UFC on Fox - Rashad Evans Vs Phil Davis: A Fan's View of the Main Card - UFC

According to a Yahoo! Sports report, Saturday night's UFC show on Fox is, in the long view, the single most important show for the promotion in several years.

The event is a game-changer and a big promotional gamble, as the results of Saturday night's top fights - Rashad Evans (21-1-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0), the five-round main event from the United Center in Chicago, and Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) vs. Michael Bisping (23-3) - will determine whether or not some of the biggest projected UFC title fights are going to happen this year.

Here's some picks and predictions for the main card of UFC on Fox 2:

Rashad Evans (21-1-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0)

In order to be a legend, you have to beat a legend. That will be the mantra for the undefeated Phil Davis, as he takes on the six-year UFC vet and former light heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans.

The 32-year-old Evans hasn't quite reached legendary status, but he does hold notable wins in the octagon over bona-fide future hall of famers like Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson and Chuck Liddell.

As for Phil Davis, he hasn't lost in his five UFC appearances and all of his wins have come against elite competitors, with the exception perhaps of Rodney Wallace, so he's not a walk-through challenger. Most fight fans want to see the long-hyped clash between Evans and Jon Jones later this year, but a win here by Davis would put his name in front of Evans' for a title shot.

"Some people may say I'm already the No. 1 contender, but I'm a fighter not a critic and I will go through anybody who stands in my way until I got a shot at the UFC title," Evans said, according to his UFC fighter profile. "Having the opportunity to prove that I'm the top contender in the division on FOX - the biggest stage there is - is just icing on the cake. I will leave no doubt that I'm the top guy in the light heavyweight division after my fight on FOX."

Styles make fights, and this is a classic matchup of Davis, who has a strong wrestling background, against fighter who has excellent takedown defense.

The Pick: The title fight between Rashad Evans and Jones is going to happen. Evans' strong takedown defense will lead to a standup slugfest in the fight against Davis, and that will result in a first-round TKO of the latter. Evans has the advantage if he can keep the fight standing.

Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) vs Michael Bisping (23-3-0)

This match will determine who gets the next shot at Anderson Silva and the middleweight belt.

Sonnen is the winner of four of his past five, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Silva. He was winning most of that fight before getting caught in a triangle armbar in the fifth round, and he would love nothing more than another crack at the champ, but he'll have to get through Michael Bisping first.

Bisping is a classic striker, and he has a good shot at tasting sweet victory if he can keep the fight standing. That's one big "if" though, as Sonnen is one of the best wrestlers in the division.

The Pick: Chael Sonnen will use his wrestling skills to squeak out a decision victory to earn his rematch against Anderson Silva.

Demian Maia (15-3) vs Chris Weidman (7-0)

The undefeated middleweight Chris Weidman jumped in on short notice to take on Maia, and the UFC website says this will be the sleeper pick for Fight of The Night.

The men have been very respectful of each other, but it will be all-out-war when the octagon door locks behind them.

The Pick: I give the advantage to Chris Weidman in this contest. He's a young, hungry, up-and-comer who emerged from the Baldwin Bruins' wrestling program, which is a perennial Long Island high school wrestling powerhouse. Maia has superb BJJ skills, but 2012 is Weidman's year to shine. Weidman will earn a submission victory over Maia early in the second round.

Eric Holden is a lifelong UFC fan and supporter of the sport of mixed martial arts. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.

Sources

www.ufc.com, UFC, fighter stats

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