Jackson and Evans should be Exciting at the Sportsbook. UFC 114 is just over a week away and if the action is as good as the talking then bettors at the sportsbook should be very happy. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is a very slight -120 favorite at the Internet sportsbook over Rashad Evans.
Jackson and Evans are former UFC light heavyweight champions and neither one likes the other. That fact alone should make for a great fight at UFC 114 on Saturday, May 29th. “Rashad doesn’t have a title. He couldn’t even hold onto the belt. It’s almost like I’m asking myself why I’m even fighting this guy.” Jackson said. “If you aren’t on the same level as someone, you should keep your mouth shut. This guy isn’t on my level.”
UFC President Dana White pretty much admitted that Jackson and Evans have a true dislike for each other. “These kind of fights happen every once in a while,” said White. “Don’t fool yourself, this is the fight game. Sometimes the guys who fight each other… they just don’t like each other. These guys don’t and it is what it is.”
The fight between Jackson and Evans is even more important than normal since the winner is going to get a shot at light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua. In UFC 113 it was Rua upsetting Machida. There will not be an immediate rematch between the two as UFC President Dana White said that Rua will make his first title defense against the winner of Jackson vs. Evans. “I think Rampage [will win], but it’s close to 50/50 to me. I’d say 55% for Rampage, 45% Rashad. To me Rampage or Rashad, it doesn’t make a difference, they are both top fighters. But a fight against Rampage would be good … for the pay-per-view.”
Jackson vs. Evans is the highlight of UFC 114 from the MGM Grand Gardens in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 29th but it is not the only bout. Also on the main card it will be Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller, Mike Russow vs. Todd Duffee, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz and Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway. The preliminary card has Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim and Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon on Spike TV in addition to Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe, Cyrille Diabate vs. Luiz Arthur Cane, and Ryan Jensen vs. Jesse Forbes and Aaron Riley vs. Joe Brammer.