Despite some disappointment by fans on the Internet, UFC President Dana White was happy with how the promotion’s first full fight card on FOX went as Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen and Chris Weidman were all winners on the biggest stage of their careers.
“It was a great night,” White told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani immediately following the event. “The fights that were on Fuel were fantastic and yes, I’m happy.”
The main event saw Rashad Evans earn a decision victory over the previously undefeated top light heavyweight contender Phil Davis. Though White was impressed with what Rashad did in defeating Davis, he is not sure that the Evans was completely healthy coming out of the fight.
“I don’t know if there was something wrong with Rashad’s right hand. Usually he puts together combinations,” White said of the former light heavyweight champion.
Instead Evans used impressive takedown defense to control the fight and even put Davis in a very dangerous mounted crucifix on two separate occasions during the contest.
“There was some debate at the press conference about the wrestling,” White continued. “But it’s pretty obvious who got the better of the wrestling tonight.”
Some said that the former national champion wrestler from Penn State simply did not appear to be himself tonight and that perhaps he was not ready for this opportunity, but White disagrees.
“I would say that Davis did fine tonight and he was ready for this,” he said.
While the main event was very one-sided, the semi-main event had a decision which will likely be talked about for quite some time as Chael Sonnen narrowly edged out Michael Bisping to win a unanimous judges’ decision.
“I had Bisping two rounds to one,” White told Helwani.
Still, the victory will now sets the table for the highly anticipated Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch in June in Brazil. The exact venue has not yet been declared, but it could very well be one of the biggest events in UFC history.
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