Rashad Evans: 'Paul Buentello hits harder and faster than Chuck Liddell'

by Jesse Holland on Sep 16, 2008 9:27 PM EDT Comment 60 comments

rashad evans

Rashad Evans was our guest on this weeks broadcast of Pro MMA Radio. Presented by MMAmania.com, Pro MMA Radio airs live every Monday night at 9pm and features many of the top fighters from the UFC and beyond.

Also on the show, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer Jesse Holland compared notes with host Larry Pepe on the Affliction/Golden Boy announcement as well as their picks for UFC Fight Night 15 "Diaz vs. Neer".

The main attraction of course was Evans, who covered everything from his upset win over Chuck Liddell at UFC 88 to the infamous 'Nipplegate'.

What I found interesting about his comments on Liddell was not just that he swung the overhand right a couple of times prior to the one that connected, but that the Iceman may possibly have a tell: A menacing facial expression just prior to striking.

Talk then shifted to life at the Jackson camp and I was surprised to hear Evans say that Paul Buentello hits harder and faster than Liddell. I know many fans may disagree but how many of us can say they've been hit by both men?

Rashad also maintains that he will never fight teammate Keith Jardine under any circumstance. I guess once was enough for those two when they clashed on The Ultimate Fighter Season 2. Speaking of TUF, none other than MMA Legend Dan Severn was instrumental in getting Evans a spot on the final roster.

His tenure on the show was a little tumultuous thanks to coach Matt Hughes. While he says the two are 'cool' now, he does admit that Matt's showboating accusations have made that stereotype difficult to break.

I wonder if we'll see more of that from Rashad's brother, who will be a contestant on the upcoming season of TUF 8?

Tito is one fighter Evans would like a rematch with after "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" tried to punk him in front of his wife at a UFC show.

Finally there's 'Nipplegate", the strange but effective method of playing "Tune in Tokyo" with one's self. I would get into the graphic details but hey, that's what the replay is for. Take a listen!

Stay tuned next week as UFC heavyweight Frank Mir dishes on everything from his stint on The Ultimate Fighter 8 to the meteoric rise of former opponent Brock Lesnar.

See you next Monday at 9pm!

For access to the Pro MMA Radio archive, click here.

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Well if he says that Buentello hits harder, than I couldn’t really doubt it because it seems true that Chuck looks a tad bit slower that Buentello…Rashad will soon also receive one of those overhands, just he wait and see…

by The Negation on Sep 16, 2008 10:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me or is Rashad making it really hard to root for him? I have been a fan of his since his underdog days on TUF but the more I get to know him and see him, the less I’m liking of him. Forrest might need to teach him a lesson on humilty.

by RedDog on Sep 17, 2008 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing. I dont have a problem with him at all, and if he keeps finishing fights I may even start liking him but I knew after reading the thread that many of you will have problems with what he said about Chuck.

If Buentello really does hit harder than chuck, Rashad needs to just keep it to himself because he isnt going to win any fans over running his mouth about the most beloved fighter of all time. Fans actually dislike him for melting their idle and if he doesnt shut up he will never win any fans over.

I dont have a problem with it, and if he starts throwing his hands more, I may even root for him!

I will root for him against Forrest cuz I HATE Forrest, he is like a silver spoon UFC fighter that has been coddled by the organizations and given golden opportunities that he hasn’t deserved. Of Course Forrest rose to the occasion and made the most out of those opportunities, but Flat out, I JUST DONT LIKE HIM!~

I had no Idea that Suga’s brother was on this season of TUF

by john on Sep 17, 2008 7:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he is 1 of my fave fighters, i like watchin him fight there is jus summit bout his style thats intrestin to watch…

hate him as a person though, his personality stinks

by ufcaddict on Sep 17, 2008 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OUtside the cage I atcually ffind him to be intelligent, grounded and well spoken, but when he gets near an Octagon he acts like an idiot

by john on Sep 17, 2008 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love all the Rashad bashing…the guy does an interview and answers questions and people get all twisted cause he admitted that a 39 yr old Chuck hits harder than a 33 yr old Buentello…so what? Buentello is a heavy handed striker himself. When Chuck was 33…he could punch a hole through someone’s head…but time has caught up with him. It’s as simple as that. He wasn’t being disrespectful…he was being truthful when asked some questions.

