Tito or not, Rashad wants to fight! - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

Dr.Chicago · 10-02-2007, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Tito or not, Rashad wants to fight!

Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - by Mitch Gobetz - MMAWeekly.com

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Following his fight with Tito Ortiz in July, which ended in a draw, Rashad Evans has been waiting for the rematch that fans have been clamoring to see.

A lot of controversy ensued following their initial match-up. Ortiz had clearly won the first round, but in round two, he repeatedly grabbed the fence. After a takedown attempt by Evans, Ortiz grabbed the fence once again, causing the referee to take a point away. Evans took the fight to Ortiz in the third causing the judges to declare it a unanimous draw.

There have been many rumors regarding their anticipated rematch happening on Nov. 18 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

“I don't even know,” Evans said of a rematch with Ortiz. “I heard November, maybe December. I don't even know if he has his contract deal done yet. It's on him, honestly.”

There had been some speculation that Evans was injured or that Ortiz might have a fight with another opponent.

“No, I don't have any injuries. I heard he was going to have another fight, too. I don't know what he plans on doing. I'm ready to fight.”

If Evans were to have another fight with Ortiz, he believes it would just be a continuation of their first fight.

“I'll just pick up right where I left off,” said Evans. “Everybody was saying that Tito only lost because he had that point taken away in the second, but I think that if he hadn't grabbed the cage, it would have been different.”

Evans was definitely holding his own with Ortiz, but he did feel that there was some room for improvement that he could utilize in a rematch, if it happens.

“I was kind of feeling alright during the second round, when I was trying to take him down. I felt pretty confident … but the one thing I didn't do is plant my feet and trade.”

Rashad doesn't seem to think that Ortiz is really into having this rematch with him. After all, the rematch was preliminarily scheduled for October, now it's being pushed to November, and there is no guarantee that it will happen then either.

“I just feel like he's taking so long to take this fight for a reason. He isn't in a hurry to fight me,” said Evans.

If Evans doesn't fight Ortiz, there are other top contenders that he could face. One name being thrown around is red-hot UFC newcomer Houston Alexander. A fight between Alexander and Evans would make sense due to the fact that Alexander destroyed Evans' training partner Keith Jardine in May at UFC 71. Evans, however, doesn't feel it's the right time for that match-up.

“Houston's a tough dude. But I see no point of swapping places with anybody. If they said you got to fight this guy, then I would. But I really don't have anything to gain off of that.”

Regardless of whether Evans fights Ortiz or another contender, he would like to get another fight in this year.

“I definitely want to get another fight in this year. I want to fight another good opponent.”

I don't know how he thinks that he will not have anything to gain if he beats Houston Alexander??

Anyways..

I know some of you want to see the rematch with Tito.. but also some of you just don't..

So if for some reason, it doesn't happen (which is very possible).. Who do you wanna see Rashad fights with??

opsy · 10-02-2007, 02:51 AM

sorry

I really want to see him fight Ortiz just to end the controversy. With all the smack talk between them, and all the debate, I just wanted to end.

If I had to pick somebody besides Ortiz, maybe Jason Lambert.

Gooner · 10-02-2007, 03:53 AM

Well, let's be honest... he REALLY doesn't have that much to gain from beating Alexander.
If/when he beats Tito, he should imo get a title shot.

If he instead goes and beats Alexander, so what? He was the first skilled "grappler" to fight him, we knew it was gonna happen (I did anyway

).
I don't think a win over Alexander would earn him a title shot. Houston's still somewhat untested and doesn't have the name recognition Tito has.

Dr.Chicago · 10-02-2007, 04:40 AM

Alexander > Jardine > Liddell >> Ortiz=Rashad

As simple as this!

And I believe, style-wise, it isn't gonna be a big problem for Alex against a grappler.. The dude is obviously strong as hell! (Although I don't have a proof, YET!!)

And yes, Tito is a bigger "name" than Alex.. But that's about it right now!

Gooner · 10-02-2007, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Chicago

Alexander > Jardine > Liddell >> Ortiz=Rashad

As simple as this!

And I believe, style-wise, it isn't gonna be a big problem for Alex against a grappler.. The dude is obviously strong as hell! (Although I don't have a proof, YET!!)

