UFC 108: Evans Vs Silva Recap

Saturday night Rashad Evans reverted back to the wrestling form that won him honors at Michigan State, and won the fight against Thiago Silva.

The much anticipated Light Heavyweight event had the crowd on edge in Las Vegas. Silva’s presence alone creates a stir in the arena with his heartless focused stare. The Brazilian’s gaze is only out shined by the body art that probably found his physique first as a teen in Sao Paolo. He is a big man at 6’1” appearing to weigh around 215-220 on fight night. Sugar Rashad Evans is a very popular fighter, always entering the arena to applause bringing with him a celebratory energy. The excitement and energy are released when he enters the cage on all fours then quickly springing to his feet bouncing around the octagon with a lot of surplus energy circling then sprinting around as if laying claim to his territory.

Both fighters stood passively listening to the referee’s instructions, no signs of impending destruction. At the beginning of round one both men came out patiently finding their rhythm. Evans made the first move darting forward out of his boxer’s footwork throwing a combination. Silva quickly covered up to deflect the blows. However Sugar Rashad was only baiting the Brazilian to raise his hands a little higher and open himself up for a takedown attempt. Silva recovered and began to fight the takedown but it was only a matter of seconds before Evan’s superior grappling ability won the battle and Silva crashed to the mat. This was a predicted winning strategy for Rashad Evans that worked according to plan minus the ground and pound fight stopping finish. Silva is a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu accustomed to being on his back and he had no problem regaining his feet.

The first two minutes of round 1 action encapsulated the entire Light Heavyweight main event. Evans took Silva to the mat three or four times in the first round and repeated the same strategy in round two, never hurting the Brazilian but controlling the action. Thiago Silva was plainly unprepared to stop Rashad’s wrestling takedowns. The murderous emotion filled fisticuffs and fireworks at center octagon never happened. Evans used his boxing standup only to parry and flurry long enough to work inside and grapple.

By round 3 Silva was clearly flummoxed and frustrated. Midway through the round he began to mimic the movement that Evans is known for in the octagon and taunting the “wrestler” even jutting out his chin. Fatigued, Evans paused long enough for Silva to piston forward a right hand that sent the former champion reeling back into the cage. Perhaps it was also a matter of fatigue on the Brazilians part; he had Evans hurt and could not find another gear to finish the fight.

5 to 1 there were more Rashad Evans fans than Thiago Silva fans but at the first sign of a potential knockout the arena erupted. The volume was soon lowered when Evans shaking off the effects of the punches regained his composure and had Silva in another controlled clinch before the fight’s end. All judges scored the bout a unanimous decision for Rashad Evans.

The two fighters extended courtesies of respect toward one another, Silva seemingly acknowledging that though he may be the tougher fighter he did not do what was needed to win the fight. At 14-2 Silva is not going anyplace it’s almost guaranteed that White will have him on another UFC card in the next four months? Rashad Evans did what he needed to do—win. How he won opens a discussion as to his future success at Light Heavyweight. Slowly but surely the charismatic ex champ is being exposed as a fighter who cannot afford to take a heavy handed punch against a skilled striker.

If he is to face Quinton Rampage Jackson next this places him in a perilous position against a man with knockout power in both fists and began his career as a wrestler. For now Sugar Rashad goes back to Jackson’s MMA in New Mexico for a little rest and further strategizing.


Jdon Howard