UFC on FOX 2 is an action packed card that is sure to deliver some memorable fights. The first UFC event on FOX took place towards the end of 2011. It featured one fight, a Heavyweight championship bout between then champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos.

 

The challenger Dos Santos quickly disposed of the Mexican champion, winning by knockout in just 64 seconds. Fans expected a multi-round war, but only got a taste of what the UFC has to offer.

 

UFC on FOX 2 is sure to satisfy the fans expectations by featuring three main card fights, including a main event with Light Heavyweight title implications.  Here is a preview of the action expected on Saturday Night.

 

The UFC released multiple quotes by all the fighters to Hurtsbad MMA which are featured in this article.

 

The first fight features Demian Maia, a former title challenger and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion, taking on Chris Weidman, a three time all American wrestler at Hofstra University who possesses jaw dropping potential.

 

Demian Maia has won 3 of his last 4 fights, all of which came after his title shot against pound for pound king Anderson Silva. Maia is an amazing grappler who has shown improving standup in his last few fights.

 

In his last fight he faced off against fellow Brazilian Jorge Santiago, defeating him by unanimous decision. If Maia can get passed Weidman, it will raise his stock greatly and show everyone that he is still a force to be reckoned with at 185 pounds.

 

Maia had this to say about the fight, “I was disappointed to hear my fight with Bisping was off, but am happy to still be on the card on FOX. I’m ready to turn a negative into a positive, to control the part I can control, which is winning. A win over Bisping would have put me back in the world title picture, but Weidman is a dangerous young fighter and he knows a win over me puts him in a great position.”

 

Weidman has a massive amount of hype behind him. He has some of the best grappling in the Middleweight division. He also possesses great standup, which improves with every fight. He shows great potential and has not yet lost in his MMA career.

 

In his last fight he faced off against Tom Lawlor, defeating him by submission. Weidman sunk in a Brabo choke that caused Lawlor to lose consciousness. It showcased Weidman’s fast improving submission game.  Even though he is taking the fight on just a week’s notice, Weidman is eager to step up to the challenge.

 

Weidman has this to say of his upcoming match, “Taking the fight at a week’s notice wasn’t all that bad a decision. I have an opportunity to gain a lot of recognition and get myself up to where I want to be. I was just about to eat a load of waffles when I got the call….I threw those waffles away. There was no chance I was going to pass this up. I want to get into the top five and here’s my chance. You only live once, I didn’t want to sit at home and watch some other guy fight

on FOX in an opportunity I already has passed up.”

 

Expect Maia to come out aggressive, throwing lots of punches and pushing Weidman into the clinch. Weidman will answer back with strikes of his own, including a few takedowns. Once Weidman has the Brazilian on the ground he will have to be very active and careful to avoid Maia’s submissions.

 

Maia has arguably the most dangerous guard in the UFC. He can finish almost anyone off his back. However, Weidman is too athletic and smart to get caught by Maia when on the ground. Expect him to pressure Maia on the ground and surprise him with his top notch wrestling ability.

 

Weidman wins this one by Unanimous Decision.

 

The co-main event features two of the most popular fighters in the UFC; recent title challenger Chael Sonnen and Englishman Michael Bisping. The Brit stepped in on short notice after Mark Munoz had to pull out of the fight due to an injury. The stakes are high in this one, with the winner of the fight getting a title shot at Anderson Silva later this year.

 

Chael Sonnen last fought in October against rising Middleweight star Brian Stann. Chael showcased his amazing grappling ability once again by smothering Stann with clinchwork and takedowns.

 

Sonnen looked for the finish and succeeded, sinking in a perfect arm triangle choke which caused Stann to tap out. Sonnen would love a rematch with Anderson Silva and if he can beat Bisping on Saturday night, he will secure his second title shot.

