Former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (13-1-1) has agreed to face Brazilian smashing machine Thiago Silva (14-1) at UFC 108, which is scheduled to take place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, 2010, MMAmania.com can confirm.
Aside from their similar records, Evans and Silva share another common thread: Both lost their undefeated records after being systematically destroyed by the urine-powered karate of Lyoto Machida.
"Sugar" was the most recent victim of "The Dragon" in a shoop-worthy knockout that saw Evans go limp at UFC 98 back in May.
Despite the loss, The Ultimate fighter (TUF) 10 coach is a bona fide star. In addition to knocking Chuck Liddell back into the "Ice" ages, he dismantled Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 to usurp the 205-pound title.
In fact, the talented wrestler was all set to inch his way back into the title picture at UFC 107 against opposing TUF coach Quinton Jackson, however; "Rampage" got bit by the acting bug and skipped town to drive a black van.
Like Evans, Silva was smashing his way through the ranks of light heavyweight and was one fight away from a title shot until Machida stiffened him at UFC 94 last January.
While the Brazilian holds a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he's known for separating people from their consciousness, like he did in his TKO victory over Evans' friend and team mate Keith Jardine at UFC 102.
A judge's decision in this one is almost unthinkable.
UFC 108 is expected to serve as the promotion’s traditional "year-end" event because the Christmas holiday falls on the last weekend of 2009. Former light heavyweight champion Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort has been courted to challenge current division deity Anderson "The Spider" Silva in the night's main event.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on UFC 108 as it becomes available.