UFC 78: Bisping vs. Evans

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Rashad Evans, coming off a disappointing draw with Tito Ortiz (7/7/07), a better than 2 ½-1 favorite over Michael Bisping, winner of a controversial split decision over Matt Hamill in his last outing (9/8/07). Both are former Ultimate Fighter winners and have a combined 30-0-1 record.

In a first round fought mainly on the feet, Evans was tentative, landing just 3 of 11 arm strikes to 10 of 16 for Ortiz, who had a 18-12 edge in total strikes landed for the round. Both fighter's scored takedowns, but not much damage on the mat. Evans landed 5 ground strikes, Ortiz 2.

Ortiz dominated round two, landing 17 of 26 total strikes to just 5 of 28 for Evans. Evans attempted just 21 arm strikes, landing 2, with Ortiz hitting on 8 of 15. Ortiz also landed 8 leg strikes, 4 knees and 4 kicks. Again, both fighter's scored a takedown, but neither did any damage on the ground. Ortiz did lose a point for grabbing the cage, the difference in the fight.

As Tito gassed in round three, Evans came on, landing 17 of 39 total strikes to just 9 of 17 for Ortiz, who attempted just 11 arm strikes. Evans landed 8 of 22 arm strikes and landed 8 of 14 ground strikes after taking Ortiz down again. Ortiz also scored a takedown, but didn't land any ground strikes.

Overall, Ortiz landed 44 of 70 total strikes to 34 of 88 for Evans, who had a 16-2 edge in ground strikes landed. Ortiz had a 24-13 edge in arm strikes landed (12 of which were power strikes), throwing 42 to 54 for Evans.

Evans was taken down twice and outlanded 13-9 in total strikes in the first round of his 1/15/07 fight vs. Sean Salmon. Salmon's 2 takedowns resulted in a 7-0 edge in ground strikes landed in the round. Evans attempted just 27 total strikes.

A perfectly placed high leg kick to the head of Salmon put him on ice at 1:06 of round two.

Evans employed seven takedowns enroute to a majority decision win over noted striker Stephan Bonnar at UFC Fight Night 5 on 6/28/06.

Evans landed 49 of 83 total strikes for the fight to 47 of 94 for Bonnar. Too busy fighting off the grappler Evans, Bonnar landed just 13 arm strikes all night, just 9 of which were power strikes. This was the same Bonnar that landed 65 arm strikes among his 78 total strikes landed vs. Forrest Griffin on 4/9/05. Evans had a 45-28 edge in ground strikes landed, the difference in the fight.

This past September, Bisping, the pride of Liverpool, England, narrowly escaped neighboring London with a split decision win over Matt Hamill.

It was all Hamill in round one, as he landed 36 of 88 total strikes, 34 of which were power arm strikes. Bisping had a good round, landing 21 of 78 total strikes, but just 11 power shots. Hamill also took Bisping down twice in the round but inflicted no damage on the ground.

Hamill pressed the action in rounds two and three, but the retreating Bisping was busier. Hamill landed 12 of 40 total strikes in round two to 9 of 52 for Bisping. Hamill recorded two more takedowns in the round, but landed just 2 ground strikes.

Round three saw Bisping land 12 of 51 total strikes to 16 of 36 for Hamill, now visibly tired, but nonetheless coming forward. Both landed 8 power strikes in the round, with Hamill scoring 2 more takedowns that resulted in 8 landed ground strikes. Enough to win the round and the fight?

Bisping's U.K. UFC debut on 4/21/07 in Manchester (sold out crowd of 14,921) saw him pummel Elvis Sinosic over two rounds. After absorbing 100 ground strikes in round one, Sinosic made it interesting for a few moments in round two, nearly submitting Bisping with an arm bar. Bisping recovered to land 20 additional total strikes (12 from the ground position) before the end came at 1:20 of the round.

At UFC 66, Eric Schafer had his moments in round one vs. Bisping, scoring 3 takedowns and landing 4 kness, one of which dropped Bisping. A Bisping knee was the beginning of the end for Schafer, as 'The Count" landed 17 ground strikes before the fight was halted at 4:24 of round one.

Bisping was taken down 9 times in his wins over Hamill and Schafer and nearly submitted by Sinosic. Both Hamill (arm strikes) and Schafer (knee) hurt Bisping with strikes as well.

As mentioned earlier, Evans, a decorated collegiate wrestler, blunted Bonnar's attack by scoring 7 takedowns. Evans also scored 3 takedowns vs. Ortiz (who scored three as well).

That being said, Bisping, will want to keep the fight on the feet, while Evans, a sometimes tentative striker, will want to ground and pound. Which fighter will impose his will on the other?

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