UFC
UFC on Fox 2: Rashad Evans says Phil Davis is "just a boy", not ready for main event fight in Chicago
Jan 23, 2012 - 10:30:39 PM UFC on Fox 2: Rashad Evans says Phil Davis is "just a boy", not ready for main event fight in Chicago

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Phil Davis steps into the biggest fight of his career on Saturday night, taking on former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in the main event of UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago. The 27-year-old has made a quick rise up the light heavyweight ranks, and notched a win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last bout to move to 9-0.

However, that fast rise doesn't necessarily mean he's ready for the challenge of facing a former Champion and one of the best fighters in the division. In fact, Evans said this week he's sure Davis isn't ready for this fight.

"You ain't beating me, dog," Evans said during a media conference call for the event (transcribed by ESPN UK). "It can't get here fast enough because I'm smashing you... He ain't ready. He knows he ain't ready. You're just a boy. We're going to see what happens when those lights hit you and you walk out and the crowd is roaring. We're going to see what kind of man you are and what kind of fighter you are.

"When you got hit in the mouth by [Nogueira], you didn't know what to do. When I hit you in the mouth, you're going to feel it. There's some people that would fight if they weren't getting paid to fight. I'm one of those guys, Phil is not."

Penick's Analysis: This is a big fight really early on for Davis, who has only been in the sport for a little over three years. Evans has twice the fights and has been in the sport for almost five years longer, and they both share the collegiate wrestling background. Davis' credentials are better on that front, and he's got a very good wrestling game that could challenge Evans in that department, but this is absolutely a different type of fight and a different type of pressure than Davis has ever dealt with before. Even with the Nogueira fight, he was headlining a Spike TV card; this is the main event of the UFC's second network television card, with a potential title shot coming should he win. Is he ready for that challenge and that type of pressure? We'll find out on Saturday; but Rashad Evans certainly doesn't expect him to be.

[Rashad Evans art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]