UFC 98: Evans vs Machida in Review

Holy fucking shit UFC 98 had to be one of the best events UFC has thrown in awhile. There were some great battles and powerful hits through out the night.

My picks were pretty shitty though. I was only right on 2 of my 5 picks.

Anyways this is how the night went.

Sean Sherk vs Frank Edgar - Edgar by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Sherk got worked this match. Instead of making this a grappling competition he decided to make it a boxing match where he got dominated. Edgar was able to use his reach brilliantly to counter all the looping hands of Sherk while avoiding taking any hits. One of the biggest flaws of Sherk's game plan was not threatening any takedowns. This let Edgar keep his feet planted to improve his striking with no fear of being taken to the mat.

This victory has put Edgar a win or 2 away from title contention for the lightweight belt.

Dan Miller vs Chael Sonnen - Sonnen by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

This was a pretty one sided battle. Sonnen just repeatedly took down Miller and pounded him from the guard. Miller went for a few submissions from the bottom including 2 guillotines that left him gassed. Miller must have had a shitty training camp for this battle since he didn't even attempt to sweep from the guard or do anything really. This was the end of Millers 10 win fight streak and it was a dominate end to it.


Drew McFedries vs Xavier Foupa-Pokam - McFedries by TKO at 0:37 of Round 1

Talk about a quick fight. Fans were barely able to take a sip from their beers before McFedries started landing strikes on Foupa-Pokam. Within seconds of the opening round McFedries landed this huge leaning right hook that hit Foupa-Pokam square on the chin. From that moment Foupa-Pokam was wobbly and unable to defend himself as McFedries continued to land powerful right punches that kept his opponent from being able to fight back. This definitely would have won Knock Out of the Night honors if it weren't for the Evans vs Machida bout.

Matt Hughes vs Matt Serra - Hughes by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

This match should have happened a while time ago but still it was very entertaining fight to watch. This one definitely earned Fight of the Night honors.

It was a close battle in which Serra dominated the stand up while Hughes dominated the ground. Unfortunately the match up was mostly on the ground. Serra was successful in the 1st and 3rd round with strikes, especially in the first stunning Hughes with some brutal hits after an inadvertent head butt. However this match was all about Hughes amazing take downs as he was successful in getting Serra to the mat in all 4 of his attempts.

Rashad Evans vs Lyoto Machida - Machida by KO at 3:57 of Round 2


Animated Gif courtesy of MMATKO

Wow this is one of the most brutal knock outs to ever occur in the octagon. Those hits by Machida had Evans out on his feet. Evans may have appeared to be fighting back but there is little doubt that he was done after the first hit. When he was pressed against the cage it was game over as Machida landed two right hooks to Evans chin before stepping back and landing a short left that made Evans crumble to the ground.

Machida has often been criticized for being too defensive of fighter since he always backs away from his opponents, striking and running. However this match shows that Machida is even more dangerous when he presses forward. Machida earned the light heavyweight belt and Knock Out of the Night honors.

....................

This event has definitely changed the atmosphere of the UFC.

The Lightweight division rankings were rocked when Sherk was dominated by Edgar.

Will the welterweight division see a return of Matt Hughes?

And to quote Joe Rogan, "The era of Machida has begun." Who will be able to end the era and take the belt from the karate master, Lyoto Machida?