Author: Garrett Derr

Exclusive with Johny Hendricks, Part II: ‘I’d Rather Be a Dad Than a Fighter’

While Johny Hendricks has certainly learned many valuable lessons and memories over the course of his 2.5-year career in the UFC, none come to mind more than his Octagon debut against Amir Sadollah at UFC 101.”The most memorable experience of my career…

While Johny Hendricks has certainly learned many valuable lessons and memories over the course of his 2.5-year career in the UFC, none come to mind more than his Octagon debut against Amir Sadollah at UFC 101.

“The most memorable experience of my career was the first time I walked out to the Octagon. I don’t know why, but I felt like it was where I belonged. Inside that Octagon and being on such a high stage was one of the greatest moments ever. Hearing everyone cheer against me was great,” Hendricks said. “Nothing gets you more fired up than when the whole crowd wants you to lose.”

“I can remember everything. I’m usually holding conversations the whole way up to the fight. Everyone is always yelling at me to get focused,” Hendricks said, laughing. “I want to enjoy every moment because you don’t know how long you’re getting to do this for. So, every chance I get I want to make sure it’s the best I can do.”

“That’s something I can pass onto my kids. If the good Lord blesses with me with a little boy, then I can pass along the memories to him,” Hendricks said.

Despite many uncertainties and an unclear picture of what the future may hold, Hendricks is determined to cherish every moment and leave a lasting impressive on those he leaves behind.

“It’s awesome that I get to wake up everyday and fight for a living. I get to do something that I truly love. The only bad part is you don’t know when you’re going to lose. You don’t know who you’re going to lose to. But, you got to pick yourself back up and get that much better,” Hendricks said. “Fighting and winning is easy.”

“In this sport, you have to work really, really hard. You have to work that much harder to get your hand raised than the guy you’re fighting against . Life’s too short to do something you regret,” Hendricks said. “As soon as it feels like a chore or a job, then I’m done.”

One of the ways Hendricks can solidify his legacy is by simply showing love to each and every individual he encounters in his journey through life.

“People can be remembered for a lot of things. People will remember that you won the belt and that’s one thing I want to accomplish. But, the question I often ask myself is, ‘How do you act outside the Octagon?'”

“I want my kids to look back and see the person I was. I want people to tell my kids that I was one of the nicest guys they’ve ever met,” Hendricks said. “Not only do I want to be remembered as a fighter, but a person people could rely on.”

Hendricks continued: “You don’t know what the next person is going through. You’re never going to know when you’re going to need something. You never know who you’re going to meet. People will remember you for how you treated them. Trust me, they’ll remember you. Being a good person goes a long, long way.”

Through spectacular wins, the ups and downs of life and a lifelong journey, Hendricks believes none of it would be possible without a reliance on God.

“I went to college and kind of walked away from my faith, as a lot of people do. I found myself growing closer to Him midway through my stay at Oklahoma State,” Hendricks said. “I went through a rough time in my life and He was carrying me through it.”

“I got out of college and started going to church again and saw my relationship with God continue to grow. I was at a point in my life where I needed help. I felt like there was something more out there,” Hendrick said.

“I felt alone and that’s when I became the closest to him. It wasn’t until I was 25 years old when I began to understand how God was blessing me all along,” Hendricks said. “It wasn’t material possessions or anything like that, but waking up with an understanding that there’s going to be tough times in life, but He’s always there.”

“Everyday I try to wake up and go to bed as happy as I can be. I often think back to that one day where I gave it all to God. My life has changed so much since that day even though I still go through tough times,” Hendricks said.

Not too long after Hendricks’ life change came his wife, whom he is happily married to today. Following his marriage came the greatest gifts of Hendricks’ life: “I have two little girls who I cherish more than anything. One is 26 months and the other is five months old. It’s the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me.”

“I thank God every morning that I can wake up and see my kids smiling,” Hendricks said. “No matter how bad my day was, it all goes away when I see my daughter running towards me with open arms.”

