411's UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida Report 5.23.09
Posted by Jeremy Lambert on 05.24.2009
Lyoto Machida kept his undefeated record and gained the UFC Light Heavyweight Title with a second round destruction of Rashad Evans. Plus Matt Hughes and Matt Serra finally settled the score in a very close decision victory for Hughes and Frank Edgar turned in an impressive performance against former Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk. Click for the full report.
UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida
From The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada
Live on PPV
-Before the coverage begins, I want to wish a Happy Birthday to fellow 411 writer Adam Tool.
-Opening warrior video. Hughes and Serra continue to trash talk and they want to beat each other up. Machida wants to take the belt, Evans says he'll knock him out.
-The hosts as usual are Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan. Rogan is 50/50 on Machida vs. Evans.
-Video preview for Sherk vs. Edgar
Lightweight Fight: Sean Sherk (37-3-1) vs. Frank Edgar (9-1)
Round One: A lot of swings and misses early. Edgar mixing up his strikes and changing levels better. He's also the more aggressive of the to. Edgar grabs a single but Sherk stays on his feet. Edgar gets a takedown after catching a leg kick. He grabs a front face lock but Sherk escapes and gets back to his feet. Big exchange at the end of the round. 10-9 Edgar
Round Two: Counter uppercut by Edgar. Good left hook by Sherk. Edgar comes back with a right hand. Knee to the body by Edgar and Sherk slips but gets right back up. Sherk more aggressive now but Edgar moving and countering well. Edgar scoring well with the right hook. Edgar putting together really good combos. Another right hand and Sherk stumbles a bit. Good exchange by both men. Sherk gets caught with a groin kick, takes a second to rest, and is ready to go. Another right hand by Edgar. The round ends. 10-9 Edgar.
Round Three: Sherk comes out aggressive but Edgar still moving and countering. Takedown by Sherk. Edgar gets right back up but eats a right as they break. Sherk bleeding below the left eye. Left hook by Sherk. Sherk shoots but Edgar stuffs it and catches him with a right as Sherk backs away. Good counter right by Edgar. Edgar putting together very good combos and scoring with all of them. Sherk shoots but Edgar sprawls and grabs a guillotine. The round ends before he can finish it. 10-9 Edgar.
Official Decision: Frank Edgar by Unanimous Decision (30-27 across)
-Edgar's gameplan was to keep it on the feet and outstrike Sherk.
-UFC 99: The Comeback promo featuring Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin
-Video preview for Miller vs. Sonnen
Middleweight Fight: Dan Miller (11-1, 1 NC) vs. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)
Round One: Sonnen shoots and Miller tries for the guillotine. Sonnen looks stuck and it looks deep. Sonnen hangs on though and ends up pulling out and now has guard. Good ground and pound by Sonnen. Miller's head is against the cage, making it easy for Sonnen to posture up and come down with punches. Miller rolls for a kneebar but Sonnen blocks it and moves to side control. Miller gets it back to half guard but Sonnen continues to stay busy with punches. Sonnen continues to posture up and drop down with a heavy left hand. Sonnen grinds out the rest of the round. 10-9 Sonnen.
Round Two: Sonnen shoots and Miller sprawls out and lands a nice knee. Sonnen gets a hold of Miller, picks him up, and slams him down. Miller grabs a guillotine on the way down but Sonnen pulls out. Sonnen in guard continuing to grind out Miller. Big left hand by Sonnen. Miller goes for an armbar but Sonnen postures out. Sonnen staying busy in the guard to keep it on the ground. Crowd starting to boo. Sonnen postures and wings a left hand across the face of Miller. The round ends. 10-9 Sonnen.
Round Three: Right hook followed by the left has Sonnen backing up. Sonnen shoots and gets the takedown. Sonnen stays busy with punches and elbows but not too much damage being down, just wearing out Miller. Crowd starting to boo again as Miller not doing much in the guard. Just staying busy enough to not get stood up. Sonnen grinds out the rest of the round in guard. 10-9 Sonnen.
