UFC 98: Evans vs Machida is ON

This past weekend saw the latest Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC 96, subtitled “Rampage vs Jardine”. Depending on your affiliation, you were either pleased or angered that Rampage Jackson won the match thanks to judges’ decision, which brought him that much closer to an attempt to regain his Light Heavyweight Champion belt from the current belt-holder Rashad Evans. However, it’s now being said that Rampage will not be fighting after all, and the match will go to Lyoto Machida instead.

So, here’s the thing. After watching the Ultimate Fighter, Season 7, which featured Rampage and Forrest Griffin as the amateur coaches for that season’s hopefuls, I came to really enjoy watching Rampage do his thing. That’s an admiration for the guy’s personal style, not for his fighting prowess. Because frankly, watching Rampage fight is an uneven thing … sometimes he dominates, sometimes he kinda cruises along, but either way, you get the same tactics: a lot of punching, some ground-and-pound, and a killer body slam if you’re lucky. But now, having a personal stake in the guy, I want to see him get his belt back.

However, take a look at Rashad Evans. He’s strong, he’s fast, and he’s undefeated. He knows Rampages weaknesses — very little grappling, no leg kick defense — and he knows how to explot them. He took out Griffin, who took Rampage’s belt from him. As much as I want Rampage to win, I don’t think he will.

Lyoto Machida, on the other hand, is just as fierce as Rashad, has some crazy skills, and fans love him. I’d much rather see a match between those two from a purely fight fanboy standpoint. Who would you rather see victorious on May 23rd?