UFC 98
UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Background
A title unification match between the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir and UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar was originally slated to be the main event, but was postponed until UFC 100 due to a knee injury to Mir.
By way of replacement, Quinton Jackson, former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, was to fight the undefeated current champion Rashad Evans but had to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair ligament damage in his jaw that he received in a previous training camp. Instead, Evans headlined the card against fellow undefeated contender Lyoto Machida.
The card featured the long anticipated grudge match between The Ultimate Fighter 6 coaches Matt Hughes and Matt Serra.
Due to injury, Josh Koscheck was not able to participate on this card. Brock Larson stepped in as the new opponent for Chris Wilson. Unfortunately, Chris Wilson was unable to complete the necessary medical paperwork in order to compete at UFC 98 and was replaced by Mike Pyle.
James Irvin was set to make his Middleweight debut against Drew McFedries, but was not able to fight due to a knee injury. Xavier Foupa-Pokam stepped in to fight McFedries.
Yushin Okami was set to fight Dan Miller on the main card but was injured and taken off the card, Okami suffered a torn ligament. Early reports suggested Ed Herman would replace Okami, however Chael Sonnen stepped in to take the bout.
Houston Alexander was scheduled to fight Andre Gusmao, but was forced to pull out due to a broken hand. Krzysztof Soszynski stepped in to fight Gusmao.
Results
Preliminary card
* Lightweight bout: United States Dave Kaplan vs. United States George Roop
Roop defeated Kaplan via split decision (30–27, 30–27, 28–29).
* Welterweight bout: Japan Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. United States Brandon Wolff
Yoshida defeated Wolff via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:24 of round 1.
* Light Heavyweight bout: Canada Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brazil Andre Gusmao
Soszynski defeated Gusmao via KO (punches) at 3:17 of round 1. This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the McFedries vs. Foupa-Pokam fight.
* Lightweight bout: United States Phillipe Nover vs. United States Kyle Bradley
Bradley defeated Nover via TKO (punches) at 1:03 of round 1.
* Heavyweight bout: United States Pat Barry vs. Canada Tim Hague
Hague defeated Barry via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:42 of round 1. This bout aired last on the PPV broadcast following the Larson vs. Pyle fight.
* Welterweight bout: United States Brock Larson vs. United States Mike Pyle
Larson defeated Pyle via submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:06 of round 1. This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Evans vs. Machida fight.
Main card
* Lightweight bout: United States Sean Sherk vs. United States Frank Edgar
Edgar defeated Sherk via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
* Middleweight bout: United States Chael Sonnen vs. United States Dan Miller
Sonnen defeated Miller via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
* Middleweight bout: United States Drew McFedries vs. France Xavier Foupa-Pokam
McFedries defeated Foupa-Pokam via TKO (strikes) at 0:37 of round 1.
* Welterweight bout: United States Matt Hughes vs. United States Matt Serra
Hughes defeated Serra via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
* Light Heavyweight Championship bout: United States Rashad Evans vs. Brazil Lyoto Machida
Machida defeated Evans via KO (punches) at 3:57 of round 2 to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
* Fight of the Night: United States Matt Hughes vs. United States Matt Serra
* Knockout of the Night: Brazil Lyoto Machida
* Submission of the Night: United States Brock Larson