“It melts my heart. It keeps me level. I do everything for my wife and my kids. One day the good Lord could bless me with a little boy. Even if he doesn’t I have so much joy and love for the family I already have. Nothing beats coming home from a rough day and spending time with my daughters,” Hendricks said. “Seeing them laugh, that’s the greatest joy in life.”

“I would rather be a dad than a fighter any day of the year. That’s who I really am.”

 

Click here to read Part I of this exclusive interview with Johny Hendricks.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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Exclusive with Johny Hendricks, Part I: ‘I Never Wanted to Hit Someone so Hard’

For many, it takes a lifetime to fulfill a dream.But for UFC welterweight Johny Hendricks (12-1), it took a matter of 12 seconds.Hendricks recently recorded one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history when he met Jon Fitch (23-4-1) at UFC 141 to cap of…

For many, it takes a lifetime to fulfill a dream.

But for UFC welterweight Johny Hendricks (12-1), it took a matter of 12 seconds.

Hendricks recently recorded one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history when he met Jon Fitch (23-4-1) at UFC 141 to cap off a historical 2011.

After years of training and a life dedicated to wrestling and the sport of mixed martial arts, Hendricks saw his childhood principles of hard work and dedication finally pay off.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr, Hendricks shared how he’s become a rising star in the UFC’s welterweight division and how his life’s been turned upside down.

“I spent a lot of my childhood growing up in Oklahoma where I wrestled and played baseball,” Hendricks said. “I quit playing baseball my junior year of high school as I wanted to put my focus towards wrestling.”

Hendricks’ transition to wrestling full time paid off when he earned a spot on the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ wrestling squad.

“So, I continued to wrestle throughout high school and ended up going to Oklahoma State. At the time it was a really big deal as I didn’t grow up with a lot of money. I grew up working hard to earn everything I had,” Hendricks said. “I went to Oklahoma State and eventually won two titles.”

Following Hendricks’ success at the Division I level came a point where he simply didn’t know what to do with his life.

“I really didn’t know If I wanted to pursue the Olympics for wrestling. I didn’t know what to do with my life. So, I prayed about it. My manager called me a few weeks later and asked if I wanted to fight. I agreed to give it a shot and I went out and got knocked out,” Hendricks said, laughing.

“I woke up the next day and got back at it. And, I’ve been doing it ever since. I think it fits my personality perfectly. I love getting out there and not knowing what’s going to happen next. It could all be gone in a matter of seconds,” Hendricks said. “The unpredictable aspect and thrill of the sport is appealing to me.”

Hendricks found himself making a smooth but rocky transition into the sport of MMA and eventually the UFC.

“I wrestled at 165 pounds in college. I would actually cut from 205 pounds down to 165 and it wasn’t really a big deal for me. With me wrestling all of the time, my body got used to it. That’s the main different between wrestling and MMA,” Hendricks said. “My body was used to the weight cut since I was wrestling every week”

“Now, I only fight every three or four months so its a little more difficult for my body to get used to. I currently walk around at 195 pounds around two weeks out from a fight,” Hendricks said.

After winning seven of his eight career UFC bouts, Hendricks is still in the process of becoming recognized as a legitimate contender.

Whether it’s “Johny Hendricks” or “Bigg Rigg,” Hendricks is well on his way to the top of the 170-pound weight division.

“When we moved to Texas I wanted to get a new truck. I wanted a diesel engine truck to pull stuff behind,” Hendricks said. “After every fight I wanted to take my wife and kids somewhere to spend time with them for three to four days.”

Hendricks continued: “I needed to get out of town so I could take a break from things or else I’d be in the gym working out all the time. So, that’s when I bought the truck. I put big bumpers on it and made it look really nice. One of my friends told me they were going to start calling me ‘Bigg Rigg.’ So, that’s how ‘Bigg Rigg’ came alive.”

