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Phil Davis believes he made a statement Saturday night at UFC 159, defeating Vinny Magalhaes and cementing his status as a Top-10 light heavyweight.

“I really wanted to go out there and make a statement to the fans that I’m in the Top-10 and I’m not going anywhere,” Davis said.

Since a loss – his lone one of his professional career – to Rashad Evans, Davis has shown an improved striking game. That was on display vs. Magalhaes, has he avoided the ground game from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist.

“I’m not going to shoot for takedowns that I can miss,” Davis said. “I’d rather be precise with my techniques. I was playing it smart in there because Vinny is dangerous on the ground. My striking is coming along, but it’s not quite there yet.”

The former Penn State University wrestling standout and ex-NCAA champion added that “I’m brand new in this sport and I’m still young.”

Those are scary thoughts, as “Mr. Wonderful” continues to impress.

Phil Davis says his game plan against Vinny Magalhaes was basically to keep a cool head because making mistakes based on emotions against guys like Vinny “will destroy you.”

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Vinny Magalhaes knows that Phil Davis is a well-decorated wrestler and former NCAA champion.

That doesn’t mean the Brazilian is at all concerned if Davis takes him down when they two collide later this month at UFC 159.

Magalhaes, of course, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard with multiple victories via submission to his credit. He is 10-5 overall and unbeaten since returning to the UFC.

“Level is not about numbers; level is about skills. And as far as skill goes, I think I have way more skills than him and I think it becomes a mismatch once we’re fighting each other,” said Magalhaes in an interview with the UFC. “Wrestling, I will give that to Phil Davis, but who cares? He takes me down, that’s my world. He thinks he can (grapple) because he’s been fighting a bunch of cans who cannot. And he cannot strike. Every time people throw a punch he just falls, tries to shoot. He becomes like a NCAA wrestler.”

The two have been embroiled in several verbal exchanges on social media sites, so it could be an intense staredown once they finally reach April 27 and Newark.

Vinny Magalhaes makes no point of hiding how he feels about fellow 205er Phil Davis. Magalhaes claims Davis to be the product of hype, and he plans to make an example out of him come UFC 159.

While Phil Davis has respect for Vinny Magalhaes, he still plans to lay the hurt on him. Davis goes on to explain how his background in wrestling will be the true difference in the fight. We welcomes Magalhaes’ jiu jitsu, as he feels he can use that his advantage. The two are set to meet at UFC 159.

Vinny Magalhaes was brought in by Chael Sonnen prior to his fight last year with Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight championship.

Magalhaes, who returned to the UFC and earned a victory in 2012, as well, will face Phil Davis later this year. For now, he is helping Sonnen prep for another world title match, as he faces Jon Jones for the 205-pound belt.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard told BJPenn.com that he believes Sonnen can take “Bones” down and earn the victory.

Jon Jones hasn’t been tested off his back and that’s exactly where Chael is going to be able to put him. I think Chael takes a decision in that fight. It’s a tough fight, but I don’t see it as a mismatch like most people think it is. I don’t think Jones has the capability of submitting Chael off his back.

Jones and Sonnen meet in April at UFC 159, the same night Magalhaes and Davis square off.

UFC 159 is beginning to fill up, though the event doesn’t take place until April.

Two bouts were made official by the promotion on Tuesday night, as light heavyweights Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes will square off, along with heavyweights Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo.

Davis (10-1) defeated Wagner Prado to close out 2012, as his planned fight with Forrest Griffin was scratched after Griffin suffered a training injury.

Magalhaes (10-5), a former runner-up on The Ultimate Fighter, submitted Igor Pokrajac in his Octagon return.

The two fighters started a Twitter feud, which led to the match being made.

Nelson (18-7) earned his second straight win by finishing Matt Mitrione last month, while Kongo (18-7-2) is 3-1 in his last four.

Kongo was originally asked to face Nelson in December, but declined the bout.

Vinny, who did want to fight Matt Hamill, now has his sights set on Phil Davis.

Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes have been going back-and-forth like two kids on Twitter lately.

Davis is saying Magalhaes wouldn’t take a fight at UFC 155 on short notice, while the Brazilian is claiming Davis turned down a match for early 2013 because of prior family plans.

Ur wasting my time, u didn’t want to fight on one of the biggest fight cards of the year co main, but I’m the one ducking you? @vinnymma

— Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) December 15, 2012

Magalhaes responded to Davis’ remarks, posting, “so does that mean that you’ll stop ducking me and you will take the fight on February 23 (UFC 157)?”

Both fighters are coming off wins, with Davis rebounding by defeating Wagner Prado and Magalhaes returning to the UFC with a submission over Igor Pokrajac.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin has been forced out of a planned co-main event fight with Phil Davis for UFC 155.

Forrest Has MCL tear and ACL strain. 20 cc’s of blood removed from his knee and the saga continues at the UFC!!

— Dana White (@danawhite) December 5, 2012

Griffin was originally set to meet Chael Sonnen at the card, but Sonnen accepted a spot on The Ultimate Fighter as a coach. No word on if Davis will remain on the card.

UFC 155 has continued a year-long trend of fights being nixed due to training injuries by fighters. Griffin joins Chris Weidman and Gray Maynard as those forced off the card due to injuries.