Behind the UFC on FOX 2 numbers: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis fight complete statistical breakdown

This Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight standouts Rashad Evans and Phil Davis will duke it out at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois, for the opportunity to face current division champion Jon Jones.

It's been a long time coming for "Suga," who's been engaged in a long running war of words with "Bones." Their beef can be traced all the way back to the moment Jones agreed to fight Evans, his former friend and training partner.

For "Mr. Wonderful," he's been given no guarantee for a title shot if he is to emerge victorious. He's the underdog as far as the odds are concerned, but the 9-0 Davis has every intention of keeping his spotless record just that.

Regardless of who comes out on top, the main event is certain to be full of fireworks and thrilling highlights for mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who tune in.

After the jump, we'll give you a close look behind the numbers of Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis:

The number crunchers at CompuStrike took the time to dig deep into the fight annals and retrieve the stats that build the framework for this fight. The numbers collected have been based on 13 fight averages for Rashad Evans and five fight averages for Phil Davis.

Both of these gentlemen are known for their high wrestling pedigree, but neither is necessarily afraid to stand and trade. Who do the numbers show to be the better all-around striker?

Total Strikes:

Evans -- 45 of 97
Davis -- 55 of 107

Percentage:

Evans -- 46 percent
Davis -- 51 percent

Total Power Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 28
Davis -- 41

Total Non-Power Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 17
Davis -- 14

If you're like me, you're a little floored by those findings. Davis looks to land more often, be more precise and land more power shots.

How about when you isolate the punches and elbows?

Total Arm Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 22 of 61
Davis -- 2 of 19

Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 36 percent
Davis -- 11 percent

Power Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 12
Davis -- 2

Non-Power Strikes Landed

Evans -- 10
Davis -- 0

That sounds a little bit more like it. Davis has said that he's not nervous about trading shots with Evans, but the numbers strongly suggest that a boxing match would not be in his favor.

Here's what the leg strike picture looks like:

Total Leg Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 4 of 5
Davis -- 14 of 21

Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 80 percent
Davis -- 72 percent

Power Leg Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 3
Davis -- 8

Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 1
Davis -- 6

Based on this data, Evans appears to be a bit more accurate, but Davis is more active and scores more with power.

Finally, the aspect everyone is most curious: The ground game.

Let's check it out:

Ground Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 19 of 31
Davis -- 39 of 66

Percentage:

Evans -- 61 percent
Davis -- 62 percent

Power Ground Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 13
Davis -- 31

Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed:

Evans -- 6
Davis -- 8

Takedowns:

Evans --45 of 69 (65 percent)
Davis -- 16 of 26 (62 percent)

Submission Attempts:

Evans -- 0
Davis -- 3

Dominant Positions:

Evans -- 21
Davis -- 27

The advantage very much appears to be tilting towards Davis. They're both great wrestlers, but if the fight hits the mat, Evans may be in trouble.

What do these statistics do for you? Does any of the data surprise you or is it about what you expected? Share your (now) well-informed opinions with us in the comments section below.

For everything else you need to know about the clash between Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, be sure to check out our complete fight archive right here.