Hendricks lived up to his nickname in impressive fashion as he was declared victorious earning his third consecutive win at UFC 141.

Following his knockout victory over Fitch, Hendricks couldn’t believe what had happened.

“I actually asked myself, ‘Did it really happen?’ I trained for four months and it was the hardest and the best camp I’ve ever had. I thought it was going to be a three-round war. All the news and media were saying Fitch was already looking into fighting GSP or [Carlos] Condit or [Nick] Diaz. He didn’t think I was at the same skill level. But, the Lord blessed with me with a powerful left hand,” Hendricks said. “It only takes one punch.”

“I told everyone I was going to hit him as hard as I could. It was the first time in my career that I wanted to hit someone as hard as I possibly could. I couldn’t wait to hit him before the fight began,” Hendricks said.

“When it actually happened, I couldn’t believe he fell. I asked myself, ‘Did he really just fall down? Should I hit him again?’ All of a sudden the ref jumped in and I couldn’t believe it was over,” Hendricks said. “I did what no one else in the UFC could do.”

Hendricks’ knockout over Fitch was his fourth KO victory since joining the UFC as he’s quickly climbing up the welterweight rankings.

“I feel like I deserve a pretty good reputation. I didn’t want to say anything before the fight and let it all take care of itself. I really wanted to go in there and do the best I could and see what happened. After that, that’s when I realized I did what no one else could do,” Hendricks said. “I believe I’m a top-five welterweight.”

While Hendricks’ victory will certainly catapult him into an elite category, he’s not necessarily looking for a specific next opponent.

In fact, Hendricks doesn’t believe in calling out other fighters due to the respect he has for each and every one of them.

“I don’t look at who I want to fight. I think looking at that is kind of degrading a fighter. All the 170-pound fighters are great fighters. Whoever the UFC tells me I have to fight then that’s who I’m going to fight. I’m not about calling fighters out,” Hendricks said. “I have respect for anyone who gets in the Octagon. I don’t think I deserve to call anyone out. I would rather get in there and beat them in a respectable way.”

Despite his recent success, Hendricks knows full well what it feels like to be defeated, and he believes a fighters’ true colors are shown in a time of defeat.

“The only loss of my career came to Rick Story in 2010. I hate the feeling of being defeated. I literally couldn’t look at myself in the mirror the next day. I was so disgusted with how I felt,” Hendricks said. “But, I never gave up.”

“I flew home Sunday and was back in the gym on Monday morning. There are two types of people. Those who let losing get the best of them and those who get better from it. I got back in the gym and trained that much harder so I don’t have to ever feel like that again,” Hendricks said.

“I found a greater desire to become even better than I was before.”

 

Continue reading Part 2 of this exclusive interview with Johny Hendricks.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on FOX 2 Results: Why Phil Davis Has a Bright Future at 205

Following a Chael Sonnen victory over Michael Bisping in the co-main event of the evening at the UFC’s second appearance on FOX, the world prepared themselves for the main event clash between Rashad Evans (17-1-1) and up-and-coming star, Phil Davis (9-…

Following a Chael Sonnen victory over Michael Bisping in the co-main event of the evening at the UFC’s second appearance on FOX, the world prepared themselves for the main event clash between Rashad Evans (17-1-1) and up-and-coming star, Phil Davis (9-1).

Davis entered the United Center’s Octagon having never lost a fight in his mixed martial arts career.

Not only did Davis never fall to the hands of defeat but he was never even taken down in any of his previous nine bouts.

However, both streaks would come to an end as Davis endured his first loss by unanimous decision at the end of five grueling rounds.

“Mr. Wonderful” was also taken to the ground on three occasions as he was squaring off with a fellow and former Big 10 wrestler in Evans.

However, a Davis loss may be the best thing that’s happened up until this point in his young career.

At just 27 years of age, Davis has plenty of time to develop into a future Rashad Evans.

In fact, when Evans first joined the UFC years ago, it was his wrestling he relied on.

