Rashad Evans is back. And now it’s official.
Evans will return to the Octagon for the first time in more than a year to meet Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 61 on Feb. 22 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the UFC announced Friday. It will be the UFC’s first trip to the city. The main card will air live on FOX Sports 1. The bout was first reported by Globo.
Evans (19-3-1), the former UFC light heavyweight champion, has not competed since beating Chael Sonnen at UFC 167 on Nov. 16, 2013. He was scheduled to face Daniel Cormier last February, but injured his knee just 10 days before the bout and needed surgery. “Suga” was also linked to a bout with Alexander Gustafsson in January, but Evans, 35, would not have been ready in time.
Instead, he’ll get Teixeira (22-4), who has lost two straight. The Brazilian is coming off a unanimous decision defeat against Phil Davis at UFC 179 in November. Previously, he fell to Jon Jones in a light heavyweight title fight at UFC 172 in April. Teixeira, 35, had won 20 straight fights before that, including five in a row in the UFC, to earn the title shot against Jones. He’ll now try to get back on track against Evans.
Evans-Teixeira is the first bout announced for UFC Fight Night 61. The event will take place at Gigantinho Gymnasium.