Evans puts title, cash on the line

That’s because Evans placed a bet on himself as a plus-210 underdog — pretty good odds for an undefeated champion.

"I’m coming into this fight still the underdog," Evans said, not offering to say how much he bet on himself to win. "Every time I fight, people pick against me."

Evans will try to keep his light heavyweight title — and win his bet — when he steps into the cage with Machida in the main event of UFC 98 tonight at the MGM Grand Garden.

He knows the task will be difficult.

"Machida’s tough, and there’s so many factors to worry about," Evans said. "He’s elusive, hard to hit and a very irregular striker."

Those skills have added up to a great deal of success for Machida, who, like Evans, never has lost.

In fact, Machida has not lost so much as a round in compiling a 6-0 record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Still, Evans is confident about his chances.

"Most of his fights, I’ve seen something I can use for myself," he said. "He doesn’t get hit much, but he does have holes."

Evans, 29, entered the UFC as a wrestling specialist and made his presence felt by winning the Season 2 title on the TV reality series "The Ultimate Fighter."

He relied on the wrestling skills he perfected at Michigan State to grind out victories, at one point early in his career winning five straight bouts by decision.

He ended that streak with a knockout of Jason Lambert in September 2006, and then things changed for Evans.

In his next bout, he knocked out Sean Salmon with a head kick that has made nearly every UFC highlight film produced since.

"For eight weeks (training for that fight), I practiced kicking, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m a wrestler. My feet never leave the ground. This is stupid,’ " Evans said.

The result convinced him to expand his game.

After a draw against Tito Ortiz and a decision over Michael Bisping, Evans has knocked out two of the world’s top light heavyweights — Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin — to propel himself to the top of the UFC’s most prestigious division.

"The wrestling still makes an appearance here and there," Evans said. "But I like to hit."

Machida, however, is not easy to hit. Evans knows that he can’t get caught up in his opponent’s style.

"Everybody pretty much says the same thing: ‘Don’t get caught up in his game and chase him around,’ " Evans said.

Tonight’s co-main event features two fighters who have been proclaiming their dislike of one another for several years.

Matt Hughes and Matt Serra finally will settle their differences in a grudge match nearly two years in the making.

Both are former UFC welterweight champions in the twilight of their careers, but each has plenty of motivation.

Serra has done more of the talking, but he says he will be able to keep his emotions in check when the bell rings.

"I’m a professional," Serra said. "I’m going to stay focused on staying technical."

Also, former lightweight champion Sean Sherk will look to continue his comeback from a steroid suspension when he meets rising star Frank Edgar.

Local fighter Mike Pyle was added to the undercard Friday.

Pyle, a veteran of World Extreme Cagefighting, Affliction and Elite XC, was signed by the UFC this week when it became clear that welterweight Chris Wilson might have to be scratched because of a medical issue with the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The fight will mark Pyle’s UFC debut. He’ll take on Brock Larson, who fought just last month but took only 2:01 to submit Jesse Sanders.

Eleven fights are on the card, with the five-bout main card going live on pay per view at 7 p.m. The first fight begins at 4:45.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.