Sherdog’s Top 10: Burglars

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9. Rashad Evans

Although it has not happened as much later in his career, Evans’ undefeated rise to prominence was marked by a number of close contests. His “Ultimate Fighter 2”-winning performance against Brad Imes went to the books as a split decision, as did his subsequent fight with Sam Hoger; Stephan Bonnar worked his way to a majority decision loss against Evans. Prevailing opinion had these fights going in Evans’ direction, but that many razor-thin fights in a row amounts to playing with fire.

It was a fight with Michael Bisping at UFC 78 that gave rise to cries of “robbery.” Evans took the first round with takedowns, top control and guard passes, but Bisping stormed back in the second, controlling the fight at range with his striking and even grabbing a takedown of his own on the accomplished wrestler. The third round was the crucial one, and it could easily have been scored for either fighter.

The split decision in Evans’ favor was not exactly highway robbery, but it was a close fight, and it cemented the trend of winning closer-than-expected decisions that had characterized his career to that point. Since then, however, Evans has taken the scorecards in far more convincing fashion, barring a tight scrap with Dan Henderson at UFC 161.

As the former Michigan State University wrestler’s skills have improved, namely the top game that allows him to control effortlessly on the ground, the narrow victories have grown less so. As that Henderson fight shows, however, Evans can still break out the old magic when he needs it.

Number 8 » It is easy to forget these days, given his recent history of success as a devastating puncher and the late-career run that cemented his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats, but he was once known as much for his penchant for taking close decisions as for his ridiculous right hand.