 

Sonnen shared some words on the upcoming fight, “I hate terms like ‘hype’ and ‘trash-talk’ because I don’t do that. I never say anything I don’t mean and I’m not going to insult a guy I have no problem with. But, that said, Bisping is a jerk and I’m going to finish him faster than he can devour a Bovril and meatpie.”

 

The master promoter went on to say, “I am the best fighter in the world. He thinks he can beat me, I think I can beat him and we are going to see who is right in the only debating forum that matters – the UFC Octagon. I came to Chicago to do Michael Bisping a lot of physical harm. I don’t come here to ‘talk trash’ because that’s not something I do. When this fight was announced, over 2 million extra tickets were demanded by the fans. This is the real main event, the biggest fight of all time.”

 

The last time we saw Michael Bisping fight it was at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. His opponent was the always charismatic Jason “Mayhem” Miller. The fight was hyped to be an all-out war, but ended up being a one sided beat down with Bisping winning in the third round via strikes.

 

Bisping is well known for his cardio, footwork, and boxing. He possesses excellent takedown defense which he will have to use against Sonnen. Bisping has been pushing for a title shot for years, coming close on multiple occasions only to lose in contender bouts.

 

Bisping has shown massive improvement over the last year and has definitely matured inside the Octagon. If he can stop Sonnen’s takedowns and implement his boxing gameplan, he should get the win and finally get the title shot he has fought so hard for.

 

Bisping had this to say of his opponent, “I know some fans are disappointed that there hasn’t been eight weeks of zingers between us and, to be honest, I think we would have got into it if this fight had been made two months ago. But right now, both of us had to focus on getting ready for a new opponent – and in his case a more dangerous opponent in me – on a week’s notice.”

 

“The Count” added “I never talk trash unless someone has disrespected me and, to be honest, Chael has been very complimentary of me. Chael and I have thrown a few little jokes here and there but that’s because we’ve both got a sense of humor. And he’ll need that sense of humor after he goes to the hospital on Saturday night just like seven of my last eight opponents have.”

 

On a more serious note Bisping stated, “I am under no illusions – I am getting kicked, punched, elbowed and taken down by Chael but he’s getting punched, kicked, kneed, elbowed, and knocked out in return. It will be a nasty, nasty war, but I’m beating him up and winning this fight. I am sure I will be taken down, but he’s going to have to worry about being submitted each time he does that. He won’t be able to hold me down and I know I can pick him apart standing.”

 

The outcome of this fight will depend on Sonnen’s takedowns and his ability to keep Bisping on the ground. If Bisping can stay on his feet and score points with strikes and Octagon control, he can take the victory.

 

Taking the fight on just a week’s notice is going to make a massive difference though, as Sonnen is a beast with his wrestling and one simply cannot prepare to defend that in just one week. I see the fight being competitive with Bisping landing lots of shots on the feet early, only to be taken down in the second and third rounds. Sonnen will look for a finish on the ground but will not be able to get it as Bisping will show his toughness and submission defense.

 

I have Sonnen winning the fight on the judge’s scorecards, being rewarded a Unanimous Decision victory to gain another title shot against his rival Anderson Silva.

 

The main event features former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans taking on the athletic, undefeated wrestler Phil Davis.  This fight has plenty riding on it. If Rashad wins he will finally get his title shot against former training partner and current rival Jon Jones. If Davis can pull off the upset, he will raise his stock significantly, putting himself right in title contention.

 

Fans know of what Evans brings to the table in every fight. He has great wrestling and powerful striking. Davis often relies on his wrestling but shows loads of potential with his striking and submissions.

 

The fight is going to be a tactical battle filled with takedowns, big punches, and lots of clinch work.

Rashad Evans last fought against UFC veteran Tito Ortiz. Rashad dominated the fight with big takedowns and powerful striking. He went on to win the fight by TKO. Evans looked improved and very aggressive in that fight. Expect him to be just as aggressive against Davis on Saturday night.

