Sonnen, Evans score close wins in UFC

MANILA, Philippines - Light heavyweight Rashad Evans and middleweight Chael Sonnen eked out unanimous victories over their tough opponents to earn themselves a title shot in the UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois.

Evans, a former champion, stained youthful Phil Davis’ unblemished record with a dominating victory as all three judges scored it 50-45 in a win that improved the former’s record to 22-1-1 (win-loss-draw) while sending the latter to his first defeat after nine straight wins.

Sonnen, for his part, went through more anxious moments as he had to contend with the well-rounded British star Michael “The Count” Bisping before pulling through with the win to hike his mark to 27-11-1.

The pair of victories set up Evans for a title fight with reigning light heavy champion Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta in a showdown between two former teammates and training partners.

“I fought at a pretty high pace, I felt like I wanted to put him away but I just couldn’t land those big punches,” Evans, who has racked up five wins in a row after losing the crown to Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at UFC 98 a few years back, told www.ufc.com. 

“I’m excited. The monkey has been on my back; it was hard to get up for this fight because everybody kept asking about that fight (with Jon Jones). But I got my shot and I’m very excited,” he added.

Sonnen could very well earn his after UFC president Dana White promised him a title remathh with Anderson “The Spider” Silva, currently the best pound-for-pound fighter in the mixed martial worlds today, at a soccer stadium in Brazil later this year if he wins over Bisping.

And Sonnen did.

“Joe Rogan, tonight is not for questions for me, tonight is about questions for you,” said Sonnen, who hasn’t lost in the last six fights since getting submitted by Silva in a bout he had a chance to win, referring to the ring announcer who was interviewing right after the fight.

“I want to know how you feel being inches away from greatness? Do you not have chills down your spine? You’re in Chael’s Octagon, holding Chael’s microphone … When you’re the greatest fighter they got a name for you – Chael Sonnen. Beat me if you can,” he added.

Sonnen though might need to fight Fil-Am Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Muñoz first before that big fight with Silva.

Muñoz, who was originally scheduled to fight Sonnen before that elbow injury in training forced the UFC to replace him with Bisping, is perhaps the biggest name next to Sonnen after beating Chris “The Crippler” Leben in his last fight to improve to 12-2.