Rashad Evans steps up to take on Liddell at UFC 85

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By Thomas Gerbasi

It’s the fight he’s waited for since he arrived in the UFC back in 2005. On June 7, at the O2 Arena in London, England, unbeaten light heavyweight contender “Sugar” Rashad Evans gets his wish granted as he takes on former UFC 205-pound champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell in the main event of UFC 85: London.

“I’ve always said that I wanted to be the best and that I wanted to leave my mark in this sport,” said Evans. “The only way you can do that is by facing the best. I’m not a fighter who wants to fill himself with false hope that I’m something that I’m not. I think I’m the best, so I’m gonna go out there, fight the best, and test myself.”

Evans steps in for the injured Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who was forced to withdraw from the bout earlier this week due to a serious knee injury. For the New York native, who was originally preparing for a May bout against Thiago Silva, there was no hesitation in his decision to accept a fight with the storied ‘Iceman.’

“I think he’s a legend,” said Evans of Liddell. “No one has dominated a weight class for as long as he did, and when he went on that seven fight win streak, just knocking people out, that was very impressive and you can never take that away from a fighter. I think he solidified himself in the sport by doing that.”

Now Evans is looking to do the same, and despite his Division I wrestling background from Michigan State University, the well-rounded 28-year old is prepared to go to war standing with Liddell if necessary.

“Definitely,” he said. “With my background, wrestling has always been something that I’ve focused on, and it’s been a part of me. But I can definitely stand up and I do like to do it. In training I stand up with the best of them and I know I can do it in a fight and stand up the whole time if I have to.”

As for fighting in the UK for the first time, Evans is eager to cross the Atlantic and put on a show for British fans.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I’ve gotten a warm response from the London fans in the past. I went out there with the UFC for a martial arts expo last year, I met a few fans, and they’ve all hit me up on myspace, asking me when I’m coming back, so I think it’s gonna be good to fight in London.”

Evans (16-0-1) burst on the UFC scene in style in 2005 when he won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter’s second season, winning four fights en route to the title. Dropping back to his natural weight class at 205 pounds, he has kept the momentum going with five wins and just one controversial draw against former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz in July of 2007. Among his victims are standouts Stephan Bonnar and Jason Lambert, and in his most recent bout at UFC 78 last November, he pounded out a three round decision win over previously unbeaten British star Michael “The Count” Bisping. Now Evans has his sights on taking down a UFC icon on June 7th.

One of the biggest stars in American sports, Chuck Liddell (21-5) is a fighter who needs no introduction to fight fans. Fresh off a thrilling three round win over Wanderlei Silva last December in a fight which easily lived up to over four years of expectations, the 38-year-old – owner of knockout wins over a Who’s Who of 205-pound stalwarts, including Randy Couture (twice), Tito Ortiz (twice), Renato Sobral (twice), Jeremy Horn, and Kevin Randleman - continues on his quest to regain his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, but to get there, he has to get by Evans, only the third undefeated fighter Liddell has ever faced.

Tickets for UFC 85 will go on sale March 7 at 10am GMT and will be priced at £45, £75, £125, £175, £200 and £295. Tickets will be available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk and the 02 Arena Box Office.

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