Official Decision: Chael Sonnen by Unanimous Decision (30-27 across)
-Video preview for McFedries vs. Foupa-Pokam
Middleweight Fight: Drew McFedries (7-5) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-10)
Round One: Right hand by McFedries drops Xavier. He pounces on him. Xavier gets up and McFedries drops him again. McFedries pounds him out.
-Xavier protests the stoppage but he was taking a beating
Official Decision: Drew McFedries by TKO at :37 in Round 1
-McFedries thanks the fans.
Light Heavyweight Fight (Preliminary Fight): Krzysztof Soszynski Vs. Andre Gusmao
Round One: Early clinch and a quick break. Soszynski presses forward and scores with a good left and right. Gusmao trips up Soszynski with an inside leg kick. Soszynski is quick to recover and square back off. Gusmao throwing a lot of kicks to keep the distance. Big exchange that Soszynski is tagging Gusmao with a big left and right. Left hook drops Gusmao and he looks out cold. Soszynski pounds him out and the ref stops it.
Official Decision: Krzysztof Soszynski by KO at 3:17 in Round 1
-Soszynski wanted KO of the night.
-Video preview for Hughes vs. Serra
Welterweight Fight: Matt Hughes (43-7) vs. Matt Serra (16-5)
Round One: Hughes starts southpaw. Serra drops Hughes but Hughes recovers, Hughes is up but Serra tagging him with the right hand. Hughes grabs a leg but Serra stays on his feet. Rogan says a headbutt dropped Hughes. Hughes presses Serra against the cage. Serra fights out of the clinch and they square off. Hughes forces another clinch and gets a trip takedown into side control. Serra rolls to his back and Hughes gets both hooks in. Hughes is on his back with the back of Serra. Punches by Hughes. Serra explodes and gets to his feet. Hughes ducks under a right as the round ends. Close round. 10-9 Hughes.
Round Two: Left hook by Serra. Knee to the body by Hughes. Hughes gets the clinch and throws Serra down and into guard. Hughes gets half guard. Hughes punches a lot to the body as Serra controls his posture. Crowd starting to boo and Serra looks bored as Hughes keeps punching the body. Hughes staying active enough to not get a stand up but not really doing damage. The ref stands them up. Serra talking to Hughes as the round ends. 10-9 Hughes.
Round Three: Knee to the body by Hughes as Serra comes in. Right hand by Hughes and he gets the clinch. Hughes with a relentless takedown. Serra has Hughes' arm trapped with an omaplata. Hughes pulls his arm out and has full guard. Serra goes for a triangle but Hughes postures up and out. Hughes gets half guard and Joe Rogan of all people is asking for a stand up. The ref stands them up. Left hook by Serra. Hughes tags Serra and Serra gives him his chin. Hughes doesn't bite. Hughes gets the clinch and Serra throws him to the ground. Serra postures up and comes down with good punches. Hughes grabs a single as the round ends. Another close round. 10-9 Serra.
-Hughes easily won the 2nd. Depends on how the first two were scored. Could go either way.
Official Decision: Matt Hughes by Unanimous Decision (29-28 across)
-Hughes says he's still motivated to fight and that he's a free agent. He doesn't hint at leaving though.
-Serra is upset that he lost and that he wants exciting fights.
-Rogan and Goldberg break down Evans/Machida. Evans never been knocked out, lands 58% of takedown defense, never attempted a submission. Machida most elusive fighter, lands 65% of strikes, has 84% takedown defense.
-Fans are 64% for Machida and 36% for Evans.
Light Heavyweight Title Fight (Main Event): Lyoto Machida (14-0) vs. Rashad Evans (c) (18-0-1)
Round One: Really slow start. No punches thrown almost 2 minutes in. Head kick by Machida just grazes Evans. Evans chases forward with the right and misses. Body kick by Machida. Leg kick by Evans. Quick clinch and a knee by Machida. Left hand drops Evans. Machida pounces on him. Evans regains his composure and gets back to his feet. Round ends. 10-9 Machida.
Round Two: "Machida" chants. Body kick by Machida. Quick clinch and a break. Machida presses forward with the left and Evans counters with the right. Left drops Evans again. Machida pounces on Evans. Evans getting up but eating big punches. Machida teeing off. Evans is out cold.