And yes, Tito is a bigger "name" than Alex.. But that's about it right now!

This post was a joke, right?

If not, I'm gonna nominate it for "dumbest post of the month"...
It's gonna give DoQ and Jawshattera a run for their money.
No offense, guys.

PS. how does Rashad beating Jardine fit into that brilliant MMA-math equation of yours?

Nevermind, I just remembered MMA-math is retarded anyway.

Dr.Chicago · 10-02-2007, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooner

This post was a joke, right?

If not, I'm gonna nominate it for "dumbest post of the month"...
It's gonna give DoQ and Jawshattera a run for their money.
No offense, guys.

PS. how does Rashad beating Jardine fit into that brilliant MMA-math equation of yours?

Nevermind, I just remembered MMA-math is retarded anyway.

Relax man

It's not like Alex is my cousin or something! I just believe in the guy! I stated that I don't have a proof, remember?

It's just a gut feeling! I really see him having no problem with a grappler.. Although I can't prove that.. You can't prove the opposite neither..

I was irritated a little bit with Rashad saying he isn't gonna gain a thing if he beats Alexander.. Which is something I disagree with!

And please Goonie, easy on me and the other fellaz

I really don't see why you must call my opinion a dumb one?????

Malf · 10-02-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooner

This post was a joke, right?

If not, I'm gonna nominate it for "dumbest post of the month"...
It's gonna give DoQ and Jawshattera a run for their money.
No offense, guys.

PS. how does Rashad beating Jardine fit into that brilliant MMA-math equation of yours?

Nevermind, I just remembered MMA-math is retarded anyway.

Thanks for making me spit water on my screen.

Just to keep this post constructive I'll go ahead and say that MMA-math is a total load of crap. I had to go around and around with countless people who were arguing with me over Chuck vs Wandy. "Chuck beat Tito and Vitor, who both beat Wandy." "Wandy beat Rampage, who beat Chuck." Blah blah blah.

I respect you as a FF member, Doc. I just strongly disagree with that system of logic.

Normo · 10-02-2007, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Chicago

Relax man

It's not like Alex is my cousin or something! I just believe in the guy! I stated that I don't have a proof, remember?

It's just a gut feeling! I really see him having no problem with a grappler.. Although I can't prove that.. You can't prove the opposite neither..

I was irritated a little bit with Rashad saying he isn't gonna gain a thing if he beats Alexander.. Which is something I disagree with!

And please Goonie, easy on me and the other fellaz

I really don't see why you must call my opinion a dumb one?????

Your opinion is dumb because of MMA Math. You say Jardine is better than Rashad even though Rashad has beaten Jardine...

By MMA Math we also learn Chuck Liddell is better than Fedor because he has beaten Randy Couture twice and people think Couture can beat Fedor, its just stupid.

Bomber · 10-02-2007, 06:13 AM

Alexander would definitely be a step backwards for Evans. He's undefeated, not only in the octagon but in his MMA career. He wants to fight someone who's clearly ranked above him, and who can blame him? Like Gooner said, if Evans beats Alexander, then everyone says Alexander was overrated and he's just a slugger. Like it or not, Tito is a legend, and a win against him pushes Evans into the title picture.

the truth · 10-02-2007, 08:11 AM

i cant believe that people think Evans deserves a title shot, the only quality fighter he has beat is lambert, then some are saying Griffen deserves... theres noway griffen gets the shot before jardine NOWAY. i understand griffen beat shogun but Jardin beat Chuck and griffen

if the UFC gives anyone but jardine a shot then there system is a joke if there is someone besides jardine who gets the shot it can only be machida

i still say The Dean of mean

and if peeps think alex gets the shot put him against Chuck, shogun or Wandy 1st

alex n Wandy would be a good 1

mxfuel · 10-02-2007, 08:19 AM

I guess I was a little disappointed by him saying he he has nothing to gain. I just don't think that you can take Houston for granted even if he has not been tested in later rounds or on the ground.

I don't really want to see the Evans/Tito rematch but it has to be done. It has a controversial ending with a draw. The fight was a close match even though it was kind of boring. (unlike the matt/bisbing fight. I know who dominated and won that fight...no rematch please)

Gooner · 10-02-2007, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Chicago

Relax man

It's not like Alex is my cousin or something! I just believe in the guy! I stated that I don't have a proof, remember?