While Davis certainly must improve on his feet, he has the build, height and reach to have a long and success career inside the Octagon.

If Davis can improve his stand-up striking and hold his own from his feet, he’ll be a multidimensional threat which could ultimately shakeup the 205-pound weight class.

Not only can the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania product take away some positives from his loss but he’ll get back to the gym having his first five-round fight and main event appearance under his belt.

If Davis can continue to evolve as a force in the light heavyweight division, the sky will be the limit for what he can accomplish.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on FOX’s Michael Johnson: ‘My Mother Is the Love of My Life’

In just a few short hours, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be kicking off its second appearance on the FOX Network, when they air UFC on FOX 2.Taking part in the FOX preliminary card is lightweight Michael Johnson (9-6), who will be squaring …

In just a few short hours, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be kicking off its second appearance on the FOX Network, when they air UFC on FOX 2.

Taking part in the FOX preliminary card is lightweight Michael Johnson (9-6), who will be squaring off against submission artist Shane Roller (10-5).

UFC on FOX 2 will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, beginning at 5 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. ET.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr, Johnson discussed his upcoming bout with Roller, his inspiration in life and more.

Johnson, a former football player at the University of Central Methodist, found himself departing from school to attend a junior college for the opportunity to wrestle.

“I had dreams of one day making it to the National Football League. Playing in the NFL was a dream of mine, and that’s why I chose Central Methodist,” said Johnson. “I ended up leaving school and found myself at a JUCO college.”

“There I wrestled and started getting into the sport of mixed martial arts. Before I knew it I was training and in the UFC,” stated Johnson.

Along with Johnson’s robust skill set comes his nickname, “The Menace.”

“You know, I really don’t have a specific reason why I chose that nickname. When I entered the sport I really wanted something that no one else had,” said Johnson. “It seemed like a lot of guys had ‘The Nightmare’ and a lot of the popular names were already taken.

“At the time, no one had ‘The Menace’ so that’s what I decided to go with. The name has stuck with me ever since.”

“The Menace” will look to bounce back from his previous defeat when he takes on Roller in what many consider to be the biggest fight of his life.

While Johnson has demonstrated exceptional knockout power in his previous bouts, Roller will hold the slightest advantage in the submission game heading in. However, Johnson isn’t overly concerned, as he feels he’ll be able to control the fight and take it where he wants it to go.

“I love my matchup with Shane. He took the fight on a couple weeks’ notice, and I hope he isn’t overlooking me,” shared Johnson. “I hope he doesn’t think he can take the fight on short notice and come in and beat me.”

“I respect his submission game, but I feel I will be able to control the fight on my feet. If Shane wants to take the fight to the ground, I’ll be able to control it there as well. There’s no way it will be going to the judges’ scorecards,” stated Johnson.

Johnson, a fairly big lightweight, has no plans of leaving the 155-pound weight division anytime soon. That is, however, until he wins the lightweight title.

“I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I’m happy at 155 and this is where I want to be. I want to win the lightweight championship and be looked upon as one of the best fighters in the UFC. If I can accomplish that, then I’ll definitely look at moving to the welterweight division,” said Johnson. “We will see.”

When action finally begins on Saturday, January 28th, Johnson will be well-prepared for anything that Roller may throw his way.

“I actually was down training at Jackson’s for a while before making the move to Imperial Athletics. I’m now a member of the Blackzilians, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made”

“I get to train with some of the best fighters in the world, like Rashad, Rumble and many others,” stated Johnson. “Plus, you can’t beat living down here in Florida.”

UFC on FOX 2 will begin with a Blackzilian and end with a Blackzilian, as Rashad Evans will look to move closer toward regaining the light-heavyweight championship when he meets Phil Davis in the main event of the evening.

“Rashad is my teammate, but I would honestly pick him to win even if he wasn’t. I really think that Rashad is just the overall better fighter,” stated Johnson. “Phil’s a great fighter, but I don’t think he’ll be able to withstand Rashad’s striking.”