 

As of late, Evans has had somewhat of a chip on his shoulder. This is due to his rival and former training partner Jon Jones being the current champion. The two have traded words back and forth, resulting in a heated rivalry. Rashad would love nothing more than to get his shot at Jones. Evans had been scheduled to fight for the title on a few occasions over the last two years, but injuries have plagued him, causing him to drop out of the potential bouts.

 

He cannot look beyond Davis though, as Davis was a former four time All American wrestler at Penn State University and has shown vast improvement in every one of his fights. Rashad should rely on his speed on the feet, and utilize his one-shot power. If he can rock Davis on the feet, he should be able to finish him. If Evans allows Davis to dictate the fight with his wrestling, he will be in for a long night.

 

Rashad had some serious things to say about his opponent, “Davis is intimidated. I’ve seen him around and he’s not looking too confident. He’s not ready for this level ad he knows it. He’s coming to put up a good show, go back down a level, and come back again in a year or two. He’s not coming to take it to me, but I am gonna’ take it to him.”

 

“Suga” added, “After I had my year off I came back with the attitude of never, ever leaving it up to the judges and just throwing hands all the time. That’s the way my career is going to go, and that’s how I am going to. Phil is just a nice guy. He’s not a fighter. He’s an athlete, a great athlete, but not a fighter. He has no killer instinct for this and he’s got no experience at this level. He’s never fought at heavyweight like I had to (in TUF 2) to get into the UFC. He didn’t get punched by Chuck Liddell and Rampage Jackson like I did. He’s not had to dig deep at all. He’s in deep water, and I’m the shark.”

 

Phil Davis shows loads of promising potential. He possesses phenomenal athleticism, amazing wrestling, fast improving submissions, and incredible strength. His weakness is definitely the striking game.

 

In his last fight he defeated Brazilian fighter Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by Unanimous Decision. Davis wasn’t as impressive as he was in previous fights, being unable to get the takedown in the first half of the fight. He didn’t do much damage on the feet either, which leaves people questioning if he can stand and trade with someone like Rashad. Davis eventually adjusted and gained multiple takedowns late in the fight to get the victory.

 

Don’t expect him to fight Rashad the way he did against Nogueira. He will need to be much more aggressive and control the fight against Rashad using his superior strength. If he can find a home for his takedowns, and apply constant pressure on Evans, he should be able to pull off the upset. Don’t be surprised if Davis does enough in the judge’s eyes to get a split or unanimous decision victory.

 

Phil Davis responded to Evans by saying, “He’s delusional. If he thinks he’s going to out-wrestle or intimidate me, he’s in for a shock on Saturday night. I’ve been working hard for this; I can’t wait to get back into the Octagon after a layoff. He’s not as good as he thinks he is, and I am better than he thinks I am. He thinks he’s a better wrestler than me, crazy.”

 

The Alliance MMA star went on to say, “I would beat him 100 times out of 100. He was something like .500 in win/losses in wrestling. I was a champion, he just competed. Yes, I only have nine pro MMA fights but the inexperience thing isn’t an issue. I am less experienced than every single guy I’ve faced, and I am unbeaten. I am experienced at winning, and that’s what really matters, and I’m going to experience winning again on FOX.

 

I expect this fight to be a back and forth battle between two wrestlers. Evans striking will be the difference maker, as he throws big punches with lots of power behind them. Both fighters will likely get the takedown throughout the fight. Davis will put up a great fight, showcasing his heart and athleticism, but it won’t be enough to get the W.

 

Rashad will get the nod here, winning by split decision over a very game Phil Davis.

 

Tune in to FOX on Saturday night to see these six fighters showcase their world class skills. It’s an event that should not be missed whether you’re a casual fan or a hardcore fan. It’s going to be an amazing card.

 

For More Hurtsbad Headlines Click Here Or Below

 

Alliance Coach Del Fierro On Evans vs Davis                          Coach Van Arsdale on Unleashing Rashad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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