Official Decision: NEW UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida via KO at 3:57 in Round 2
-Machida says he's worked his whole life to win the belt and he's going to keep it for a long time. HE PLUGS THE AFTER PARTY~! What an awesome promo.
-Evans says Machida is tough to solve. Evans says next time he'll do better.
Welterweight Fight (Preliminary Fight): Mike Pyle vs. Brock Larson
Round One: Crowd is early to boo. Larson gets the takedown. Pyle goes for an armbar, Larson pulls out, Pyle goes for a leg lock, Larson escapes. Larson gets turtle position. Pyle rolls and gets guard. Heavy punches by Larson. Pyle tries to escape and get a double but Larson sprawls and looks for an anaconda. Pyle escapes and gets guard. Larson moves to half guard and goes for an arm triangle. Larson escapes half guard, finishes the choke, and Pyle taps out.
Official Decision: Brock Larson by Submission (Arm Triangle) at 3:06 in Round 1
-Larson is happy to get the win.
Heavyweight Fight (Preliminary Fight): Tim Hague vs. Pat Barry
Round One: Head kick by Barry followed by a straight right. Hague gets the takedown and into side control. Barry gives up his back in turtle position. Hague switches to a face lock and locks in a guillotine. Barry taps out.
Official Decision: Tim Hague by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:42 in Round 1
-Hague says he'll never quit and now he's ready to drink some beers.
-Goldberg and Rogan wrap up the show and talk about the possibility of Machida vs. Jackson.
All MMA fans tonight just witnessed the best P4P fighter in the world put on a show and a clinic against a top notch fighter. Machida is in a league of his own and tonight he proved just that
Posted By: wolf137 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 01:08 AM
I wonder who is going to jump on Machida's bandwagon NOW. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! He dropped Evans like a chump.
Posted By: David (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 01:09 AM
sherk left the building without taking a urine test cause he got caught juicing ,fuck sherk,,,,,machida kofu suga haha
Posted By: sherkfired (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 01:26 AM
serra won that fight
Posted By: Guest#1149 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 01:50 AM
Wow, Matt Hughes must have really hated Serra-he had some viscious lay and pray.
Posted By: Guest#7415 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 01:51 AM
I knew Lyoto Machida would win the whole time... Evans is a poser the fight was beautiful.
Posted By: ball hairs (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:15 AM
Fuck Machida, if he's brazilian im chinese. make me pork fried rice homo.
Posted By: eric (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:17 AM
The nuthugging for Machida was already bad, it's going to get unbearable soon. Forget the what is it, decade of domination Fedor has dished out, Machida by winning the title is the best EVAR!
I like the fighter, can't stand his nuthuggers. I think these nuthuggers are even worse than the ones Cro Cop had. Before that I think they were all on Liddell's jock. Then, most recently, they were BJ Penn's personal army, along with his mother. I'm not sure if they support GSP though. Strangely, it doesn't seem like Anderson Silva got the nuthug treatment, probably because he was so good that it didn't really seem like nuthugging, and he just cleaned out his division. But for Machida, he's now got it. The deranged nerd army that lives vicariously through their hero, until he loses after which time they will pretend he doesn't exist and move on to the next schmoe, cuz the beats got cold and he's cold product...but the beat goes on badum dum da dum.
I shouldn't complain too much though, it's like this in all sports. Many NFL fans are just as bad.
Posted By: Serp (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:33 AM
im so happy machida knocked the fuk out evans, and that hughes win was BULLSHIT!, DRY HUMPED HIM FOR 3 ROUNDs!
Posted By: wylung (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:33 AM
Glad Serra lost, no one should talk that much b.s. without having some kinda payback. And OMG.....did Machida look like a BEAST in there or what? Almost felt sorry for Rashad.....almost. I am already hoping for a match between Machida and The Spider somewhere down the line!