He’s definitely well spoken and well educated but to say he acts like an idiot in the octagon makes no sense. He wins all his fights so if acting like an idiot gets you wins…then where do I sign up for the MMA clown college…cause I’m in. I’m not a fan of some of dance moves from the Tito fight but if you know anything about him…that’s just his fighting style…he twitches sometimes to throw people off and keep himself loose.

by Buster Bluth on Sep 17, 2008 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buentello hits harder than Chuck… Of course he would pump up someone in his camp over anyone else. He would probably say he hits harder than rampage too. it’s also kinda like taking a cheap shot at a guy you just beat.. no wonder noone likes this guy

by Kory on Sep 17, 2008 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont misinetrpret my post Buster. I got No problem with Rashad at all! and I have said time and time again that I would even be a fan of his if he let his hands fly more. I was just stating what the anal public gets so picky about. I like trash talk, showboating…I love it all! Why wouldn’t I? I am only 26 year oold. I made my post looking at the point of view from the Suga Haters.

I know he is just answering questions, but people DONT like Rashad (not me), and he isnt going to win any fans over by bad mouthing the most Loved fighter in the sport. Shad may be the next LHW champion, so its time for him to win over some fans.

by john on Sep 17, 2008 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like a guy that speaks his mind and doesn’t pull punches. I’d rather hear an interview like this, than someone like GSP, I can give you his 3 stock answers to any question…good quiz question!!

by kevin doesn't know shit on Sep 17, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why so harsh on Forrest John? He stepped up to fight Rua and outworked him when everyone was already preparing his funeral service and gravestone(let’s not talk about what condition Mauricio was in…It’s a given it was not the 100% Shogun) then Jackson got the supposed easy pickings he was looking for to keep the belt. You can’t hate Forrest if he does get these opportunities. You can hate the UFC top brass if you want.

Oh yeah you lost a bet on Rampage hahahaha…Just kidding with ya.

by RobH86 on Sep 17, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if evans fought walderlei silva he wud get his ars kicked, the same wat jardine got his ars kicked. chuck got careless chasing evans but silva wouldnt

by gazzy on Sep 17, 2008 6:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well it’s a different fight… I think he’d have to have some reach on Wanderlei to actually take advantage of any weakness he had in striking. Getting into an exchange with the Axe Murderer with your back up against the fence like he did with Chuck would be the beginning of the end for Rashad imo, Wandi’s been dropped before but he’s still faster than Liddell and he’s better about keeping his hands up. Would be a good fight tho, unless Rashad goes back to lay n prey after he comes up short on a couple exchanges. All in all I liked this interview, normally I can’t stand Rashad Evans, but this kinda moved me closer to being a fan. He really didn’t say anything derrogatory about Chuck, he even said you could tell Chuck wasn’t fighting him like he was fighting Wandi and that Chuck was looking for that one punch knock out. And he felt that Liddell underestimated him, I’d have to say I agree with all that.

by O damn he got caught on Sep 17, 2008 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evans is a one hit wonder and needs to grow up, before he bad mouths people because the instant he gets knocked the F out, the UFC will be done with him.

by holmz on Sep 16, 2008 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Are you nuts man he is undefeated in the UFC and he has fought some big names. He is a tough guy plain and simple,you cant deny that.

by Spyder on Sep 16, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was starting to think Rachad was getting a bad rap. Then he had to go and dis on Chuck. Rachad, you won’t have 1/2 the success in your career that Chuck did, grow up, shut up, and learn some respect!

by djrmma on Sep 16, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You obviously didn’t listen to the interview, it was a discussion, not a dis’.

Chuck could hit harder at one time, he’s a tad slower now and it’s an obvious reflection from his last 3 fights.

by THORAZINE on Sep 17, 2008 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i want to know more about the tel (chuck’s facial expression).

by john on Sep 17, 2008 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck only hit him one good time and it didnt even look that bad so how would he know? Dont matter if Chuck doesnt hit as hard anyway because accuracy is the key…just ask Anderson SIlva….besides even if Chuck doesnt “hit that hard” he still has like what 13 T/KOs over big name guys….Tito, Randy, Babalu, Guy Mezger, Randleman, Overeem ect. ect.

