On this day in 2009, a new light heavyweight champion was crowned UFC 98.
Joe Rogan has seen many large UFC champions come and go, but on this occasion he believed that he really looked at something special.
After winning the second season of 'The Ultimate Fighter', Rashad Evans emerged as a star for the promotion when he started winning victories.
Jon Jones credit Evans by touching him with the most difficult blow he has ever received and 'Suga' used that power to stop both Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin, who in turn saw him win the light heavyweight title.
The new champion originally prepared for a rival of his, but instead he received a totally unique challenge with two undefeated competitors meeting in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on 23 May.
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Lyoto Machida slept Rashad Evans on this day in 2009 on UFC 98
With top candidate Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson who requires surgery, Rashad Evans was booked to defend his title against the rising Lyoto Machida.
The champion placed his 13-0-1 record on the line against the 14-0 Brazilian who recently defeated the will of Tito Ortiz and Thiago Silva to enter the title.
Machida's unique striking ensured that the champion caused some problems early, with the biggest moment of the opening round as a Blitz attack that Evans dropped.
'Suga' survived but he was again fallen in the second round through a left corner and this time the challenger did not leave him off the hook.
Machida continued to stack on the pressure, with a beep on Evans until another left corner dropped on the floor against the cage.
With a direct iconic call, Joe Rogan suggested that fans had just witnessed a change in the guard now that there was a new superstar at the top of the light heavyweight division.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Machida era.”
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Rashad Evans later revealed how Lyoto Machida immediately threw him out of his game
When Lyoto Machida arrived in the UFC, it was clear that his battle was at a different level than the other top candidates in the light heavyweight division.
Rashad Evans recently revealed during an appearance on the overogs podcast that his entire mindset was thrown away by 'The Dragon' as soon as the fight had started.
“One of the things that Lyoto did so threw me off the game, immediately from the bat, he threw a high staircase as hard as he can on my head. He didn't care if he caught me or I blocked it, but he just wanted me … it's like a representation in force.
Evans said that the strike was so powerful that it made him careful to be hit with another one, so he left his game plan to prevent that happening.
“So I started hurrying and I started hurrying my technique and when I hurry my technique, then he could hit me with that counter who started the fall of the fight.”