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Report: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis to Headline ‘UFC on FOX 2? on Jan. 28

(Let’s just hope this fight doesn’t affect their friendship.)

Sources have confirmed to ESPN.com that a light-heavyweight meeting between former champion Rashad Evans and undefeated contender Phil Davis is slated to headline the UFC’s return to FOX, which will take place January 28th at the United Center in Chicago. The two fighters were originally supposed to meet at UFC 133 in August, but Davis was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.

Evans is currently riding a three-fight win streak, including decisions over Thiago Silva and Quinton Jackson, and a second-round TKO of Tito Ortiz, who came in as Davis’s short-notice injury replacement. Davis has gone 5-0 in the Octagon, most recently out-pointing Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in March. You’d have to assume that if Evans manages to deal “Mr. Wonderful” his first loss, he’ll be awarded a title shot against the winner of Jones vs. Machida — but considering Suga’s run of bad luck when it comes to that sort of thing, anything’s possible.

In other UFC on FOX 2 booking news…

(Let’s just hope this fight doesn’t affect their friendship.)

In other UFC on FOX 2 booking news…

A heavyweight bout between Mike Russow and Jon Olav Einemo has been added to the card. Russow carries a spotless 3-0 record in the UFC — most recently defeating Jon Madesen by doctor’s stoppage TKO — and is riding a ten-fight win streak overall. He was supposed to return against Dave Herman at UFC 136, until Herman popped positive for marijuana.

Coincidentally, Einemo lost his UFC debut to Herman in June, and his only win in the last five years came at a show in Bosnia that’s not even recognized by MMA databases. In other words, Russow vs. Einemo is a bit of a squash match; if Russow was hoping for a step up in competition for his next outing, this ain’t it.

Report: Guida vs. Henderson Winner to Challenge Frankie Edgar in Japan

(Fun fact: Clay Guida has never owned a single piece of silverware.)

According to a new report from MMA Junkie, the UFC plans to give the winner of tomorrow night’s UFC on FOX bout between Clay Guida and Ben Henderson a title shot against lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Sources indicate that the fight would likely take place at UFC 144 (February 26; Saitama, Japan).

Unfortunately, Guida vs. Henderson won’t be part of the “Velasquez vs. Dos Santos” TV broadcast — which kicks off at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on FOX — but viewers can watch it as part of the undercard stream on Facebook and FOXSports.com. Currently, Henderson (-250) is a strong favorite over Guida (+236).

(Fun fact: Clay Guida has never owned a single piece of silverware.)

Frankie Edgar is coming off his monumental knockout of Gray Maynard at UFC 136 last month. It was the third title retention for Edgar, who hasn’t lost a fight since his sole career defeat against Maynard in April 2008.

UFC 144 marks the first time the UFC has promoted a show in Japan since December 2000. No other bouts have been announced for the event, though Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has already called dibs for a spot on the card.

Carlos Condit vs. Josh Koscheck Likely for UFC’s Super Bowl Weekend Card

(Yeah…whatever happened to that guy, anyway?)

Carlos Condit is going to have to re-earn his title shot the hard way. After his slated fight against George St. Pierre went up in smoke as quickly as it was handed to him, Condit is now likely to return at UFC 143: St. Pierre vs. Diaz (February 4th, Las Vegas) against perennial welterweight contender Josh Koscheck. UFC president Dana White discussed the matchup at the Leben vs. Munoz post-event press conference:

“Right now, Carlos wants to fight. He wants to fight on the same card as GSP and Diaz, so we’ll see what happens. Koscheck has been offered (the fight).”

(Yeah…whatever happened to that guy, anyway?)

“Right now, Carlos wants to fight. He wants to fight on the same card as GSP and Diaz, so we’ll see what happens. Koscheck has been offered (the fight).”

And by all appearances, Koscheck has accepted it, telling Twitter: “Yep, when I talk….. i get… Feb 4th weekend Vegas I will be fighting!!!!!!!!!!! Thx you DW!”

Koscheck began pre-emptively trash-talking Condit last week, saying that Condit has “0 chance” to beat him, dropping some nasty puns on Condit’s manager, and arguing that the Natural Born Killer doesn’t deserve his top ten ranking. Condit hasn’t publicly responded to the barbs yet, but we expect that to change now that he’s been booked in the co-main event of the UFC’s Super Bowl Weekend card.

As of now, the only other supporting bout reported for UFC 143 is a lightweight clash between Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis.