While Johnson certainly isn’t looking past his lightweight showdown with Roller, he often envisions his future in the sport and what his legacy will one day become.

“Everyone wants to win the title, and of course that’s something I want to accomplish. But, I really want to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I know I have a long way to go, but that’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Johnson.

“I’m only 25 years old and I want to fight for a long time. I often think of Randy Couture, who fought into his 40s. That’s what I want to be like,” shared Johnson. “If Randy can fight that long, there’s no telling how long I could fight for.”

While Johnson’s young career will undoubtedly take him places in life, there’s one person he owes everything to.

“My mother is the love of my life. You know, I lost my dad at a pretty young age, and my mom raised us alone for a little over 12 years. She was always there for my siblings and I no matter what. The reason I’m fighting is because of her,” stated Johnson.

“I want to do well in the sport so that I can support her and she can retire happy.”

Johnson concluded by proclaiming his love for his mother.

“I love my mother more than anything. She’s my hero”

To learn more about Michael Johnson, follow him on Twitter.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fox 2: Chris Weidman Talks Demian Maia, Olympics and More

Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”While Bell’s statement holds true to many individ…

Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

While Bell’s statement holds true to many individuals over the course of their lives, the same couldn’t be said for the life of Chris Weidman (7-0).

Following a spectacular wrestling career at Hofstra University, Weidman was destined to become a part of the 2008 Olympic Games.

However, Weidman’s career path wouldn’t lead him to an Olympic podium but rather a chance to fight for one of the world’s fastest growing organizations—the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Weidman’s success has allowed him to remain unbeaten and undoubtedly earn the opportunity to fight in front of millions on national television when he takes on Demian Maia (15-3) at UFC on FOX 2.

UFC on FOX 2 will take place at the United Center in Chicago beginning at 5 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. ET.

Weidman recently sat down with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr and shared his thankfulness of a second door opening at a point in his life where he needed it the most.

“I actually wrestled at Hofstra University and had the dream of one day becoming an Olympic athlete. I tried out for the 2008 Olympic Games,” said Weidman. “I ended up not making the 2008 Games and was stuck with a decision to make.”

“I could either choose to go the route of mixed martial arts or attempt to try out for the 2012 games. As we know now, I chose MMA,” stated Weidman.

Weidman’s decision proved to be the right one after all, as he currently stands with a perfect 7-0 record and is fighting under the UFC.

However, Weidman was faced with another decision just days before signing with the UFC as he was offered a contract from the organization of Bellator.

“It’s actually a pretty crazy story. I already had made dinner reservations with my family to announce that I would be signing with Bellator. At the time, I really wanted to be fighting for the UFC, but the opportunity wasn’t there,” said Weidman.

After an unexpected turn of events, two days later, Weidman had joined forces with the UFC, ultimately fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“Two days later I had signed with the UFC. It was such a relief and I was so glad it had finally happened. I already had a family and desperately needed the money to support them,” stated Weidman. “It was a surreal and crazy feeling.”

After several rigorous decisions, “The All-American” was faced with yet another decision to make.

Weidman was offered the opportunity to fight Alessio Sakara at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann.

The only problem—Weidman was given just two weeks notice.

Despite minimal time to train for his opponent, Weidman gladly accepted and found himself victorious in his Octagon debut via unanimous decision.

The decisions continued to pour on Weidman following a Mark Munoz injury that would ultimately open up the opportunity to fight Maia on national television.

“I was asked if I would fight Maia on the FOX card as injuries opened up another door,” said Weidman. “It was a difficult decision at first, as it was on such short notice again.”

“But, within 30 minutes of receiving the phone call, I had already made up my mind. I was going to take the fight. I knew at that moment if I didn’t take the fight, then someone else would have stepped in and taken it. It wasn’t something I couldn’t turn down,” shared Weidman.

Weidman will be entering the Octagon to take on the toughest opponent of his career as Maia has squared off with some of the world’s greatest martial artists in Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz.

