Harrisburg’s Phil Davis — who is undefeated in MMA — takes on Rashad Evans at UFC 133 in Philadelphia on Aug. 6. This should be Davis’ toughest test by far, but he definitely has the tools to win.
By Eduardo Ferreira, Tatame.com
So far undefeated in MMA, Phil Davis will confront the former UFC champion Rashad Evans and, with a win, might be the next on the line for a title shot. Coming from a good win over Rogerio Nogueira, the American chatted with TATAME in Las Vegas and said he’s ready for his greatest test. “He has pretty good Wrestling for MMA, but I guess I’m a little bit kind of a better wrestler, but he’s good in mixing the strikes in Wrestling, so it’s not bad. But I think I’m better”, said, confident, talking about his dream of becoming a UFC champion and a lot more.
How are the trainings going focused on your bout against Rashad Evans?
It’s good, it’s good. I have some good training partners, so, so far, the training is going really well.
Do you think you’d get a title shot if you beat him?
Well, I’ll be pretty close to a title shot if I beat him, so I should be doing really well after this win.
You got into the fight against Nogueira in a short notice, and you won. Do you consider him to be your toughest opponent so far?
Absolutely. He’s one of the biggest names I’ve ever fought, and he’s big on out league category.
And do you see your chances against Rashad? Do you believe you have better Wrestling skills than him?
I think he has pretty good Wrestling for MMA, but I guess I’m a little bit kind of a better wrestler, but he’s good in mixing the strikes in Wrestling, so it’s not bad. But I think I’m better.
And talking about a possible bout in the future between you and Jon Jones… How do you see that?
It’s good because Jon Jones has only been winning fights, so, you know, he wins and it’s good because he’ll say: ‘this guys has won all of all of his fights too’, so he’s doing that comparison now… It’s good.
Do you think you’re ready to become a UFC champion?
I feel it’s like one of those things you don’t know until you win a belt, I’ll only know it when I actually get it done.
When did you start training MMA?
Two years ago.
And before you used to practice only Wrestling?
Right.
Why have you decided to fight MMA?
I think I’ve decided to fight MMA just because, I don’t know, I saw it and it looked like something I could be good at, and I was right (laughs).
Who’s the guys you most like watching in action?
I love Anderson, GSP, Wanderlei, Fedor… Only the best fighters. There’re different qualities that they have, so I like to watch each one of them.
