Machida eviscerates Evans; Rampage next
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/05/2009 (6031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
LAS VEGAS — Lyoto Machida knocked out light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans in devastating fashion in the second round in a battle of unbeaten fighters at UFC 98 on Saturday night.
Machida (15-0) nailed Evans (18-1-1) with a straight left and then pounced, slugging away at the dazed champion. Evans somehow survived but the Brazilian caught him again and again.
Machida connected flush with a left to the chin and Evans toppled at the fence at three minutes 57 seconds of the second round.
"I tried all my life to be champion and I am very happy," Machida said in English.
"Now I want to keep this belt for a long time."
In the co-main event before 12,606 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Matt Hughes won a close decision over Matt Serra in a grudge match between former welterweight champions.
Neither man looked their best but Hughes got the nod 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards.
Evans and Machida, both counter-punchers, were wary in the first round with nothing happening until Machida launched a kick two minutes in.
The lightning-fast Brazilian southpaw put Evans down with a body kick followed by a left late in the round, pouncing on him. Evans survived and got to his feet.
The two had a good exchange midway through the second, with Evans giving as good as he got from Machida.
Then came the clinical, brutal finale that was all Machida, who has yet to lose a round in the UFC.
"I was blown away by his performance tonight, absolutely blown away," UFC president Dana White said of Machida.
Asked about Evans, White replied: "He’s OK, he’s obviously a little bummed out."
Machida will next fight Quinton (Rampage) Jackson.
— The Canadian Press