Rashad Evans vs Stephan Bonnar — Fight recap

Rashad Evans defeated Stephan Bonnar via majority decision after three rounds on June 28, 2006, in a light heavyweight bout that showcased contrasting fighting styles. Evans controlled the contest through superior wrestling, landing 7 of 12 takedown attempts (58%) while accumulating 10:54 of control time against Bonnar's negligible 0:04.

Despite landing only 17 of 37 significant strikes (45%), Evans's grappling dominance proved decisive against Bonnar's striking-oriented approach, which produced 12 of 36 significant strikes at 33% accuracy. Bonnar attempted two submissions but found little success in a fight where Evans dictated pace and positioning throughout.

The majority decision reflected Evans's wrestling superiority and cage control, establishing him as a rising force in the division while highlighting Bonnar's vulnerability against well-rounded opponents who could neutralize his striking.