Geoff JohnsonUFC 156 main event features Antonio Rogerio Nogueira facing Rashard Evans at Las Vegas, Nevada at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, this Saturday from 7 PM ET through 10 PM ET.
Nogueira was a bronze medalist at the Pan Am Games in boxing, which could tell he has the advantage in terms of striking, but Evans footwork and balance have improved a lot over the years and he has become a good boxing style fighter with a privileged power.
Evans knows that if he gets past Nogueira; he might have a shot at Anderson Silva.
“It would be a tremendous honor to have held the belt in two different divisions, but also the chance to compete against Anderson Silva,” Evans said during a UFC 156 media call. “He’s one of my favorite fighters to watch, I get excited every single time I get a chance to watch him fight. When my career is all said and done, I want to be able to look back and say I competed against some of the best guys ever in history. For me to be able to get the chance to compete against Anderson Silva; it would be an amazing experience and something I’ll take with me forever.”
“I believe I can beat Anderson Silva, and I believe that the skills and stuff that I have is something he would have a hard time dealing with,” Evans added. “But to compete against the guy, first and foremost, would be an honor in itself.”
Nogueira is a huge underdog in this fight listed +350 to win; Evans is listed as the favorites -500 in the UFC 156 money lines.
