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Rashad sets up Jones title battle at UFC 145

Rashad Evans was too good for Phil Davis © Getty Images

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Rashad Evans will fight Jon Jones for the light-heavyweight title at UFC 145 after he proved himself to be in a different league to Phil Davis in Saturday's UFC on Fox 2 main event.

Evans, the former champion, has long been campaigning for a fight with former team-mate Jones after a sour divide in loyalties, and now he will get his chance. A unanimous 50-45 decision victory, which was more businesslike than inspirational, means Evans will be the next man to challenge Jones in April of this year.

Davis had pointed to his superior collegiate wrestling background as the reason for why he would beat Evans, but when it comes to MMA Evans showed there was no competition.

Previously unbeaten, Davis looked awkward on his feet - often totally unbalanced as he looked to land early leg kicks. The opening stanza finished in bad circumstances for him as Evans landed a takedown into side control, moving to the mounted crucifix to deliver some heavy damage.

Evans had the speed, the fluidity and he even enjoyed the wrestling advantage, Davis' only hope. Rounds two and three barely registered when it came to activity but it was Evans clearly winning them.

The odd Davis takedown never resulted in any damage, and as they went to the fifth round he needed a finish. Instead it was Evans who rocked and dropped his man, again moving to mounted crucifix, and even though he couldn't find a finish Suga Rashad could barely have been more dominant.

"I wanted to put him away but I couldn't put enough hands on him," Evans said. "I'm excited. Everybody kept talking about the Jones fight, so it was hard to be excited for this fight. Now me and Jon get to go at it."

"I got goosepumps, I'm so pumped," Jones commented. "I can't wait to get past this chapter in my career, due to all the hype and drama. I'm a happy man. I'm going to train harder than you ever could have imagined."

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