Friday, January 22, 2010

R and R




So it looks like the Rampage Jackson V Rashad Evans fight is back on and set for UFC 114 on May 29th. After watching TUF 10 it's as plain as the nose on Dustin Hoffman's face that these guys have a real hatred for one another. Yes, there are fights that are billed as 'grudge matches' and after the fight the fighters say it was all part of the build up and so on and so on. But this fight looks to be genuinely based on pure dislike of one another. There were times on the show when you could actually feel the tension and with your eyes wide with excitement and anticipation you actually thought these two guys were gonna throw down right there and then. They did manage some kind of self control and kept the abuse of one another to a verbal kind, albeit quite personal at times.These guys can't wait to get their hands on each other, and this time it is for reals.

Now that we have established this dislike, maybe 'hatred' is too strong a word (maybe not), let's move on to which fighter looks more likely to win. When I first saw Rashad he just looked like another Matt Hughes. I though he was going to dry hump everyone to death. Then, all of a sudden he could punch. Now he's looking like a real prospect. After a demolition of Chuck Liddell he beats the then light heavy weight champion Forrest Griffin, who had just taken the belt off Rampage. At this stage I'm thinking 'this boy's unstoppable'. Then along comes Machida, who looks like he's straight from 'Street Fighter 2', and KOs the unstoppable Rashad. OK a minor set back, he'll be back. Fast forward to his last fight against Thiago Silva, he was rocked badly in the fight and most would say was very lucky to stagger away with the win. Big question marks hang over Rashad's chin and I'm sure he must be thinking about it himself. Not a good thing to have on your mind coming into a fight with a guy like Rampage who took 27 , yes that's 27, knees to the head from then pride champion Wanderlei Silva before he fell.

Now let's take a look at his opponent Rampage Jackson. Personality wise very different from Rashad. Jackson seems to relish the limelight. He wears a big bike chain around his neck and howls like a wolf after he wins which is fitting really because this guy is an animal in the ring. He also beat Chuck Liddell in Pride and in the UFC. He's had his losses in the sport but not many fighters can claim a 100% record. After beating Liddell and taking the belt from Dan Henderson he agreed to TUF 7 with Forrest Griffin as his apposing coach. At the end of the series as always the two warriors battled in the octagon with Griffin deservedly winning a decision many thought Rampage would win. A big set back for Jackson who also had is problems outside of the octagon when he was involved in a hit and run which he pleaded guilty to. But Jackson soon got his career back on track with wins over Wanderlei Silva, the only fighter to have held two wins over Rampage, and Keith Jardine. The Massive win against Wanderlei Silva must have felt like nothing before for Jackson, especially in the manner in which knocked him clean out with a beautiful left hook that any pro boxer would have been proud of. He then refused a fight against current champion Lyoto Machida in favour of a match up against Rashad Evans which after a lot of huff and puff has brought us here.

So who's the favourite in this fight? If you asked me this question previous to the Thiago Silva fight I would have found it a lot tougher to make a decision. But now I honestly think Rampage is the favourite. Rampage has some great wrestling abilities which we haven't seen much of lately so that will cancel out any advantage Rashad has there as I feel we will see Rampage get back to basics with his wrestling. Also Rampage has a chin like Jay Leno. He ain't getting knocked out easily that's for sure. Rashad is going to have to utilize every inch of the octagon to keep moving and try to outbox Rampage on his toes. If he mixes it up with some good solid leg kicks and tries to slow Rampage down he has a chance. He will have to be at the top of his game and keep his chin well tucked in.

So in conclusion to this pointless drivel 'I pity the fool', the 'fool' being Rashad. I think Rampage wins this one by TKO. I'm not so arrogant as to guess what round. Oh and by the way, I wasn't really calling Rashad a fool.

Predtiction: Rampage by TKO AWOOOOOOOOOOO!