It's just a gut feeling! I really see him having no problem with a grappler.. Although I can't prove that.. You can't prove the opposite neither..

I was irritated a little bit with Rashad saying he isn't gonna gain a thing if he beats Alexander.. Which is something I disagree with!

And please Goonie, easy on me and the other fellaz

I really don't see why you must call my opinion a dumb one?????

I'm all relaxed, I was just roasting you a little... nothing personal.
And I have been easy on you.

As I said, I agree with Rashad that he wouldn't gain much from beating Houston. You disagree there, and that's fine.
I also disagree with you implying that Alexander is a better fighter than Tito. I don't like Tito one bit, but I think he would be a nightmare-opponent for HA.
Opinions on those two matters are somewhat subjective (and like you say, there's no proof out there) but it was the MMA-math that made your "opinion a dumb one" imo.

And so, I also called it dumb.
I reserve the right to call posts dumb, and if the FF God doesn't like it...
may He strike you dead right now.
Nobody wants this place to be like Sherdog, but it shouldn't look like an after school special either.

Saskabush · 10-02-2007, 08:55 AM

If the Tito fight doesn't happen I think that Houston is the most logical choice. Who else would they put Rashad up against? A fight between them would draw a lot of viewers, even more than a rematch to a lackluster fight with Tito.

What would really make he happy is Rashad dropping down to MW. He is a much better size for that division and would probably have a better success rate there. I like Rashad as a fighter and think he is ever improving but I don't see him being able to hang with the likes of Rampage, Wandy, Shogun, or maybe even Chuck.

earvinarp · 10-02-2007, 09:24 AM

Now! Alexander-Evans is a fight I want to see. I believe both Tito and Rashad can be paired with opponents that will make for better fights. I prefer seeing Tito against Hendo and Evans against Alexander. There's really no reason for a rematch between Evans and Ortiz. They tied. The decision was just. That is one of three possible outcomes in a fight. The judges did not mess up (like with Hamill-Bisping.) So, if the UFC believes the second fight will go like the first, why put the fans through this again? The fighters should not care. They will get paid all the same.

Obviously Evans is scared of Alexander because they guy has been knocking out people left and right. That's why he says he has nothing to gain against him. But in my books, Alexander should be higher in the rankings than Evans because he beat Jardine. So Rashad has a lot to gain there.

Saskabush · 10-02-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earvinarp

Now! Alexander-Evans is a fight I want to see. I believe both Tito and Rashad can be paired with opponents that will make for better fights. I prefer seeing Tito against Hendo and Evans against Alexander. There's really no reason for a rematch between Evans and Ortiz. They tied. The decision was just. That is one of three possible outcomes in a fight. The judges did not mess up (like with Hamill-Bisping.) So, if the UFC believes the second fight will go like the first, why put the fans through this again? The fighters should not care. They will get paid all the same.

Obviously Evans is scared of Alexander because they guy has been knocking out people left and right. That's why he says he has nothing to gain against him. But in my books, Alexander should be higher in the rankings than Evans because he beat Jardine. So Rashad has a lot to gain there.

Rashad beat Jardine. I don't care if it was on TUF, he clearly beat him.

earvinarp · 10-02-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

Rashad beat Jardine. I don't care if it was on TUF, he clearly beat him.

But it does matter that it was TUF and does not count toward the rankings.

Harms · 10-02-2007, 09:39 AM

Make Rashad wait one more month and let him fight Wandy. He gets the name recognition there.

earvinarp · 10-02-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harms

Make Rashad wait one more month and let him fight Wandy. He gets the name recognition there.

Maybe. The whole point with Wandy is to see if he gets an immediate title shot after the first fight. The situation is exactly the same as when Rampage came to the UFC. He fought Eastman and then Chuck got his opportunity for redemption. Same should happen with Wandy and then Rampage could have a shot at him.

Now, I presume Evans could be Wandy's Eastman. But I believe they will give Forrest, Jardine or Machida to Silva (I pray it is not Machida...).

OneBigThrow · 10-02-2007, 10:04 AM

I want to see him fight too, thats the first thing i though of when tito and hendo were signed (i think) to fight