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UFC 156 Notes: Rashad Evans, the Once and Future King?

In between UFC 156 and his dominant performance against “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,”Tito Ortiz, at UFC 133, we would have written that the future for Rashad Evans would include a spot as the top light-heavyweight fighter competing in the…

So, when he out-wrestled the former Division I champ out of Penn State, Phil Davis, we all knew he had one and only one test left. Jon Jones.

The battle that occurred was one of technical precision and long-developed patience displayed by both athletes ending in a judge’s decision for the champ. Even with the loss, there was only one direction for Rashad.

Up.

And so, when he was matched up with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira for his next fight, the fan boys all assumed nothing short of destruction and another chance for “Suga” to start the sixth round against Jones.

But boy, were we all wrong.

With Rashad doing nothing at all worthy of the win, the decision was given to Nogueira. And we were on to the next fight.

It was that insignificant.

It was as if we had just watched what was left of some sparring footage from the Countdown UFC broadcast the night before.

A part of me wants to say that it was the patience of Rashad that was his undoing; patience that seemed a game-plan, but soon devolved into something else entirely.

But watching the fight I found myself almost as relaxed as Rashad was as he caught every jab that “Lil Nog” threw just like a another day at the gym.

Mulling over the judge’s decision, which I believe no one disagreed with considering Evans’ abilities and what he should have been able to do, the memory of his title fight with Lyoto Machida came to the forefront of my mind, as well as his fight with Jon Jones. And one concept seemed to keep coming up.

Inability to let his hands go.

As an athlete that’s the worst feeling in the world.

Everyone who has seen Rashad’s highlight reel can conclude on at least one thing. His hands are fast. But we saw none of that Saturday night.

That seems to be the reoccurring story with Rashad. Two title fights and his latest comeback fight have developed into shattered opportunities due to a mental block.

Plus, if you think about it, he’s lost two in a row and that’s never good with Dana White as your boss.

And if that’s frustrating for a fan to see how much more debilitating is it for Rashad Evans himself? And how much harder will it be for Rashad to tell himself to let it loose in his next fight when he knows that if he loses he could risk getting cut?

All we can do is sit and wait for Rashad’s next opportunity and hope he can overcome whatever it is that hinders him from reaching the long lost title of UFC Champion.

The road back to the crown is always plagued with doubt and the difficult task of moving forward, but hopefully Evans can find guidance moving forward. In the words of T.H. White:

“We cannot build the future by avenging the past.”

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UFC 156 Medical Suspensions: 3 Potential 6-Month Suspensions Given

Twenty-two fighters competed on Saturday’s UFC 156 fight card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. NV. More than half of that number will have some unplanned time off before their next fight as the Nevada State Athletic Commission ha…

The lengths of the suspensions range from one month to an open-ended indefinite suspension. The lengthiest potential suspensions with a time attached to them are six months, which were handed down to three fighters.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira received the indefinite suspension due to a potential eye injury suffered during his bout with Rashad Evans. Nogueira won the bout, but was poked in the eye during the third round.

The six-month suspensions were given to Frankie Edgar, Evan Dunham and Francisco Rivera. Dunham and Rivera were victorious in their bouts, while Edgar dropped his five-round contest to Jose Aldo via unanimous decision.

Fighters that walked away without any medical time off are: Jose Aldo, Rashad Evans, Demain Maia, Jon Fitch, Ian McCall, Tyron Woodley, Bobby Green, Isaac Vallie-Flagg and Dustin Kimura.

Full UFC 156 Medical Suspensions (via MMAWeekly.com):

Frankie Edgar: Must have facial CT scan to rule out a left orbital fracture. If the CT scan is positive, then he must gain clearance by a maxilla-facial doctor or he is suspended until Aug. 2, 2013. He faces a minimum suspension until April 4 with no contact prior to March 20.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: Needs clearance by an ophthalmologist before his next fight due to a right eye injury.

Antonio Silva: Suspended until March 5 with no contact prior to Feb. 24 due to a chin laceration.

