Liddell looks for title shot versus Evans

With the UFC Light Heavyweight Division being changed somewhat with Forrest Griffin taking the title from Quinton Jackson, this leads to more possibilities for the UFC to put out some exciting fights, including a showdown with Griffin and former title holder Chuck Liddell. 

That's if Liddell can get by undefeated Rashad Evans Sept. 9 in Atlanta.

Evans is probably the best wrestler Liddell has fought since his historic trilogy with Randy Couture.  Evans wrestling and take downs are quite a bit different than Couture's or even of Tito Ortiz when Liddell fought him twice (both wins by KO). 

Evans has showed an explosive streak an an ability to takedown anyone who stands before him.  Liddell has always been known for his excellent takedown defense, but if Evans can stand up enough to set-up a good shot, can Liddell contain Evans? 

To try and explain if that's possible, let's break down this fight by category.

Standup: Advantage: Liddell

Is there anyone who is more dangerous than Chuck Liddell in the standup game?  Evans has good standup (look at his brutal KO of Sean Salmon fore evidence), but Rashad would be out of his mind if he wants to keep this fight standing. 

Wanderlei Silva went head to head with him and the "Axe Murderer", known for his brutal stand up, got the worst of the exchanges.  Keith Jardine, one of the few to stand up with Liddell, and get the best of him, had an awkward approach which Liddell will not have to deal with in Evans. 

Rashad needs to show he's not afraid of Chuck's stand up, but also smart enough to just do enough to set-up a take down.  If not, it will be a short night for Evans.

Grappling: Advantage: Evans

Chuck, a former college wrestler at Cal Poly, has shown the ability to take the fight to the ground lately.  Even with this, Chuck knows his best chance of winning this fight is to sprawl and brawl. 

Evans, a former big ten wrestler out of Michigan State, has shown that he has the skill set and explosiveness to take fighters down at will. 

It will be interesting to see that if Rashad has a difficult time taking down Chuck, will he become frustrated an abandon the game plan that gives him the best chance to win?

Submissions and Ground and Pound: Advantage: Evans

Let's be honest; Liddell or Evans has never shown any Royce Gracie in them in submitting opponents.  Evans only has two submissions in 12 fights and Chuck has even less with one in 26 fights. 

This basically goes down to who has the best ground and pound an I have to favor Evans in this category. 

He was criticized early in his career for not being able to finish fights, but his G and P stoppage of Jason Lambert and his moments of viscous elbows he was throwing in the draw to Tito Ortiz shows enough that if Chuck finds himself on the bottom for most of this fight, we have a upset on our hands.

Experience: Advantage: Liddell

Chuck Liddell has seen and done it all.  He has beaten them all.  Couture (twice),  Renato "Babalu" Sobral (twice), Ortiz (twice),Vitor Belfort, Kevin Randleman, Silva, the list goes on. 

He's by far the most battle tested fighter that the UFC has on their roster.  Evans on the other hand has fought a few big names (Ortiz, Michael Bisping), but this is a huge step up in competition for the former Ultimate Fighter winner. 

Can he hack it with the big boys, or will he succumb to the headline pressure?

Winner: Chuck Liddell KO in RD 2

At the end of the day, I think Chuck will do a better job of keeping the fight standing and like he always has said, he is going to get you eventually. 

If the fight goes as Chuck predicts, he should be looking at at a title fight with Griffin sometime this winter.  Will Chuck have a shot to regain the Light Heavyweight Title for the second time, or will Rashad Evans look to cement his name as a number one contender?

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