UFC 98 Good to Go
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Mark your calendars. After a number of changes in the fight card the UFC has finally confirmed that “UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida” will push through on May 23 in Las Vegas. Although this was not the card most fans were expecting a few months ago, there is definitely nothing to be disappointed about as the UFC has again been able to come up with a packed card featuring both up-and-comers and comeback superstars. In the main event, the much coveted light-heavyweight title is on the line as two undefeated warriors go head-to-head in a bout that is already being tipped as a contender for fight of the year even before it has begun.
Interim heavyweight champ Frank Mir, who defeated Brazilian Legend Antonio Minotauro Nogueira in December of 2008 to gain the belt, was originally set to face former WWE superstar and current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar for the undisputed heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 98. Unfortunately Mir injured himself in training and the fight was moved to July 11. This meant that another fight would have to take the main event on the UFC 98 card and it was the light-heavyweight championship that was selected. After defeating Keith Jardine in a decision in UFC 96, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was awarded a title fight against current undefeated champion “Sugar” Rashad Evans. This in itself was already a fight for the ages and the two immediately were in each other’s face right after Jackson’s victory.
Again fate intervened and Jackson learned that injuries he sustained in his victory meant that he would not be able to fight Evans on May 23. The obvious substitute was “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida, another undefeated Brazilian who impressively knocked out his compatriot Thiago Silva in UFC 94. At 14-0-0 the dragon finally gets his much-deserved title shot at the 205-lbs division against the 18-0-1 champion Evans. The former will put his karate background to the test against the heavy-hitting wrestler who knocked out his two previous opponents in Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell. Someone’s zero has got to go and if you’re a fan of mixed martial arts, this is surely not a fight you would want to miss.
The co-main event of the card features two former welterweight champions who are both coming off viscous defeats and in need of a win to revive their respective careers. Future hall-of-famer Matt Hughes finally gets in the ring against Ultimate Fighter 4 champion Matt Serra. In a fight that is almost two years in the making, both fighters need to go all out for the victory to give them a chance to be able to reclaim the welterweight belt.
Other notable fights in the under card include top lightweight Frankie Edgar against former lightweight champ Sean Sherk, Dan Miller facing Japanese MMA superstar Yushin Okami, and Josh Koscheck versus Chris Wilson.
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