Alistair Overeem: Suspended until March 20 with no contact prior to March 5.

Joseph Benavidez: Suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact prior to Feb. 17 due to a forehead laceration.

Evan Dunham: Must have right orbital blowout fracture cleared by an ophthalmologist or plastic surgeon or he is suspended until Aug. 2. He faces a minimum suspension until April 4 with no contact prior to March 20.

Gleison Tibau: Suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact prior to Feb. 17.

Jay Hieron: Suspended until April 4 with no contact prior to March 20.

Jacob Volkmann: Suspended until March 5 with no contact prior to Feb. 24 due to right eye contusion.

Yves Edwards: Suspended until March 5 with no contact prior to Feb. 24 due to left eye laceration.

Chico Camus: Suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact prior to Feb. 17.

Francisco Rivera: Must have right hand/wrist x-rayed. If x-ray is positive, then he needs clearance by an orthopedic doctor or he is suspended until Aug. 2. He faces a minimum suspension until March 20 with no contact prior to March 5.

Edwin Figueroa: Suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact prior to Feb. 27 due to left eye laceration.

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Anthony Pettis Wants Jose Aldo and Benson Henderson in Back to Back Fights

Anthony Pettis is on a mission to be considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, and he’s willing to do two consecutive title fights to prove it. On Saturday night just moments after Jose Aldo defeated Frankie Edgar at UFC 156, UF…

Anthony Pettis is on a mission to be considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, and he’s willing to do two consecutive title fights to prove it.

On Saturday night just moments after Jose Aldo defeated Frankie Edgar at UFC 156, UFC President Dana White announced that he received a text message from Pettis asking to face Aldo next for the featherweight title.

It was an interesting moment, because Pettis is already in line for the next crack at the UFC lightweight title, but instead of waiting until current champion Benson Henderson battles Gilbert Melendez in April at UFC on Fox 7, he wants to keep busy and challenge a fighter of the caliber of Jose Aldo.

“Aldo is a great fighter, pound-for-pound one of the best fighters in the world, and I want to be on that list. The only way for me to be on that list is to beat somebody out of my weight class, and I think me and Aldo makes sense, cause I’m stuck waiting for the lightweight belt,” Pettis told Bleacher Report on Monday.

“I wouldn‘t drop down to featherweight and try to stay down there and keep the belt, I just want to fight Aldo, and it makes sense for me to drop down and try to fight him for his belt.”

There was a brief time in 2012 when Pettis was stuck waiting for a fight where he contemplated a move to 145 pounds, but because his teammate, Erik Koch was already in line to face Aldo, he opted against it out of respect for his friend and teammate.

“The thought crossed my mind, but I wouldn’t do it before because of Erik Koch,” said Pettis. “I wouldn‘t disrespect a teammate like that, and I didn’t even want to entertain the thought, I would have to disrespect my training partner. After the fight with (Ricardo) Lamas, it’s going to be a couple more fights before he’s there for a title shot, and it works for me, cause I’m stuck waiting for Gilbert Melendez and Benson Henderson, and I just fought, and I think the timing’s perfect for a super fight.”

The other major factor for Pettis‘ decision to ask for Jose Aldo comes down to his body being ready to fight. The former WEC champion was forced to sit out the biggest part of the last year because of shoulder surgery.

Now that he’s healthy, Pettis is hungry to stay busy and active, and maybe even add a couple of titles to his resume by the end of 2013.

“While I’m waiting, let me get the super fight. My biggest thing is I’m healthy. Last year I was stuck waiting, I had one fight last year, and I want to fight three or four times, and I want big fights. I think the world wants to see that fight. It has the makings for fight of the year or fight of the decade, and you put two guys like us in there, it’s going to be nothing but fireworks,” Pettis stated.

“I don’t want to leave my division, this is my home, I’ve been making a name for myself in the 155-pound division, I feel like I’m the No. 1 contender, but while I’m stuck waiting, why not do this super fight.”