The whole argument about someone hitting hard is ridiculous…when you get KOd, its not like the person feels it anyway! Wanderlei said Chuck hits very hard, Jardine said Chuck hits very hard….Rashad is an idiot. Maybe in their fight he didnt hit Rashad that hard, but like I said, he only hit him one decent time

by Chadx23 on Sep 17, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Next mega fight a.silva vs evans I hate rashad he will get served by forrest blockhead

by shawnizzle on Sep 16, 2008 10:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Chuck needs to disappear for a year or so and come back on a tear. Taking people down and using his other skills. Chuck is a great wrestler but you wouldn’t know it by watching his fights. I know you are loyal Chuck but U gotta change that camp!

by wAyNe on Sep 16, 2008 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d like to see Chuck take his opponents down, but hell, he rarely even uses kicks anymore.

by Pat on Sep 16, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

all chuck does in his fights is use sloppy boxing. no mma technique at all. his style is more ‘kimboesque’, if that can be a word to use.

by deuce 4 on Sep 16, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Rashad was on point saying that Chuck just really took him for granted. Chuck reverted back to the way he fought Jardine. I think that if Chuck came in with the same mindset, training, and skills that he had in his fight against Wanderlei, then we would be talking about the upcoming Forrest vs. Liddell title fight.

by naturalshadow on Sep 17, 2008 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Naturalshadow, tt was really a good interview and sheds some light on Rashad Evans, he’s an intelligent easy going guy and he hit the nail on the head with a lot of his answers.. makes sense, he has a BA in Psychology and very analytical with his thoughts.

A lot of the negative comments on here come from guys that didn’t listen to the interview.

by THORAZINE on Sep 17, 2008 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the exact same thing. Can you imagine what time at AKA or Team Quest would do for his game. I think he has just gotten stagnant at The Pit.

by Z on Sep 17, 2008 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What does it matter who hits harder? Buentello is a HW and Chuck is a LHW so……….. who cares? Was that supposed to be a stab at Chuck? F*ck Rashad (with real sugar in his tank)

by JV on Sep 16, 2008 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Buentello should hit harder he fights at HW.

Overeem ruined him though, which was the last Buentello fight I saw.

It’s a good comparison though, because they both have the same one dimensional looping hook style.

by DirtyML on Sep 16, 2008 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Overeem may have ruined him, but Arlovski made him look almost pathetic. That was the strangest K.O. I have ever seen. No one in the audience had any idea what the hell just happened, and it was just quiet. Andrei was just celebrating, and everyone else was just baffled.

by naturalshadow on Sep 17, 2008 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did anybody notice that rashad was playing with his nipples while they announced his name before his fight? I thought that was kind of weird

by day1er on Sep 16, 2008 10:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol, we haven’t talked about nothing else in the last week.. where have you been?

he said he is for luck and he did it after GSP had sdone the same and have success.

by shamo84 on Sep 17, 2008 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea I been rubbin my nipples every morning this week and I still ain’t had a good day, this nipple thing is bullsh*t! …

by O damn he got caught on Sep 17, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

by naturalshadow on Sep 17, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We ALL noticed that.

Hey, did anybody else notice that Rashad knocked Chuck Liddell out?

by Brandon on Sep 17, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck aint much smaller then Buentello he cuts alot of weight to make 205 just like Forrest. But either way Rashad>Forrest then Wanderlei>Rashad man i cant wait to see Wandi holding that belt he deserves it!

by Khaos_warrior on Sep 16, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the same guy cryin he can’t get any respect. NOTE TO RASHAD EVANS,“TO GET RESPECT YOU HAVE TO GIVE RESPECT”, act like tito ortiz, get treated like tito ortiz.

by CLETIS on Sep 16, 2008 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Personally, I don’t like Rashad, I find him very disrespectful, but, he’s a damn good fighter. The problem I see is this, he will eventually loose, but right know he thinks he’s just unbeatable and he is becoming very annoying. I hope he looses and get some humble pie very quickly. History only shows that most of the great champions are very humble, just take a look at Hughes, Nog, Couture, GSP, A. Silva, Rich Franklin and others (Liddell and BJ are a bit trash talkers, so I don’t put them on here)

by Cristiano from Brazil on Sep 16, 2008 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

so its ok for Liddell and BJ to trash talk but when Evans does it, it makes you hope he loses?

by Jay D on Sep 17, 2008 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s exactly what he said!!

