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[Cat--Smasher]

Evan Dunham wants to shut up Internet writer by smashing Rafael dos Anjos

Evan Dunham wants to shut up Internet writer by smashing Rafael dos Anjos | News

UFC lightweight Evan Dunham (14-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) admits his UFC 156 fight with Gleison Tibau wasn't the best performance of his career. That said, he takes offense to a writer's claim that he would "probably get murdered" by Rafael dos Anjos and would love the chance to prove him wrong.

"I tell you who I would like to fight: Rafael dos Anjos," Dunham recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMA Radio, UFC Radio - MMAjunkie Radio). "I read an interview saying I had no business fighting a guy like that and that he's at a whole different level.

"Bleacher Report put out something – I'm not very happy with that guy, but I don't let it get to me."

Yet it's easy to see it does get to the Oregon native. There was certainly no shame in his win, grinding out a hard-fought split decision over a massive Gleison Tibau, who Dunham said felt like a tree trunk when he tried unsuccessfully to take the fight to the floor. Still, Dunham admits his primary attack was unfortunately ineffective.

"My mindset going into the fight was to put him on his ass and submit him," Dunham said. "But as we saw, that didn't work out too well. Plan B was to go to the hands.

"He's a very durable guy. I was trying to put him away, and that didn't happen."

Tibau proved capable in his takedown defense, but he tired as the fight wore on. Dunham kept active and pushed until the final bell, sealing the narrow win. It didn't provide any material for his career highlight film, but Dunham was secretly satisfied with the win. While he only begrudgingly discussed his condition, Dunham admitted he battled several pre-fight injuries that nearly saw him pull out of the fight.

"I don't want to go into the whole thing, but … this camp was by far the shortest and least productive – not by choice, obviously," Dunham said. "There were several things that came up within this fight. I don't want to go into it all, but it was by far my worst camp ever. "

"I read it real quick, but it said I didn't have any business fighting a guy like Rafael dos Anjos," Dunham said. "I wanted to remind him that two of his losses are two guys I beat. I would love to go fight that kid and put the hurt him just so I could rub it in that other dude's face."

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

dos Anjos has really come on strong lately and Dunham, for all of his talents, is incredibly inconsistent and knows how to throw away fights. He reminds me, both technically/skillset-wise and gameplan-wise of Martin Kampmann.

dos Anjos is a hard charging fighter, I think he's improved to a point where he takes the fight to Dunham and outworks him.

[1inthechamber]

Dunham has had a real downward spiral since his loss to Melvin (which made me some money lol). He got a bit cocky if I remember correctly and I rode his own hype train.

[Rise]

Originally Posted by 1inthechamber

Dunham has had a real downward spiral since his loss to Melvin (which made me some money lol). He got a bit cocky if I remember correctly and I rode his own hype train.

I think losing the Sherk fighting might have hurt him more mentally. It was a decision that should have went his way and he got robbed of all his momentum at that point.

At this point I think Dos Anjos wins but Dunham won't make it easy if he's focused.

[zana1126]

Dunham is nothing more than a fairly exciting fighter. Loosing in dramatic fashion against Guillard (the most overrated fighter ever in the UFC) proves my point.

[deeznizzies]

zana, melvin isn't the most overrated fighter in the ufc. alistair is.

[1inthechamber]

Originally Posted by Rise

I think losing the Sherk fighting might have hurt him more mentally. It was a decision that should have went his way and he got robbed of all his momentum at that point.

At this point I think Dos Anjos wins but Dunham won't make it easy if he's focused.

True, I also thought he won that fight. That Melvin ko stopped him dead in his tracks tho lol.