Regardless of the potential fight with Aldo, Pettis isn’t giving up on facing UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson later this year either. He feels there is some unfinished business to handle there, so that’s not escaping his to-do list.

Pettis defeated Henderson in the final WEC fight ever in 2010, but now his former foe has the UFC lightweight title around his waist, so he’d love the chance to face him and beat him again.

“For sure I want to fight Ben Henderson. Ben Henderson is a guy that’s on my list, but he already had a bout contract signed, he’s fighting Gilbert Melendez, and unfortunately for me it’s a couple of months away. I’ve been here before, you never know what happens in these situations. Somebody gets hurt, somebody else makes a name for themselves. I’m going to try to make something happen before somebody gets in my way again,” said Pettis.

If Pettis really does want to end up as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA, there may not be a faster path than beating the featherweight and lightweight champions inside of one year.

He’s ready for the challenge, and Pettis is excited to silence any critics left out there that don’t think he can pull it off. Give him the chance, and Anthony Pettis is ready to prove it.

“I’m the No. 1 contender at 155, but I’m just that guy, I want to fight. I don’t want to be chained to the sidelines. I hate sitting around watching everybody else get to fight. I’m healthy right now, my last fight was like two minutes long and I want to continue. That’s what I set out to do, I had a rough last two years, and I know my potential.

“Everybody’s had their opinions—Pettis is overrated, Pettis is this, Pettis is that—and what better way to shut everybody up and prove everybody wrong [than] by fighting for both these titles.”

Damon Martin is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained first hand by Bleacher Report MMA unless otherwise noted.

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UFC 156 Salaries: Rashad Evans is Officially Overpaid

(Rashad’s best days as a fighter may be behind him, but the man has mastered the art of walking away from fictional explosions.)

Despite what the title implies (or outright states, whatever), I don’t honestly think that Rashad Evans is making more than he is worth at this point in his UFC career. The man is a TUF winner, a former champion, and a relatively marketable draw who consistently resides in the upper-echelon of the division. That being said, when I came across the salary figures for UFC 156 and noticed that Evans had walked away from his unanimous decision loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira with an event high 300K, that was the first thought that entered my mind. I apologize for deceiving you and will see myself out.

But before I go, I’ll say this: The figures for UFC 156 were pretty standard, with everyone not named Chico Camus and oddly enough Ian McCall clearing five figures. I guess it’s hard to consider “Uncle Creepy” a UFC bust when the poor bastard’s making less than the average TUF alum to fight.

The full list of salaries is after the jump, along with our whimsical analysis, so check them out and let us know what you think in the comments section. Per usual, these numbers are void of any locker room bonuses, PPV cuts, training expenses, licensing fees, etc.

(Rashad’s best days as a fighter may be behind him, but the man has mastered the art of walking away from fictional explosions.)

Jose Aldo: $240,000 ($120,000 purse/$120,000 win bonus)
Frankie Edgar: $120,000

Rashad Evans: $300,000
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: $174,000 ($107,000/$67,000)

Antonio Silva: $70,000 ($70,000 purse/$0 win bonus)
Alistair Overeem: $285,714.29

Demian Maia: $120,000 ($60,000/$60,000)
Jon Fitch: $66,000

Joseph Benavidez: $60,000 ($30,000/$30,000)
Ian McCall: $9,000

Evan Dunham: $46,000 ($23,000/$23,000)
Gleison Tibau: $33,000

Tyron Woodley: $87,000 ($43,500/$43,500)
Jay Hieron: $12,000

Bobby Green: $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000)
Jacob Volkmann: $22,000

Isaac Vallie-Flagg: $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000)
Yves Edwards: $21,000

Dustin Kimura: $16,000 ($8,000/$8,000)
Chico Camus: $8,000

Francisco Rivera: $16,000 ($8,000/$8,000)
Edwin Figueroa: $10,000

Overpaid: Overeem…more like OVER-GREEN, AMIRIGHT?! Seriously though, I’ve got one foot out the door.

