UFC 114: More Than Just A Shot At Shogun For Jackson And Evans

If you've read any recent articles from any MMA news source like ESPN or Fanhouse MMA or even Sherdog, it's likely you know a little bit about it already.

If you've seen this past Thursday's MMA Live, if you've heard anything about it on Inside MMA, or if you've caught the ESPN conference call by looking it up on Youtube, you've definitely know enough about it to get excited about it before it happens this Saturday.

It's UFC 114: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson Vs. "Suga" Rashad Evans.

The commercials have said it best: it's the fight we've all been waiting to see.

Recently, Dana White, President of the Zuffa-owned Ultimate Fighting Championship, made an official declaration — a declaration that some people thought was going to happen, while others either hoped, "knew," or assumed, that it was going to happen.

White made it official that the winner would be the first contender to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Does it matter, though?

Now, I want to see Shogun face either man in the Octagon as much as the next guy, and if any fight of Shogun's can top his title win over Lyoto Machida, it would be a fight with either Jackson (in a rematch from PIRDE) or Evans.

A fight of that caliber could make fight of the year, in any and every respect of the term "fight."

The reason I question whether the title shot matters or not should actually be quite obvious to most people, but I wouldn't believe that everyone knows why the shot at Shogun is secondary in this particular fight.

For those who don't, let me give you a bit of insight as to why I feel the way I do about Rampage Vs. Evans.

Throughout the history of the UFC, you've had some crazy feuds. Tito Ortiz Vs. Ken Shamrock, BJ Penn Vs. GSP, BJ Penn Vs. Jens Pulver, Frank Mir Vs. Brock Lesnar, Ortiz Vs. Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes Vs. Matt Serra, and the list could go on and on.

The only one of those aforementioned feuds that comes close to the one Rampage and Rashad have now is the one between Mir and Lesnar.

Then again, I don't recall Mir and Lesnar wanting to hit each other as much as Rampage wants to hit Rashad and vice versa.

Both men have wanted to go at each other for a long time , dating back to when Rashad was at the top of the UFC Light Heavyweight food chain. Rampage has wanted his belt back since he lost it to Forrest Griffin, and Rashad's wanted his belt back since Machida handed Rashad his first loss.

It's gotten to where I wouldn't be surprised if either fighter decked the other while the ref was giving out the instructions, nor would I be surprised if either man took after Paul Daley and threw a shot five seconds after the bell.

Both men have to be thinking about a game plan for Rua, as the winner does have the unenviable task of taking on the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champ, should they win.

With that on their minds, you'd think maybe one fighter would be looking past the other.

If the champ was any fighter other than Shogun (or Machida, had he retained against Rua,) and if the two facing off this Saturday were any fighters other than Rampage or Evans, I'd think one was looking past the other.

Rampage is definitely thinking a little bit about Shogun, as one of the most devastating career losses for Rampage besides the two to Wanderlei Silva were courtesy of Shogun.

Nothing would be sweeter for him than to exact his payback on Mauricio like he did to Wanderlei at UFC 92.

Rashad's got to be thinking that despite Machida losing, there could be a chance for him to pay Machida back for UFC 98, if Rashad can first beat Rampage and then eventually Shogun.

The latter is a feat in itself, but one shouldn't say that Mauricio can't be beaten.

Again, though, if the thought of getting the belt back is on either man's mind, one might think maybe they'd look past their opponent, but the drive to get the belt back isn't going to be an issue with either Jackson or "Suga Rashad."

With the shots that both men have fired at each other, Shogun is secondary.

The title is secondary.

Rampage wants to knock Evans out more than anything, much like Rashad wants to knock Rampage out more than anything. Could some takedowns and submission attempts happen in this fight? Absolutely.

Could this fight end by the judges' decision? Absolutely.

Much like I've hoped and thought for the past few UFC cards though, someone's getting knocked out in this fight.

I can't say whether it's going to be Rashad or Rampage, but someone's getting knocked out for sure, in my opinion.

Shogun, don't worry. This one's deeper than the belt you're holding right now.

This one's personal.

What do you think? Is this Saturday's Rampage Vs. Evans fight about the title shot against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, or is this one about something more than that? As usual, comments and messages to the author are most welcome.