UFC on Fox 2 Results: 5 Things We Learned About Rashad Evans

Rashad Evans continued his march towards regaining the UFC light heavyweight title on Saturday night in his routing of Phil Davis at UFC on Fox 2.

It was a bout that really highlighted the difference between a seasoned veteran and rising prospect.

For five rounds, Evans picked Davis apart on the feet, and he even proved to be a better wrestler than the former NCAA Division I champion.

While Davis still has the potential to be a future title contender, the present belongs to Rashad Evans, who has clearly made drastic improvements since losing the title to Lyoto Machida in May 2009.

"Sugar" is now set for a championship showdown with former friend turned adversary Jon "Bones" Jones.

Many have stepped up and fallen at the hands of Jones, who is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Will Evans be the one to finally dethrone him?

Here are five things we learned about "Sugar" at UFC on Fox 2.

1) Striking Continues to Improve

It's truly astonishing to witness the kind of well-rounded fighter Evans has grown into.

Years ago, he was not so different from Davis. Evans was tentative in exchanges, maintained a stiff posture and didn't utilize a lot of head movement.

Now, the former light heavyweight champion has world class boxing skills to go along with his elite level wrestling.

Evans has developed a masterful fluidity and technical prowess in the striking department. In fact, a case could be made that Evans is the best pure boxer in the light heavyweight division.

His speed is second to none.

2) Best Wrestler at 205?

The world was once again reminded of the fact that collegiate wrestling doesn't necessarily translate over to MMA.

Evans was a good wrestler in his own right, but his efforts at Michigan State paled in comparison to Davis' Division I title at Penn State.

Still, Evans was able to outclass Davis in the grappling department throughout the fight.

"Sugar" could be the best wrestler in the entire light heavyweight division. His transitions from striking to grappling are seamless, and he has proven persistent in nabbing takedowns and utilizing shutdown top control.

Jones will surely have something to say about this when the two meet at UFC 145.

3) Patience is Bliss

Davis was a great opponent for Evans to get acclimated to a fight with Jones.

The former Penn State wrestler has an incredibly long reach, which he loves to utilize in the open to establish separation with leg kicks.

Evans did a tremendous job of checking kicks and closing the distance. He never became frustrated or desperate. It was a calm and collective effort that earned him the unanimous decision.

While Jones is exceptionally longer and a more versatile fighter than Davis, this fight can be treated like a mini test run for Evans.

He could frustrate Jones if he remains patient, maintains good defensive posture and uses his boxing and footwork to collapse the pocket and tee off in the standup exchanges.

4) Confidence at an All Time High

People tend to call Evans cocky and arrogant, but both of those traits can easily be mistaken for confidence and a newfound swagger.

Evans understands what it takes to excel at the highest level. It's written all over his face throughout pre-fight press conferences, his entrance walk and the final staredown.

A vast majority of fans expected Evans to struggle after leaving Jackson's MMA, but on the flipside, the split reinvigorated him and improved his Octagon performance.

5) Cardio and Chin Still Question Marks

There was plenty of good to take away from Evans' bout with Davis, but it's just as important to look at the bad.

Outside of his bout with Tito Ortiz, Evans' cardio has looked spotty as of late. He always starts out strong, but as a fight drags deep into the second and third rounds, he tends to slow down a bit.

During the UFC on Fox 2 main event, UFC commentator Mike Goldberg alluded to a pre-fight statement by Davis at the press conference about Evans' style changing when he tires.

Even though he failed to take advantage of it, this was excellent scouting on Davis' part. Evans tends to become sluggish and sloppy as a fight wears on, and his great defensive posture quickly unravels.

Davis was able to secure a pair of takedowns on a visibly tired Evans in the third round.

Along with cardio, Evans' chin is also a question mark. He has been dropped in three of his last five fights.