I can’t really say that anyone on this list deserves the “overpaid” label (however, the Blackzilians might want to consider lowering their gym fees), although I sure hope Ben Henderson was able to get some of that Frankie Edgar money when he inked a new eight fight deal last month. Dude has been making less than 40K to show until now, and I need to complain about something here to satisfy my blogger-mandated quota. I’d also like to congratulate Tyron Woodley for pulling in damn near 50K to show despite nearly being decapitated in his last fight. Throw in his first exciting finish in over two years and it was a pretty good night for “The Chosen One,” which is apparently his nickname now.

Underpaid: What can I say about Ian McCall that everyone isn’t already thinking? On one hand, “Uncle Creepy” is 0-2-1 since entering the UFC, but at just 9K to show, how much can you really expect from the guy? Hard times, indeed. Speaking of hard times, let’s talk about Jay Hieron. Poor, poor Jay Hieron. “The Thoroughbred” netted just 12K to join the ranks of Tiki Ghosn and Seth Petruzelli on our list of the worst fighters in UFC history. If it’s any consolation prize, he’s probably the best fighter of that particular subcategory. Probably.

–J. Jones

15 Most Memorable Moments from UFC Super Bowl Weekend Events

As the host of the most anticipated football matchup of the season, Super Bowl weekend is the annual pinnacle of American sports. Since 2004, the UFC has taken advantage of the competitive fever that sweeps the nation by providing fans with an epic fig…

On Saturday night, the UFC treated fans to a night of huge matchups at UFC 156. In one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory, pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo defended his championship in the main event against former UFC lightweight kingpin Frankie Edgar.

The highlight of the evening came when Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva upset Alistair Overeem with an incredible knockout in a featured contest.

However, this is far from the only memorable UFC moment that stems from Super Bowl weekend. Some of the most iconic events in UFC history coincided with the NFL’s championship game.

Here is a look at the 15 most memorable moments from UFC Super Bowl weekend events.

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Alistair Overeem vs. Bigfoot Silva Full Fight Technical Breakdown

Alistair Overeem underestimated the wrong giant at UFC 156.Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva shocked the world by knocking out the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion in the third round of the heavyweight grudge match.While Overeem’s overall fight game has improved ov…

Alistair Overeem underestimated the wrong giant at UFC 156.

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva shocked the world by knocking out the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion in the third round of the heavyweight grudge match.

While Overeem’s overall fight game has improved over the years, there has been one prevalent weakness in his abilities that many either fail or refuse to recognize. This same weakness has cost him in past bouts against Chuck Liddell, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Overeem is phenomenal when he’s the one pressing the action, but on his heels, he struggles to counter effectively and typically wilts in the close-quarter exchanges. This can even be seen at times in his Strikeforce bout against Fabricio Werdum.

At the start of the bout, Overeem did a tremendous job of keeping Silva’s back to the cage and controlling the center of the Octagon, where he could keep enough separation to implement his kickboxing heavy striking offense.

Whenever Silva tried to close the distance, Overeem would initiate the clinch and work him over with knees against the cage. It was a flawless strategy that kept the fight on Overeem’s terms and limited the possibility of him getting caught in the standup exchanges.

Overeem is the most complete striker in the heavyweight division, but people tend to forget his specialty lies in kickboxing and Muay Thai, not boxing. Silva’s best chance at success was to close the distance and turn the fight into a boxing match.

After losing the first couple of rounds, Silva was no longer tentative on the feet, and he finally opened up out of desperation in the final round. Forced to counter on his heels, Overeem had no answer for Silva’s boxing and fell at 0:25 of the third round.

Some will likely make the misconception that Overeem has a glass chin, but this is only a refusal to acknowledge the technical deficiencies in his boxing. It’ll be interesting to see how Overeem handles this loss.

Does he go back to the drawing board and refine his technique, or will he just chalk the loss up as a minor speed bump in his path towards a UFC title shot?

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