Rashad Evans (Pictures) is undefeated in MMA, so he looks to continue his streak against Sean Salmon (Pictures), who makes his UFC debut against the TUF 2 contract winner. With just one loss between them, the winner can’t escape notice in the race for the UFC light heavyweight title.
Evans wrestled at Michigan State University before beginning his MMA training with UFC triple-crown winner Dan Severn (Pictures). He holds a professional record of 9-0-0. Evans currently trains with Diego Sanchez (Pictures) and the rest of Greg Jackson’s squad at Jackson’s Gaidojutsu Academy.
Evans won a four-man King of the Cage tournament and another four-man tourney in the Dangerzone. In 2005 he earned a spot on The Ultimate Fighter 2. He fought KOTC veteran Tom Murphy (Pictures) in his first elimination bout, Super Brawl veteran Mike Whitehead (Pictures) a month later and Keith Jardine (Pictures) in the semifinal three days after that. Evans beat all three opponents by decision and then defeated WEC veteran Brad Imes (Pictures) by split decision to win the UFC contract.
Since winning the contract, Evans has taken decision victories over Sam Hoger (Pictures) and Stephan Bonnar (Pictures). Rashad scored his first win in the Octagon that did not go the distance when he knocked out Jason Lambert (Pictures) at UFC 63.
Salmon (9-1-0) trains with his camp in Columbus, Ohio, but he traveled to Indiana to train with Jake O’Brien and to Cincinnati to train with Jorge Gurgel (Pictures) to supplement his training.
Though much of Salmon’s experience has come in smaller shows — King of the Cage, Fightfest and the Legends of Fighting promotion (where he is the LOF heavyweight champ) — he has met a handful of experienced fighters with numerous victories on their record (Rob Wince (Pictures), Hans Marrero and David Heath (Pictures)).
The sole loss on Sean’s record was to David Heath (Pictures) last July. Now with Heath in the UFC, where he stands at 2-0, there’s a chance the pair will meet again.
I’d give Salmon more of a shot if he had more experience at this level. I feel Evans can be beaten but not by a fighter who shares the same strengths.
The winner here should face someone like Renato Sobral (Pictures) or Tito Ortiz (Pictures) to make a jump to the next level. Evans does everything Salmon does and he appears to do things better, so it is likely the grappler will remain undefeated. Evans by decision.