How about you read the post again.

by JaSwin420 on Sep 17, 2008 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea but that post makes no sense at all.. it’s fighting not Golf, trash talk is part of the game in the lead up to the fights.. if someone thinks Rashad was trash talking someone in this radio interview than the truth is obviously what u see as trash talk..

by RoB on Sep 17, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well maybe golf would be a lot more interesting with some trash talk. Tiger should be talking about how he’s a “conqueror” and “straight criminal dog” like that TUF moron..

by O damn he got caught on Sep 17, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think that hughes was not a humble champion at all,i mean he bad mouthed a lot of fighters during his reign and even until now he does it..in fact i beliv dat liddell was more humble & laid back dan him,he always was straight forward & other dan “im gonna knock my opponent out” speech he hardly talked any trash..

by faith7th on Sep 17, 2008 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man i liked the first GSP vs Hughes fight, that was some good trash talk right there.

“I’m gonna win cause… who’s gonna lose a street fight to a french canadian?”

-Matt Hughes

by O damn he got caught on Sep 17, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fedor is as humble as they come, but I guess I only see UFC examples here

by Venzia on Sep 17, 2008 4:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck was also pretty respectful all in all unless Dana was tuggin on his leash to trash talk fighters from other promotions…….Guess he doesnt have the leverage to do too much of that anymore

by Venzia on Sep 17, 2008 4:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Win or loose, Chuck gives us a show every time and brings his heart in the cage! I love the guy and will still buy his fights after he has lost 10 in a row!

by raptorboy69 on Sep 17, 2008 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oh cmon now rashad,u didn’t even got hit cleanly by liddell..i’ll giv u props for d highlight ko,but damn ur one arrogant…..hmmmm it seems im still not over d loss,oh well keep opening ur mouth rashad..enjoy ur fame,for now..

by faith7th on Sep 17, 2008 1:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Evans you suck and will lose your next fight! Jardine said everything Chuck hit him with hurt even if he blocked it. Evans is a punk and deserves no respect. If Chuck would have fought him the why he did Wandy, he would have won the fight.

by natedogg77 on Sep 17, 2008 1:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you know what i gained some respect for rashad after beating chuck but he’s just a fanny!! he’ll soon get his comupance he lost against tito give tito another chance to kick his ass again!if he beats forrest he’ll have as big a mouth as BIMBO slice not for long as i see a few fighters lining up to shut his mouth

by deebow88 on Sep 17, 2008 4:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

right ok evans thats why you decided to run around the ring until you got lucky and caught chuck!! He would kick your ass and you know it, its one of those things, he fought with a gameplan to run and counter and it worked, you never once got hit by a chuck bomb or youd know youd been tagged, what a di@k!!! thats why 2 judges had the first round 10/9 chuck, if chuck had stayed to his gameplan rashad would have had to push the fight and would have been the one eating the canvas, but chuck likes to please the fans and be exciting the reason he is so popular and explosive!! A chuck liddell sticking to his gameplan ownes rashad ass wipe evans!!
Get back in there chuck and wipe the slate clean, in 2 or 3 fights against worthy opponents the title shot is yours!!!!

by mo on Sep 17, 2008 7:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rashad is the man he seems like a good guy! he is tellin it like it is… It’s pretty obvious that Dana told Joe Rogan to only talk good about a guy like Machida when he fights cause when Joe says something ppl starts to believe in it and all of a sudden he’s great and exciting!.. It’s beautiful the way Rashad won over the UFC system, they had it set up for Chuck to get the title back when Forrest had it..

by RoB on Sep 17, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL @ Chuck being the “most beloved fighter” of all time. Chuck will be forgotten within a year after retirement. He doesn’t use his ground game; relies only on defensive wrestling, and has tremendously bad form in the standup. What’s to like….the mohawk?

