Lyoto Machida vs Rashad Evans at UFC 98

First it was going to be Frank Mir vs Brock Lesnar in a UFC heavyweight title unification match in the main event of UFC 98.

Then, after Frank Mir successfully had the fight pushed back to UFC 100 due to needing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the UFC had hoped that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Rashad Evans would fill the void.

Quinton Jackson defeated Keith Jardine in the main event of UFC 96 to earn his shot at the light heavyweight title, and Dana White was hoping that Jackson would take the fight with Rashad on short notice. In a conversation with Jackson and his team shortly after UFC 96, Dana asked about fighting Rashad at UFC 98, and Jackson said that he would get back to him after talking it over with his team.

The proposed Jackson - Evans fight will NOT be taking place at UFC 98.

It has been revealed that Jackson has torn ligaments in his jaw that will require surgery, as well as a hyperextended left elbow. This leaves Jackson unable to fight against Rashad Evans at UFC 98.

Instead, Lyoto Machida will fill in for "Rampage", with Jackson fighting the winner in the second half of 2009.

Lyoto Machida vs Rashad Evans will match up two of the UFC's undefeated fighters in a battle for the light heavyweight title.

Machida currently sports a record of 14-0-0, with recent victories coming against Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Evans also has an undefeated record, with his lone "blemish" coming in a draw against Tito Ortiz at UFC 73 - Stacked. He is currently 13-0-1, with recent victories coming against Forrest Griffin (where he captured the light heavyweight title), Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell.

The current main card for UFC 98 now looks like this:

Rashad Evans vs Lyoto Machida
Matt Hughes vs Matt Serra
Yushin Okami vs Dan Miller
Sean Sherk vs Frank Edgar
Josh Koscheck vs Chris Wilson

Jackson and Evans would be a huge fight for the UFC, so hopefully it can still happen down the road.

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