Niagara-Wheatfield alum Rashad Evans might be undefeated, but he’s certainly not getting much respect heading into tonight’s UFC 88 headline bout against Chuck Liddell.

Even Evans, whose only blemish was a tie to Tito Ortiz, admitted he’s a decided underdog heading into the event at Atlanta’s Philips Center.

“It can be a very big upset. I’m going to go out there and let my hands fly and see what happens,” Evans said at the press conference prior to the event. “I really don’t think about being undefeated. I try to go in there and try to present each fight as a new challenge. I don’t want to lose because I don’t like to lose.”

Liddell has long been one of the faces of Ultimate Fighting, and was the first ever UFC fighter to grace the cover of ESPN The Magazine when he did so in May of 2007.

But Liddell lost his UFC Light Heavyweight title belt soon after, suffering a technical knockout in a fight with Quinton Jackson. He lost again in UFC 76, dropping a split decision to Keith Jardine.

Liddell looked good in a unanimous decision over Wanderlei Silva in December, though, and has aspirations of returning to the UFC throne, even though he’s 38 years old.

“People just keep asking me about the belt, so I’ll tell them that’s my eventual goal,” Liddell said. “But I never look past the fight in front of me, and I’m definitely not looking past Rashad. I’ll deal with that after this fight’s over.”

Liddell said the added passion of a new venue — Atlanta has never hosted a UFC event before — should make tonight’s card even more interesting.

“The fans always seem to be a little more excited the first time we fight somewhere for the first time,” Liddell said. “Should be a good show.”

As for Evans, the former Niagara County Community College national champion wrestler said he’s ecstatic to have the opportunity to fight an MMA icon.

“I’m thankful to be here. I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “It’s going to be a great experience. I’m just enjoying the whole experience. I’m excited to mix it up with one of the best.”



UFC 88

• WHO: Rashad Evans vs. Chuck Liddell

• WHEN: Card starts at 10 p.m., tonight

• WHERE: Atlanta’s Philips Center

• TV: Pay per view

• NOTES: N-Wheatfield product Evans was originally supposed to fight Liddell during UFC 85, but Liddell withdrew with a hamstring injury ... Evans is 13-0-1, Riddell is 21-5