“We all know how skilled Maia is and he’s one of the best in the world for a reason. He’s a mastermind in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which is something I’ve been training for. But, I’m a wrestler and I’m used to being on the ground.”

“My strength kind of plays into his strength,” said Weidman. “I believe my wrestling will ultimately be the deciding factor in this fight.”

Also joining Weidman on the main card at UFC on FOX 2 will be fellow middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping who will be squaring off for the chance to face Anderson Silva for the 185-pound title.

Weidman weighed in with how he thought the co-main event would play out.

“I think Chael Sonnen will beat Michael Bisping mainly because of his wrestling. Chael spent a lot of time training for Munoz, who’s also a great wrestler,” said Weidman. “Being a wrestler, I know how much time and how physically tough it can be in preparing for an opponent like Munoz.”

“Chael will be well prepared and I think he’ll be able to control the fight and take it where he wants to take it.”

With a win, Sonnen or Bisping will move on to face current middleweight champion Anderson Silva at some point in 2012.

However, with Silva’s recent injuries, it wouldn’t be out the question to state “The Spider” may not even return to fight at all in the new year.

If that were the case, there’s an outside chance the winner of Sonnen vs. Bisping could move on to face the winner of Weidman vs. Maia for the 185-pound interim title.

While circumstances would certainly have to fall into place for this to even occur, Weidman would be honored to have the opportunity.

“Man, I’d be more than willing to step in and fight for the title if something like that would occur.”

At 27 years of age, its likely Weidman’s chances at UFC gold will come soon enough.

While Weidman has endured great success over the early stages of his career, he’s often reminded of those who’ve helped him become the man and fighter he is today.

“I really need to thank all my wrestling coaches from growing up and all the way up through college,” said Weidman. “I wish I could shine a spotlight on each and every one of them.”

“Most importantly, I’d like to thank my wife and family. They’ve been there since day one, through the ups and the downs,” stated Weidman.

“I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Rashad Evans Talks Relationship with Phil Davis, Title Shot, Chicago and More

In a world filled with differences and disagreements, one thing connects us all—dreams.For UFC’s light heavyweight Rashad Evans (16-1-1), his dream was to one day become a police officer where he could serve those around him.Little did Evans know…

In a world filled with differences and disagreements, one thing connects us all—dreams.

For UFC’s light heavyweight Rashad Evans (16-1-1), his dream was to one day become a police officer where he could serve those around him.

Little did Evans know at the time that his dream would escalate from being a police officer to a world champion.

Evans is now slated to take on fellow light heavyweight Phil Davis (9-0) in the main event at UFC on FOX 2 on Saturday, January 28th.

UFC on FOX 2 will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois beginning at 5 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. ET.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr, Evans shared his unexpected journey to the UFC and what it means to fight in the city in which he resides in.

“My journey was kind of an unexpected journey. I kind of did mixed martial arts as a hobby. At the time I was actually wanting to become a police office as I was working in a hospital as a security job in Michigan,” said Evans. “It was something I did in my off time.”

“So, I was kind of a natural and good at it because of my wrestling and boxing skills from growing up. I didn’t really realize that I could make it into a career until midway through the Ultimate Fighter show when I started beating guys who had been training in the sport for a really long time,” stated Evans.

“They were training with really good camps,” said Evans. “These guys were training with the Matt Hughes’ and the Greg Jacksons.”

Not only did Evans go on to win the Ultimate Fighter Season 2 Finale but he’d establish himself as one of the top 205-pounders in the world.

Evans’ dominance has allowed him to fall to defeat just once in his UFC career and has given him the opportunity to return to the city in which he treasures deeply.

“It’s important for me because more or less I still live in Chicago. It has a different meaning and significance to me. Chicago is like a New York City. It’s one of the those older cities,” said Evans. “It really means something to fight there.”