Posted By: Guest#8199 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:46 AM
I'm proud to say I've been a Machida fan for a long time, but even if a bunch of people jump on his bandwagon, so what? He deserves it, and deserves a big bandwagon. You gotta get on board the Machida express sometime. But as a fan of his, even I thought he'd have more trouble with Evan. He destroyed the (now former) champ. Great fight from a great champion. Edgar impressed the hell out of me with with power, versatility, and speed. He's definitely one to watch.
Posted By: About Damn Time (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:51 AM
Wow, I thought Machida was out of his mind for saying he wants to take on Lesnar. He may still be out of his mind, but he just planted a big shit pile of fear in everyone in the LH division. Rampage should take a LOT of time to heal that broken jaw before stepping in there with Machida.
Posted By: King Durin (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:04 AM
Move over Fedor, you are no longer the pfp best in the world
Posted By: Machida (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:29 AM
UFC fans finally starting to dumb down, and realize what a great fighter Machida is?
Posted By: Guest#7269 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:30 AM
I thought Serra had the fight to. He out scored Hughes on the stand up, and even though Hughes took him down he did not do enough to win the fight. Serra on his back was in no danger at all.
Posted By: SYC (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:33 AM
F*ck Matt Serra, he is a whiny doosh (Intentionally misspelled, fanboy assclowns).
My lord, after the pre-fight vids I pretty much wanted Serra killed by Hughes cause he was such a baby about Hughes apparent 'bullying'
Welcome to lower midcard barely on-air purgatory Matt Serra.
Bitch your way out of that.
Hughes FTW, and Serra simply sucks.
:D
Depite wanting Evans, I go to bed happy dooshtard Serra loses.
Posted By: SLAB (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:35 AM
The way I see it you all are hugging Machida's nutz. Eat a dick up until you hiccup.
Posted By: The Kid (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:52 AM
What's funny is that if you look at Hughes' last fights and the smack he talked leading up to them, it's no wonder that Serra had so much shit to say about him. I'll never forgive him for the crap he said about Gracie before their fight.
Posted By: King Durin (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:57 AM
WOw, I had my Money on Evans for sure...
Machida might end up holding that belt for a long loong time
Posted By: Guest#8612 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 04:06 AM
What fucking planet do you live on Serp?
Al I see on 411 is Anderson Silva ass kissers. Fedor is afraid to come to UFC 'cause he'll get smoked. Randy the geezer can beat him, Lesnar would fucking rip his head off and Mir would make him tap out. Fuck Fedor and the bush league he fights in.
Posted By: paco smith (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 04:34 AM
it's funny how all the hype was on Machidas karate and Evans wrestling and punches, and the fight ended with some simple street fighting
Wild Punches < Martial Arts
Posted By: Ramirez (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 05:29 AM
Move over Fedor, you are no longer the pfp best in the world
Posted By: Machida (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 03:29 AM
Those are some BIG words. Watch what you say about The Last Emperor, Machida!!!
Posted By: BeatByFedor (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Note to Rashad Evans:
Dancing like you are in "Step Up" while walking to the ring = Getting your ass kicked in the match.
Posted By: Guest#2779 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 07:22 AM
Wow...Daniel-san impressed me...didn't think he'd take it with a KO, figured Evans was too strong for that...bah.
I wonder if Brock is taking that challenge seriously now...granted, if Brock were to get ahold of him, it's game over, but he has to GET ahold of him...which appears damn near impossible...
Posted By: Ramsey (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Wow...I thought all along Machida would win, but I'm with the majority of the thought process that it would either be by decision or a later round stoppage. I never believed he would knock Evans out cold, but god damn if I didn't jump for joy!! I think this finally puts the doubters of the Dragon to sleep and proves he is the best in the division period. I can't wait to see the inevitable Machida/Rampage match, and hope that we get the same result as from this fight.
Posted By: Butters4Prez (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 09:06 AM
As an addendum to my previous post, doesn't this fight make the Machida/Ortiz result look even more bs??? I gotta say, what I love the most is that all the haters would say how slow paced and just waiting to counter he would be, and NO ONE(myself included) expecting the flat out cold-cocked knock out.
