CHICAGO — This is the UFC on FOX live blog for Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, the main event of tonight’s event from the United Center.
Ex-champ Evans (16-6-1) is on a three-fight win streak (Thiago Silva, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Tito Ortiz) since losing his belt to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 in May 2009. Davis (9-0) last fought in March 2011, outpointing Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on a UFC Fight Night card. Evans-Davis was originally scheduled for UFC 133, but Davis pulled out due to a knee injury.
Phil Davis enters first wearing his pink mouthpiece to a radio edit of KanYe West’s All of the Lights. Rashad Evans makes his way out to Mobb Deep’s Survival of the Fittest. Herb Dean is the referee for tonight’s main event.
Round 1: Davis measures his range with his left hand. Davis lands a loud leg kick. Davis lands another and tries to spin for the takedown. Davis’ offense has been kicks but Evans oessont not seem to be respecting Davis’ standup. Davis shoots and Evans stuffs it. Evans appears to be waiting to counter. Davis dives for a takedown and Evans blocks it. Evans catches a kick and scores the trip takedown into Davis’ halfguard. Evans advances to side mount with 49 seconds remaining. Evans steps over Davis’ right arm and gets the crucifx position at 42 seconds. Evans rains down left hands as the crowd erupts. Big first round goes to Evans. MMAFighting scores the first round in favor of Evans 10-9.
Round 2: Davis misses on a head kick that draws an “oooh” from the audience. Davis pumps out kicks while Evans patiently looks for his next move. A takedown attempt by Davis is stuffed. Evans crowds Davis and clinches with him. They trade hands and Evans backs Davis. Evans catches a kick and scores the takedown with 29 seconds left. Evans quickly claims side mount, but Davis eventually scissors Evans’ right leg for a partial halfguard. MMA Fighting scores the second round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 3: Davis stays active on his feet with leg kicks, knees to the body and front kicks. Davis shoots and Evans sprawls. Davis holds onto Evans’ right leg and sits him down against the cage. Evans gets back to his feet and reverses position, putting Davis on his back. Evans takes Davis’ back momentarily. Davis stands up and they battle in clinch for control. Evans throws an uppercut in clinch. Evans with a right hand to the body. Davis finally gets the takedown with 1:03 remaining. Evans pushes Davis’ head and escapes to his feet. Davis’ best round so far, but he’s still looking less confident as the fight progresses. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 4: Davis lands a hard kick to Evans’ body. Evans controls the pace standing with jabs. They take turns with jabs and one-twos. Evans grabs a front headlock and pulls Davis to the floor. However, Davis swings around and ends up getting double underhooks, standing. Davis lands knees to the body in clinch. Evans throws a right hand that backs Davis against fence. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 5: Evans startles Davis with a left hook. Evans lands a jab. Evans catches a kick and punches Davis with right hands until Davis falls to his back. Evans stays on top and eventually frees his left leg to take side control. Evans briefly takes crucifix, but this time Davis rolls and gives up his back. Evans connects on a right uppercut. Evans stuffs a takedown with 1:36 remaining in the fight. Evans turns Davis against the fence into clinch. Evans lands jabs. Way ahead on scores, Evans pushes forward anyway to close the round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 and the fight 50-45 for Evans.
Evans wins via unanimous decision (50-45 3x)
Evans wins the five-round decision, positioning himself to face Jon Jones on April 21 in Atlanta.
CHICAGO — This is the UFC on FOX live blog for Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, the main event of tonight’s event from the United Center.
Ex-champ Evans (16-6-1) is on a three-fight win streak (Thiago Silva, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Tito Ortiz) since losing his belt to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 in May 2009. Davis (9-0) last fought in March 2011, outpointing Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on a UFC Fight Night card. Evans-Davis was originally scheduled for UFC 133, but Davis pulled out due to a knee injury.
Phil Davis enters first wearing his pink mouthpiece to a radio edit of KanYe West’s All of the Lights. Rashad Evans makes his way out to Mobb Deep’s Survival of the Fittest. Herb Dean is the referee for tonight’s main event.
Round 1: Davis measures his range with his left hand. Davis lands a loud leg kick. Davis lands another and tries to spin for the takedown. Davis’ offense has been kicks but Evans oessont not seem to be respecting Davis’ standup. Davis shoots and Evans stuffs it. Evans appears to be waiting to counter. Davis dives for a takedown and Evans blocks it. Evans catches a kick and scores the trip takedown into Davis’ halfguard. Evans advances to side mount with 49 seconds remaining. Evans steps over Davis’ right arm and gets the crucifx position at 42 seconds. Evans rains down left hands as the crowd erupts. Big first round goes to Evans. MMAFighting scores the first round in favor of Evans 10-9.
Round 2: Davis misses on a head kick that draws an “oooh” from the audience. Davis pumps out kicks while Evans patiently looks for his next move. A takedown attempt by Davis is stuffed. Evans crowds Davis and clinches with him. They trade hands and Evans backs Davis. Evans catches a kick and scores the takedown with 29 seconds left. Evans quickly claims side mount, but Davis eventually scissors Evans’ right leg for a partial halfguard. MMA Fighting scores the second round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 3: Davis stays active on his feet with leg kicks, knees to the body and front kicks. Davis shoots and Evans sprawls. Davis holds onto Evans’ right leg and sits him down against the cage. Evans gets back to his feet and reverses position, putting Davis on his back. Evans takes Davis’ back momentarily. Davis stands up and they battle in clinch for control. Evans throws an uppercut in clinch. Evans with a right hand to the body. Davis finally gets the takedown with 1:03 remaining. Evans pushes Davis’ head and escapes to his feet. Davis’ best round so far, but he’s still looking less confident as the fight progresses. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 4: Davis lands a hard kick to Evans’ body. Evans controls the pace standing with jabs. They take turns with jabs and one-twos. Evans grabs a front headlock and pulls Davis to the floor. However, Davis swings around and ends up getting double underhooks, standing. Davis lands knees to the body in clinch. Evans throws a right hand that backs Davis against fence. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 5: Evans startles Davis with a left hook. Evans lands a jab. Evans catches a kick and punches Davis with right hands until Davis falls to his back. Evans stays on top and eventually frees his left leg to take side control. Evans briefly takes crucifix, but this time Davis rolls and gives up his back. Evans connects on a right uppercut. Evans stuffs a takedown with 1:36 remaining in the fight. Evans turns Davis against the fence into clinch. Evans lands jabs. Way ahead on scores, Evans pushes forward anyway to close the round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 and the fight 50-45 for Evans.
Evans wins via unanimous decision (50-45 3x)
Evans wins the five-round decision, positioning himself to face Jon Jones on April 21 in Atlanta.
CHICAGO — This is the UFC on FOX live blog for Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, the main event of tonight’s event from the United Center.