UFC 145: Several Fighters Have Their Backs Against the Wall

UFC 145 hits pay-per-view on April 21 with the highly anticipated fight card featuring light heavyweight champion Jon Jones versus top contender Rashad Evans. While the card is filled with exciting fighters and competitive bouts, many on the card find themselves with their backs pressed firmly against the wall—some fighting for their jobs, some fighting to remain relevant in their respective divisions, others fighting for both.

The Facebook preliminary card features two fighters who will be looking to avoid getting the pink slip. Keith Wisniewski entered the UFC on a six-fight win streak before losing in his Octagon debut to Josh Neer. At UFC 145 he will step in against Chris Clements, who will make his UFC debut. Losing twice is bad enough, but losing twice on the undercard will probably send the 30-year-old to the bread line.

Also on the Facebook card is former The Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero. After being let go in 2010 he fought his way back in to the UFC only to suffer a decision loss to Jacob Volkmann. Escudero will do battle with another TUF winner, Mac Danzig. Escudero will need to avoid a loss to avoid heading back to the regional circuit.

The preliminary card set to air on FX features four exciting fights, but the headlining fight on the FX card will see Miguel Torres trying to remain relevant in the UFC bantamweight division against the 21-year-old phenom Michael McDonald.

Torres can be one of the division's most exciting fighters and should be in no danger of losing his job, but he has yet to defeat a contender in the division since holding the WEC strap around his waist. Despite how close the fight with Demetrious Johnson was, the judges' scorecards did not come up in his favor.

This fight will also be a step-up in competition for McDonald. The winner of this fight will put himself in title contention and for Torres that will prove he is still among the elite at 135-pounds.

UFC 145's main card features Eddie Yagin, former Tachi Palace featherweight champion, potentially fighting to keep his job against Mark Hominick. Hominick is coming off the seven-second KO loss to Chan Sung Jung. At the very least Yagin will need to make the bout exciting. In Yagin's last fight he dropped a decision to Junior Assunção, who has since been released from the UFC himself. Knowing he could be cut after this fight may give Yagin the incentive to come out guns blazing against the skilled striker in Atlanta, which would make for an explosive contest.

In the main card's heavyweight showcase, both fighters will be fighting to figure out where they stand in the division. Brendan Schaub returns from his KO loss to Minotauro Nogueira, and Ben Rothwell from a decision loss to Mark Hunt. Rothwell may also be fighting for his job as none of his previous performances have lit up the crowd. Both fighters are looking to break through to the upper echelon of the heavyweight division and a win would put them in a position to do so. With the addition of the Strikeforce heavyweight roster it is even more imperative that they pick up a win on April 21.

Finally, Rashad Evans finds himself with his back against the wall. By no means is he in any danger of being released, but this may be his last chance at a championship. The former UFC light heavyweight champion cannot be dispatched of as just another victim of Jon Jones' immense talent. If he does go by the wayside, the 32-year-old may find himself as a gatekeeper for the young or looking for superfights against some of the division's fading stars.

That is not to say it is a must-win scenario for “Suga." Evans will need to at least show more weakness in Jones' games to instill the image in the fan's heads that he may be the one to dethrone the seemingly invincible champion. As we all know, it is not just about win streaks but the ability to sell a fight that makes championship matches, and a devastating loss would make that a tough sell in the future toward the casual fan.

UFC 145 will be an interesting card to watch, not just for the fights that are sure to thrill, but to judge just where these fighters belong in the UFC.

Or if they even belong at all.