LAS VEGAS — The battle of FOX Sports studio co-hosts didn’t take long to settle.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans overpowered Chael Sonnen and got the best of him in their UFC 167 co-main event Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Referee Herb Dean waved off the fight at 4:05 of the first round for the TKO.
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The first half of the round was a positional and clinch battle. Evans got the best of it, and while Sonnen did his best to hold Evans off, Evans improved his position and then rained down the ground and pound to get the finish.
Evans (20-3-1), continuing the Blackzilians’ hot streak, won his second straight fight. Sonnen lost for the third time in his past four fights, but it also snapped a six-fight win streak in non-title fights which dated back to 2009.
After the fight, Evans talked about the difficulties in fighting a friend.
“I like Chael a lot as a person,” Evans said. “Yeah, it is tough, but, it’s part of the sport. We’ll work together in the future.”