While Evans is certainly anxious to take on his fellow Big Ten wrestler Davis, he’ll have to wait until the co-main event between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping is decided.

Evans weighed in on the co-main event which also has its fair share of hype and anticipation.

“Bisping is a scrapper man and that’s one thing people don’t really realize. You cant watch a Bisping tape and get a true appreciation for just how good he really is until you’re in there,” stated Evans. “And by then, it’s usually too late.”

“He’s very tricky and he’s a lot better than what he looks. You underestimate him because he doesn’t look strong but he’s surprisingly pretty strong.”

“For me I think the pressure Chael Sonenn brings is hard to match with his offense, takedowns, ground and pound, hand in the face and dropping elbows and shots. It kind of wears down a fighter. And, if he does that to Bisping too much, I think he’ll be able to maul him,” said Evans.

When Sonnen and Bisping leave the Octagon, it will be game on for Evans as he’ll be squaring off for a chance to win his fourth consecutive fight and move closer towards his much-desired title fight with Jon “Bones” Jones.

“I’m pretty much going to do what I do. I’m confident with my striking as well as my takedowns. Phil has a good wrestling pedigree but at the time same time, this isn’t a wrestling match. I think my MMA wresting is better than his. If he takes me down I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to get back up,” said Evans. “I’m not going to put too much pressure on where the fight needs to go.”

“We’re both fighters who have the ability to wrestle and strike. So, let the best man take the fight where he wants to take the fight. But I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to take the fight where I want to take it,” stated Evans.

While Evans is certainly used to the spotlight by now, he’s yet to square off in a five-round fight in his career. Davis has also never participated in a five-round bout yet even a main event.

However, Evans isn’t too concerned as he’s confident in his conditioning and ability to outlast his opponent.

“I really haven’t done too much different. I can’t say I haven’t done anything different but I’ve done much more conditioning with volume and endurance training,” said Evans. “I’ve been spending more time in the gym than anything.”

As Evans continues to prepare for his national televised FOX debut, he isn’t simply preparing for “just another fight.”

In fact, over the past several weeks, there has been bad blood between Evans and Davis leading up to their bout which could ultimately decide who’s next in line for a title shot.

“I guess for the next week or so we’re not going to like each other. But, going into the fight, I have nothing but respect for Phil. I remember watching his first UFC fight and watching him wrestle in college,” said Evans. “Ive been a Phil Davis fan.”

“Now that we’re going to fight it changes everything. He’s been talking a little crazy and has gotten me aggregated. So, I’m not a fan at all right now,” shared Evans.

A win over Davis could solidify Evans’ long-awaited shot at Jones which could take place as soon as UFC 145.

However, Evans believes focusing on what’s ahead rather than what’s in front of him could ultimately provide him with a disadvantage.

“I’ve heard Dana White say in interviews that I’m next in line but that’s about it. He hasn’t given me a special call to tell me if I win I’ll be getting a title shot. But I try to push that out of my mind to be honest. I don’t want to be in the position of having something to lose,” stated Evans. “Because, if you have something to lose, the guy who doesn’t have anything to lose has the advantage.

“If I do well enough and win this fight and get the honor of having the title shot then great. I can’t really worry about it right now. The only thing I have to worry about Phil Davis,” said Evans.

Despite Evans’ focus being set on Davis, many fans are already anticipating what could be one of the biggest fights in UFC history if “Suga” and “Bones” Jones would clash for the light heavyweight title.

When asked if Jones was still stealing his “swagger,” Evans laughed and responded with,

“I don’t know, I haven’t really seen him. Maybe not now that he’s the champion and has been for a couple fights. Maybe he has a little confidence and has his own style now. I’ll let you know If I see him jacking my style.”

Evans concluded by thanking those who’ve been supportive and by his side over the course of his successful career.

“I’d like to thank Authentic Sports Management, JACO clothing for being the best brand out there and of course my team, the Blackzilians.”

To learn more about Rashad Evans, follow him on Twitter.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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