MMA is going to evolve so far beyond the Chucks and Titos, that it’s not even funny. They were instrumental in the foundation of MMA, but they are primitive, incomplete fighters, and I say that with a great deal of respect. Chuck is the most famous…..not the most popular, which would be BJ Penn or someone like that.

The people b*itching about Rashad will forget all about that when he becomes the LHW champ. A lot of people will suddenly become rabid Rashad fans.

by Fred on Sep 17, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let me try to make myself clear. I don’t like trash talking. That’s me ok, and I don’t agree with it just because it’1s BJ or Liddell, but both of them are already hall of famers. Liddell is the best LHW EVER. That doesn’t make it ok for him to trash talk his opponents, but he already built his career with amazing and impressive wins. Evans needs to build his name and improve his record with some other big wins to start thinking he’s better and bigger than the Iceman. Evans is still in the making of a great fighter, Liddell already is. I hope I cleared something up.

by Cristiano from Brazil on Sep 17, 2008 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Evans will never be Champ! He will never be the fighter that Liddell was or still is. The only decent fighters Rashad has beaten until now were by split decsion and he really lost to Tito. Evan’s is a joke and will not even be a top 8 LHW in a year.

by natedogg77 on Sep 17, 2008 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wake up, if you watch his fight with Michael Bisping then watch his fight against chuck, you’ll see that this guy didn’t just “improve” he reached a completely new level. If he manages to make similiar gain between now and his fight with Forrest, this guy could start to look really scarey…

by O damn he got caught on Sep 17, 2008 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didnt see Rashad do anything against Chuck except run and counter with the massive right hand bomb which finally landed in the second round for the KO. Other than that he just peppered in some fast/weak shots on Chuck. Before he knocked Chuck out I saw Rashad hit him with a good right hand and thats about it. I hate Rashad’s style of fighting I find it aggravating….if continues to KO guys and bring the fighting spirit then then I will garner some respect for him. I knwo some of you are Rashad fans, but I am just not a fan of his yet.

I only routed for him in the Tito fight because I dont like Tito and he couldn’t even finish Tito, but he KO’s Chuck???? Come on thats more of a testament to how much Chuck has declined than it is how Rashad has improved!!!

by Chadx23 on Sep 17, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just watch his fights prior to that one, he was using some great footwork we don’t normally see from him, real light on his feet, and for a wrestler with a disadvantage in reach he wasn’t actually coming out all that bad in the exchanges. I was just impressed with how relaxed and fast he looked in that fight. Looked like a totally different fighter to me. And about Chuck, Rashad even admits in this interview that he thinks Chuck took him lightly, and that he didn’t come to fight him like he did against Wandi. Chuck thought he was going to land that right hand and go party.

by O damn he got caught on Sep 17, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YEA, Chuck DEFINATELY did not come to fight like he did against Wanderlei where he knew he had to be careful not to get KO’d he used the jab against Wandy pretty good and he was loading up waiting for Rashad….stupid move

by Chadx23 on Sep 18, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evans has improved but he will not be able to beat Rampage, Shogun, Forrest, or Wandy. I think T. Silva would kick his butt.

by natedogg77 on Sep 17, 2008 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol @ “play me like a video game”. Rashad is cool, he did a good interview. But too bad this isn’t a personality contest. He KOd Chuck with 1 punch. Now we know he can box but that doesn’t prove that he is a dominant fighter with a solid all around game like a Forrest or Machida. Rashad has good takedown defense, strategy, good chin, and wrestling in his aresenal. But he barely beat Bisping and his gnp game wasn’t very impressive in that fight.

Forrest is 6’2. Rashad is 5’11. Forrest has reach advantage, good chin, good jitz, a ton of heart, and I see him bullying Rashad in the clinch. Yea, Jardine dropped Forrest, when they were trading in the pocket. But Jardine throws bombs in that range. And Forrest was smart enough to make that adjustment and stay out of that range against Rampage. Against a guy like Forrest, I’m pretty sure he’ll go back to his strength; wrestling. But knowing Forrests fights, they always end up all over the place.

by kama kaze on Sep 17, 2008 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs