But we all know one thing- popularity does not win fights. So who will come through in this UFC 108 main event between two fighters that were both defeated for the only time in their careers by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, the man they call "Sugar" or the one from Brazil trying to gain some deserved notoriety?
What Rashad Evans (13-1-1) brings to the table: First, Evans brings excellent cardio into his fights and has demonstrated a lot of heart in multiple tough fights throughout his career. Second, he brings outstanding wrestling skills and athleticism. But on top of it all, Evans also has very good boxing skills, power, and has even diversified his striking game from being primarily a boxer in his early days to more of a Muay Thai fighter now.
What Thiago Silva (14-1) brings to the table: Silva's 11 (T)KO victories tell the story on him. Basically, he hits very hard and has excellent Muay Thai skills, which is a staple of Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil (the place he formerly trained at). But don't let the knockouts fool you, because Silva is also highly adept on the ground, as his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt would seem to indicate.
Beyond being dominated by Machida two fights ago, Silva really hasn't shown much in the line of weaknesses. That said, his hands are not very fast, even if they certainly do unleash a lot of power.
Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva Final Prediction: The first question in this one is who wins the striking battle? On one hand, Silva is very powerful and has a diverse game. On the other hand, Evans has faster hands and is more athletic. Guess is that will allow him to move in an out of harm's way more easily than his opponent. Further, if Silva were to try and take the fight to the ground, Evans' superior wrestling would likely stop his attempt. And that plus his better takedowns, simply gives Evans more possible ways to win.
In the end, Silva certainly has a chance to stop any adversary. But guess is that it will be Evans' night.
Rashad Evans wins by way of second round TKO.