Posted By: Butters4Prez (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Lyoto is impressive, but putting him above Silva/GSP/Fedor on P4P lists is dumb. Fedor has been dominant for years as has Silva. GSP is the only guy on the P4P list who beasts guys also on the best P4P list. Machida beat who? Who has he beat? Lucky Shot-Rashad, Washed-Up Tito... thats it. His win over Penn means nothing as the size differance and it was so long ago, same with his Franklin win.
Machida just hasnt had competition. Rampage will prove this.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Serp you are a fucking moron. You post a fake name and act like your an mma information god. G upstairs ask mommy for some more fruit loops and shut the fuck up. Other than Dana and your moronic post never heard anyone talk up crocop flop. Stay in your safe basement and leave living to humans.
Posted By: Guest#5839 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 09:47 AM
First thanks 411 and mr. Lambert for the ufc report? Also can any of you guys tell me or was it just me was Rashad opening his jaw when Lyoto was finishing the fight? Before he went down and was he smiling? I thought it look like Wand and he slapped the crap outta Rampage back in pride before ke Ko'ed him? My friend said it could be muscle spasms in his face? Also any hear Rashads wife having A heart attack being all loud watching her husband get beat?
Posted By: Scottyieoittie (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Machida knocked out that stupid piece of crap fighter Evans. I didn't see even Evan do anything like ducking and then grabbing his crotch this time. He got knocked the Efff out! As long as Machida is alive he will be champion. How do you beat some one who won't attack unless you do to counter you?
Posted By: iloveoliviamunn (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Matt Serra is such a bitch. I guess he's a typical New Yorker who always whines when he doesn't get his way.
Posted By: big dog (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I thought Matt Serra won (as I assume Hughes did when he raised Serra's arm after the fight).
As for Serra being a "doosh" (as we were told by the moron above), have you read Matt Hughes' book? He is a complete fucking asshole.
Posted By: Gorsty (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 12:26 PM
people cant stand to see anyone be undefeated...
right now machida is undefeated guarantee u months from now u people will be bitching that he sucks and he'll lose eventually.if someone is just that good where no one can beat them just except it.
Posted By: Guest#0743 (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 01:15 PM
"All MMA fans tonight just witnessed the best P4P fighter in the world put on a show and a clinic against a top notch fighter."
Bandwagon much?
Posted By: Flying Dutchman (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 02:54 PM
ok, "Wow, Matt Hughes must have really hated Serra-he had some viscious lay and pray."
I know that you're new, heck alot of the bloggers and radio types must be new as well so don't feel bad. There was lay n pray in that fight, but it wasn't hughes that did it....Serra was wrapping him up from the bottom using the chill dog (eddie bravo name for a bottom position that basically ties up your opponent). Serra wasn't trying to submit hughes or sweep him, just tie him up long enough to get a standup.
Why isn't anyone mentioning that hughes was rocked by the headbutt? you get your sensed knocked out of you early in a fight with an illegal blow and you still find a way to get takedowns and top position and people still find a way to bitch, that's just not liking his personality.
btw, Serra's face was all scuffed up, so i'm guessing hughes landed a couple.
Posted By: romano (Guest) on May 24, 2009 at 05:43 PM
"it's funny how all the hype was on Machidas karate and Evans wrestling and punches, and the fight ended with some simple street fighting
Wild Punches < Martial Arts "
That's not the fight I watched. Machida fought out of the hardbow stance most of the fight and executed perfect straight punches over and over again. Look at some of the stills from the fight. Machida always has his other hand tucked back during a punch and ready to be delivered with crushing straight-ahead speed. What you saw from Machida is a clinic in the correct use of Karate. Use kicks to establish range, power and respect, and then use punches to end the fight. The knock-down in the first round was perfect Karate: round-kick to knock Evans off balance and reposition his hands away from his face and a simultaneous straight punch to the chin. You won't find a better example of that in a text book.
Face it, we've not seen a great Karate guy in the right since Keith Hackney back in UFC 4. Hackney fought very similar to Machida, but with less precision. Had he not broken his hand (this was before they wore gloves), he very well could have won UFC 4.
Posted By: King Durin (Guest) on May 25, 2009 at 11:47 AM
