Fans of the UFC are hoping that the second UFC on Fox event will last a little longer than the first one. The first match, the Heavyweight Championship bout ended in a whopping 64 seconds, meaning there was about 45 times the pre-fight coverage than there was the actual fight. Well, UFC organizers are hoping for two full tilt fights at the event in Chicago on January 28th.
There are no championship bouts here, but some very high profile contender matches at UFC on Fox 2. In the Light Heavyweight division, Rashad Evans will be fighting someone not named Jon Jones, as he bides his time fighting up and comer Phil Davis. Meanwhile, arguably the two biggest villains in the UFC fight in the Middleweight division as Chael Sonnen fights Michael Bisping. There are major implications on the line for both fights and we will break those down a bit in the predictions.
Light Heavyweight Match: Rashad Evans (16-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0): It has seemed like an eternity for Rashad Evans to get his next title shot against his one time trainer partner Jon Jones, which has caused a lot of tension between the two fighters that is beyond well documented. Evans missed out on another chance late last year due to injury, and watching Jones dispatch fighters left and right. Evans will most likely get his title shot if he defeats the undefeated Davis, but that’s a pretty big if.
Davis has been making his way up the Light Heavyweight ladder, and last taking out Little Nog (Antonio Rogerio Nogueria) last March. Almost a year is a long time to wait your turn, but Davis should be ready to fight. But fighting Evans is a big step up from the Brian Stanns and Alexander Gustaffons of the fight and this should prove to be the biggest test of his career.
As much as I think Davis has a long career ahead of him in the UFC, I think Evans wants and needs this fight more. At 32, Evans is getting any younger in fighter years and sees this fight as one of his last chances to get a crack at fighting his new mortal enemy in Jones. I don’t see this ending by submission or by a decision. For some strange reason, I see a highlight worthy one punch knockout for Evans reminiscent of his fight with Chuck Liddell years ago. It’s a longshot to call that, but I’m doing it.
Pick: Rashad Evans wins via knockout in the 2nd Round.
Middleweight Match: Chael Sonnen (26-11) vs. Michael Bisping (22-3): To fight fans, this is like North Korea and China fighting each other. After Middleweight contender Mark Munoz bowed out of this fight, originally with Sonnen, this match of villains was made possible. Both men come with lots of hatred from fans, but let’s be honest, both guys are entertaining as hell and my only wish is that the fighters had more time to trash talk about this fight.
For Sonnen, we all know what this is about: win and you get your long awaited rematch with Anderson Silva, most likely in a Brazilian soccer stadium in the summer. For Michael Bisping, this is a shot for him to get back into the title picture and fight Silva for the first time.
After his little Silva rant after his win over Brian Stann last year, Sonnen eats, breathes and sleeps thinking about Silva (and probably what wild statement he can make next about anything). Bisping is coming off demolishing “Mayhem” Miller in December and spitting his way to victory over Jorge Rivera last March. In this match, it’s hard to actual call who has the advantage here, because I think this match is so even matched. Bisping can try for the crushing knockout; or Sonnen can take him to the mat and wearing the Brit down.
But in the end, I think Sonnen’s mat skills will wear down Bisping and submit him, setting up one of the biggest pay per views in UFC history against Silva.
Pick: Chael Sonnen wins via submission in 3rd Round.
UFC on Fox 2 is set for Saturday, January 28th at 8pm EST. For the full fight card, check out www.ufc.com.
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