UFC on FOX 2 Recap: Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen punch their tickets for title fights
Posted on January 28, 2012, 11:46 PM by Trent ReinsmithIn the days leading up to UFC on FOX 2 the level of trash talk between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis became elevated, Chael Sonnen’s self promotion reached new levels, Michael Bisping was, well, Michael Bisping and Demian Maia and Chris Weidman lurked in the background. By the time the three main card fights had come to an end it felt like the hype had been much more interesting than the fights themselves.
Rashad Evans did deliver what he said he would in the days leading up to the fight, he showed that his MMA wrestling was superior to that of Phil Davis, but he did so in a defensive manner, letting Davis come to him and countering. Yes, it got Evans the win and in the end that’s the name of the game, but the performance was a bit of a letdown as this was not the Rashad Evans we have come to expect.
Questions after seeing Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis:
-How will the Rashad Evans of tonight fare against Jon Jones? Jon Jones will have more of a height and reach advantage over Rashad Evans than Phil Davis did and he won’t be as tentative and unsure of his striking as Davis was. Jones will be confident and will come after Evans from odd angles and with many more weapons that Davis did tonight. If Evans attempts to use the same style used on Saturday night, it’s very doubtful that he will have the same amount of success.
-What does Phil Davis have to work on? Phil Davis is a very good fighter, not great. He’s young and developing and has holes in his game. His leg kicks are pretty good, but his punches need work as does his MMA wrestling. He needs to use to take his solid collegiate wrestling base and adapt it to the cage. Against lesser opponents he’ll do fine with the skills he has, but the elite and experienced fighters are much more well rounded and will negate his advantages, much in the way that Rashad Evans did tonight. Davis should not look at this fight as a lost opportunity, instead he should use it as a learning experience, something to use to improve.
Questions Following UFC on FOX 2:
-What did the casual fan think of the fights? The hardcore fight fan may have walked away thinking the three main card fights lacked the excitement of some of the preliminary card fights. It’s easy to imagine a newer viewer, perhaps tuning in for the first time thinking, “what’s the big deal?” Hopefully the casual viewer will give the sport we all know and love another shot.
-Was Michael Bisping that good or was Chael Sonnen that bad? The odds said that Michael Bisping had little chance in this fight, but he did give Sonnen a bit of a struggle. It’s hard to imagine the Chael Sonnen that fought tonight giving Anderson Silva any problems in their rematch, he just did not look like the same fighter we saw in his past two fights.
-Does Demian Maia have to go back to his strength? As of late there has been a great deal of praise for the growth of Demian Maia’s striking skills, but at what cost? Tonight it seemed as if he was solely focused on establishing himself as a striker, totally forgetting that he has one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu bases in the middleweight division. Why he didn’t utilize his biggest weapon against Chris Weidman is something to ponder.
Further Reading: UFC on FOX 2 Wrap-Up and Bonuses
Photo: Tracy Lee for YahooSports 
Comments
Bisping was robbed
Not sure I'd say robbed but I scored it 29-28 for Bisping. Despite losing Bisping really proved himself in that fight, at least now no one could still be saying that he sucks and the he is a fake, right?
No he wasnt...we was far away than being dominant, and 3 round was all Sonnen. But if Sonnen gonna perform agains spider like last night he gonna lose.
I loved this card, the best on this year from my point of view.
Rashad looked incredibly good, Bisping won and I got to see a new submission I hadn't seen before and a top 10 brutal knockout in UFC history.
Bisping definitely didnt win.
people are just so used to seeing chael dominate guys with his wrestling that if he doesnt take someone down he is terrible. He did look gassed no question but he was still hitting bisping with nice shots and did take him down few times. I had sonnen rnds 1 & 3 but he needs to get his shit together for Silva
Exactly.
FFS!
Bisping still not getting the respect he deserves!
Gives Sonnen a close fight, i had it SD or a draw. one judge gave it 30-27 NO WAY! and all ppl can talk about is that it was not the best Sonnen and he needs to get back to his best. Give Bisping his props he deserves!
Plus you got to remember Anderson`s weakness is his TDD and can not scrabble like Bisping. Thats what ppl seem to forget!
