has worked to improve his ground game, but McFedries will stand with him, and "Professor X" will oblige. Look for a Foupa-Pokam knee to end the bout.
Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar — Both guys are wrestlers. Often, that type of matchup leads to a stand-up battle because the takedowns are nullified. Don’t expect that here. Sherk will use his experience to get Edgar to the ground and take advantage of the fact that Edgar has been out of action for more than 10 months to grind out a decision.
Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen — This could be a technical ground battle as both fighters are strong on the mat. Miller is the younger fighter, and the 27-year-old has scored seven first-round submissions in compiling an 11-1 record. Sonnen has had a solid career but has been complaining a bit about taking the fight on short notice. Often, that signals trouble. Look for Miller to make a statement with an early submission.
ADAM HILL/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
