EVANS v. RAMPAGE aka LANG v. CREED

As we approach the 1 week and counting mark of UFC 114, there was something that I realized when I was watching this week’s UFC: Primetime. The Evans/ Rampage "beef" started in 1982 actually and is finally coming to a head . 

 What do I mean? Well if you think back a long time ago (you 80’s babies will remember this), a little movie called Rocky III featured a brief exchange of words between a brash and powerful fighter named Clubber Lang and a smooth, polished Apollo Creed. It would have been nice to see them go at it, but of course the film was called Rocky and not the Creed/Lang show. Anyway, fast forward 28 years and now you have 2 real life versions of these characters finally coming to blows.  Here is the break down:

RASHAD EVANS aka APOLLO CREED

 Rashad like Creed is a fighter that relies on his speed and technique to get him through fights. In addition, he is the more eloquent and refined of the two fighters. This will be his first fight since UFC 108 in January where he barely escaped winning via decision over Thiago Silva. Similar to Creed he’s a bit cocky, has a ton of swagger, and is not afraid to show it.  However, the one glaring weakness that Evans shares with Creed is that he has a problem with power punchers and can’t take a good shot. Creed’s speed and skill often got blunted once he got hit hard enough by Rocky, and it actually ended up killing him when he faced Ivan Drago in Rocky IV.

During his fight in January, Evans knew that he was facing a man known for his power in Tiago Silva and did his best to out wrestle him and keep the fight in his wheelhouse. However, after some taunting by Silva in the 3^rd round to engage, Evans got rocked pretty well almost to the point that he could’ve have been KO’d.

RAMPAGE JACKSON aka CLUBBER LANG

 James “Clubber”Lang and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson are almost like mirror images of each other. Strong as hell, big power punchers, that came from tough neighboorhoods. Ironically, Jackson will be starring as B.A. Barracus which was the very same character that made Mr.T(Lang) famous back in the 80's when the A-Team movie comes out this summer.  Just like Clubber, Rampage is stubborn and unwilling to change his game plan; often seeking the quick knockout rather than the trying to pick his opponent apart. This was evidenced when he fought Forrest Griffin for the Light Heavyweight championship back in 2008. Griffin while not a very high level fighter, was able to land key low kicks that often went unchecked by Jackson and slowed down his power and explosiveness just enough for Griffin to eek out a decision that cost Rampage his title. 

I often wonder what would have happend if Lang and Creed had actually fought who would come out the winner. I guess we'll find out on the 29th.