Rashad Evans: “He’s in deep water, and I’m the shark.”

Rashad Evans has become a master at mind games with his opponents. In Phil Davis, “Suga” feels like he has a young pup that he can easily manipulate before they step foot inside the Octagon.

A former UFC champion, Evans has been waiting for over a year to get a shot at his title after missing out on chances to compete for the belt due to injuries. Now, Evans can see the light at the end of the tunnel – if he can handle the undefeated Davis this weekend at UFC on FOX 2, that is.

“After I had my year off (with injury), I came back with the attitude of never, ever leaving it up to the judges and just throwing hands all the time,” said Evans, during a recent press conference. “That’s the way my career is going to go, and that’s how I am going to.”

In Davis, Evans believes he is facing a fighter lacking confidence, saying, “Davis is intimidated. I’ve seen him around and he’s not looking too confident. He’s not ready for this level, and he knows it. He’s coming to put up a good show, go back down a level, and come back again in a year or two. He’s not coming to take it to me, but I am gonna take it to him.”

Evans cited his past experience fighting as a heavyweight in The Ultimate Fighter – which he won – as well as matches against ex-champions Chuck Liddell and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson – bouts he also had his hand raised in – as reasons for him to be the favorite over Davis Saturday night.

“He’s not had to dig deep at all,” Evans said. “He’s in deep water, and I’m the shark.”

Evans and Davis will be the main event for this weekend’s card, a show taking place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. If Evans wins, he will move into a match with UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones later this year.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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MMATraining Take: Evans needs to make sure he doesn’t overlook Davis, as the wrestling powers of “Mr. Wonderful” are likely the best “Suga” will face in the division. Davis may not have the punching skills of a Jackson or Liddell, but he will look to use his strengths against Evans in this one.