Donald Cerrone to Make Quick Return Against Nate Diaz at UFC 141

(Unless you have your last name and a dog’s face tattooed on your back, you really can’t call yourself “alpha.” / Photo courtesy of Heavy.com/MMA)

Following his UFC 137 Submission of the Night victory over Dennis Siver, Donald Cerrone — one of the gamest sons-of-bitches in MMA — made it known that he’d like another fight before the year is out. As confirmed by MMA Junkie, the UFC has granted his wish, sticking Cowboy on the UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem card (December 30th, Las Vegas) against lightweight mainstay Nate Diaz. You dodged a bullet, Nam Phan.

Cerrone is currently on a six-fight win streak, including a 4-0 stretch in the Octagon since debuting for the promotion in February. Picking up a fifth UFC victory inside a calendar year would be nearly unprecedented. (I know Roger Huerta did it in 2007; if there any MMA stats masters in the house who can provide other examples, please do so in the comments section.)

(Unless you have your last name and a dog’s face tattooed on your back, you really can’t call yourself “alpha.” / Photo courtesy of Heavy.com/MMA)

As for Nate, the younger Diaz brother last appeared at UFC 135, returning to the lightweight division and submitting Takanori Gomi with an armbar — saving his job in the process. After Cerrone’s recent first-round stoppages over Dennis Siver and Charles Oliveira, a fight against Nate Diaz isn’t necessarily a step up the 155-pound ladder. But it’s clear that being active is more important to Cowboy right now than taking the fights that will set him up for a title shot. Plus, who needs a championship belt when you have lifetime passes to the Professional Bull Riding tour?

Any predictions for this one?

‘TUF 13? Winner Tony Ferguson Draws Yves Edwards for TUF 14 Finale Card

(“Yeah…I’m gonna call you ‘Jessie’. Do you like that name? Shhh, daddy’s got you.” / Photo via UFC.com)

After knocking our four straight opponents to claim his Ultimate Fighter 13 trophy, then shattering Aaron Riley’s jaw last month in his first post-TUF Octagon appearance, Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson is getting another step up this December. The UFC has confirmed that Ferguson (12-2, 2-0 UFC) will be facing 14-year MMA veteran Yves Edwards (41-17-1, 9-5 UFC) at the TUF 14 Finale, December 3rd in Las Vegas.

It goes without saying that Edwards’s biggest advantage in the matchup is experience. The “Thugjitsu Master” has more than four times as many pro fights as Ferguson, and has a resume that includes wins over big names like Josh Thomson, Rich Clementi, and Hermes Franca. Edwards most recently TKO’d Rafaello Oliveira at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson, which helped him rebound from an ugly knockout loss against Sam Stout.

(“Yeah…I’m gonna call you ‘Jessie’. Do you like that name? Shhh, daddy’s got you.” / Photo via UFC.com)

Though it’s definitely a step up for Ferguson, don’t forget that El Cucuy is a nasty S.o.B. with serious power in his hands. Will he make the official transition from reality-show prospect to legit lightweight contender in his next outing?

The TUF 14 Finale will be headlined by the coaches’ battle between middleweight stars Michael Bisping and Jason Miller. No other matchups have been announced for the card yet, although the event will crown the first featherweight and bantamweight Ultimate Fighter winners in UFC history.

Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Rematch Booked for UFC 140 in Toronto

(Like two little Fonzies. Photo via CombatLifestyle)

Coming off his redemptive knockout of Brendan Schaub at UFC 134, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s next fight will give him a chance to settle an old score. The UFC announced yesterday that Big Nog will rematch Frank Mir at UFC 140, December 10th in Toronto.

The two heavyweights first met at UFC 92 in December 2008 following a shared stint on TUF 8. Despite coming in as a 3-1 underdog, Mir shocked fans by outstriking Nogueira en route to a second-route TKO. Then, Nogueira pee-peed on Mir’s parade by revealing that he was fighting with a staph infection and injured knee, which didn’t exactly sit well with Mir. Nogueira has wanted a rematch ever since, and re-called-out Mir following his big win last month.

(Like two little Fonzies. Photo via CombatLifestyle)

Mir, who tried to lobby for Alistair Overeem as his next opponent, is riding a two-fight win streak, with somewhat unimpressive victories over Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson. The rematch feels like a lose-lose situation for him, but as an Odd Man Out, he’ll need to score another decisive win before he gets a step up the ladder. Your predictions?