Chicago to have 2 contender fights

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The UFC announced Saturday that the winners of the two No. 1 contender fights for its Jan. 28 event in Chicago will be next in line for a title shot in his respective division.

As ESPN.com first reported, a five-round light heavyweight bout between former champion Rashad Evans and Phil Davis will headline, followed by a co-main event between middleweights Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz.

Evans (16-1) had been in position to fight for the title earlier this year against then-champion Mauricio Rua, but was forced to postpone due to a knee injury. He now looks to solidify a date against former teammate and current champion, Jon Jones.

A former collegiate wrestler at Penn State University, Davis (9-0) looks to remain unbeaten as a professional fighter. The 27-year-old prospect is coming off the biggest win of his career, a unanimous decision over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in March.

Sonnen (26-11-1) is coming off a second-round submission win over Brian Stann at UFC 136. It was his first appearance in the Octagon since a dramatic submission loss to title-holder Anderson Silva in August 2010.

Looking to earn his first title shot, Munoz (12-2) brings a four-fight win streak into the contest. The California-based middleweight has accumulated seven wins in the UFC in less than three years, including victories over Demian Maia and Chris Leben.

Brett Okamoto covers mixed martial arts for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter.

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Brett Okamoto

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• MMA columnist for ESPN.com
• Analyst for "MMA Live"
• Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun