Round one has already gone to Rampage. He's the far superior trash talker. Evans was lost in the middle of that octagon. All he could say was I'm going to knock you the fuck out and called him a little bitch. Rampage was just better. "Don't do that Rashad."
I'm rooting for Rampage, I'd give an edge (not huge) to Rampage in striking, however Rashad is a threat still. I'm guessing that he comes with a gameplan to get Rampage comfortable standing, throw leg kicks, and eventually go for the takedown and wear him down. Eventually getting a 3rd or 4th round TKO. So according to this poll, Rashad by KO (TKO)
I clicked Rampage but I meant to click Rashad. I agree with Dennis, Rashad should be able to take him down and work ground and pound. I don't see either of them getting knocked out standing.
I voted for Rampage because I want him to win, but I think Rashad wins it. Can a global mod change the vote for speeds?
I can change it I just don't want to fuck up the poll in the process. Edit: the numbers are changed, not the names. Seems honest that way I guess.
I am torn on this matchup. I am a fan of both guys, both are great fighters... I think Evans will pull this one out though.
One thing I think Rampage has in his favor is pressure. There is no pressure on him, its all on Rashad. Rampage has had the belt before, he's defended it before. He's fought for it before, he's been in Rashad's shoes before. Rashad has never defended that title before. All the pressure is on him, especially with him making comments like, "the first punch I land it'll be over," "I'm going to dig into that ass," and more. I think Rampage looked tentative against Jardine because even he admitted it was a new kind of pressure he was facing. Win and get a shot, lose and start from scratch. That's a lot of pressure, knowing you have to win. Its a different kind of pressure, so I think he was more tentative. He has his shot against Rashad, he won't need to be tentative.
I bet $40 with my bro on Rashad to win his next fight whether it be Rampage or Machida. Am i retarded or am I probably 40 bucks richer?
It can go either way, but I think you are definitely the safer to win the bet. Evans and his trainer have now seen Rampage fight up close, they'll game plan for him as best as they can (Greg Jackson is one of the best game planners in MMA). People forget about Rampage's GnP and his slams because he is such a good boxer and has such good defense, so I think he could have an advantage there, as well. He isn't as quick as Evans, but he is more powerful IMO. Its really a coin flip.
One thing you have to consider when thinking about Rashad is that he comes from Greg Jackson's camp. So he probably will have a good gameplan. Rampage as good of a fighter as he is, he usually has a similar style. I think Rashad will have a good gameplan going in. So against Rampage I would say it is like something like 60/40 or 55/45 for Rashad in my books. Against Machida, I really can't tell. I'd bet Rashad is capable of TKOing Machida via GnP like he did with Forrest, however securing a takedown on Machida could be hard. I think standing it could go either way, but I would predict Machida frustrating him. I'm not sure who I would pick in a Rashad vs. Machida fight. I would put 40$ on Rashad over Rampage, but against Machida I really have no damn clue.
^ Especially since Rampage said he threw out his gameplan in the first minute of the Jardine fight. There is no way Evans and his camp will be surprised by what Jackson brings to the fight.
Vs Rampage it's a good bet. Rampage has a tendancy to want to be a boxer and only a boxer with a takedown or two just to score points. He's relatively easy to gameplan for Vs Machida I think you can kiss your money goodbye. Machida is nearly impossible to hit, very hard to take down due to his sumo background and varies his strikes so much it's hard to game plan for him. Rashad has the speed and skills to avoid a lot of strikes too and could drop a shot on the button, but chances are he won't.