I had it 30-27. Having it 30-27 doesn't mean the first two rounds were not incredibly close.
How can you have it a split decision?! Do you have 3 personalities??
Honestly Ive never seen Bisping play Scrabble.
Now thats funny.
Sonnen lost his heart after his first takedown. Sonnen's plan was obvious. He wanted to take bisbing down right away and finish the fight quickly with quick punches to bisbing face against the cage, but he couldn't keep bisbing down. As soon as bisbing made it through that 5 second storm and got to his feet Sonnen lost his comfidence. He wanted to get a quick win to make a point and that way his WWF (Bullshit) rant at the end of the fight might have been relevant. Anderson Silva is gonna school the turd known a Sonnen. Bisbing looked great and IMO got robbed. I saw bisbing winning the first 2 rounds.
Sry i Score the Fight
1r draw
2r 10-9 Bisping
3r 10-8 sonnen
Sonnen won
10-8?
I can tell your new to this sport.
welcome!
nope i am not sry again....
i dont like sonnen but to me i new he won that fight ...
a robery is what they did in brasil with the englich guy who fought baboza i guess (rob p.)
i watched the fight again and i don't see bisping winning this....
evans was impressiv !! you cant let your hands go that easily when one guy just whants to take u down...
i like to see davis and jones i don't think jones would have a easy time with him
Cash in the golden ticket. (Everything else had already been said above)
Here's my recap(not that anybody gives a F#$%^!) Chael=wall&stall;,lay n' prey,dry humping,ground and NO pound! Chael vs Nate=Marquardt was drenched in Chael's blood,Nate didn't have a single scratch,Chael vs Anderson=Chael battered,beaten&bruised;,Anderson look like he just woke from taking a nap,Chael vs Stann=Brian's face was ready for a photo shoot,Chael was a bit cut,Chael vs Bisping=more of the freaking same!!!!!! join the Jon Fitch training camp Chaely!!!!!
so what your saying is that Chael cuts and bruises easier?
yea, Chaels just a softy when you get to hit him.
Personally I think the fight could go either way:
:: 1st Round: Could had gone either way! Sonnen scored a take-down but did not do any damage; Bisping got back up and controlled him in the cage but did not do any damage; Both landed some shots, probably Bisping got the cleaner strikes. Result for me was 10-9 for Bisping since he had the better/cleaner striking and did block almost every take-down attempt. Still I can see it go either way!
:: 2nd Round: Bisping blocked the take-downs again and got back up quickly if he got down. By the half time of this round Sonnen seemed more tired and Bisping started dictating the pace, getting him against the cage and landing solid strikes. This round is clearly Bisping one, no doubt here!
:: 3rd Round: Sonnen got a early take-down and achieved a dominant position. Almost the entire round was spent on the ground with Sonnen dominating. He wasn't able to capitalize down since he didn't do any damage nor threatened with a submission. By the end of the round he got reversed but clearly it was a Sonnen round!
CONCLUSION: I had it scored 29:28 Bisping but I could see it 29:28 Sonnen since the first round was very close. Ofc scoring it 30-27 is ridiculous and only shows theres people judging who dont have a clue. Win-Draw-Loose, Bisping got out with a better image than Sonnen since people had him as a 8-1 underdog in some bookings. Sonnen needs to improve if he wants to pose threats to Silva because theres 3 new aspects in play for the rematch: (1) Silva will be expecting Sonnen take-downs and one dimensional game, (2) Silva wont be injured, (3) Sonnen wont be juiced up!
PS - The WWE Statement from Sonnen in the end was ridiculous but hey, its FOX and mainstream right, we need to get thous WWE/Daytona fans to watch the fights...
Man,I rally feel sorry 4 Rashad Evans.They should let him use shoulder pads and a bat vs Jones. Maybe even a sheild
At first i thought Bisping had it and got robbed, then after watching it again i realise different.
Main reason alot of people thought Bisping had it, was because they expected him to get destroyed and were amazed by it being so close and second head strikes are more noticeable and remembered than body or leg strikes which bisping landed slightly more and hurt sonnen badly with one, but sonnen landed alot more body and leg strikes! that with the takedowns and dominant top position i have to give sonnen rnds 1 & 3!