Tag: Rashad Evans

Despite Recent Injury, Rashad Evans Doesn’t Regret Waiting for Title Shot

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveIt would be easy for Rashad Evans to sit around and second-guess himself these days. It would be easy to dwell on the what-ifs, or to wallow in the bitterness of recent events.

He waited the better part of a year fo…

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It would be easy for Rashad Evans to sit around and second-guess himself these days. It would be easy to dwell on the what-ifs, or to wallow in the bitterness of recent events.

He waited the better part of a year for his title shot, forsaking other opportunities to fight and risking the ire of UFC president Dana White. With the fight less than two months away, a freak accident in training injured his knee and forced him out of the UFC 128 main event. Now the UFC has shuffled Jon Jones – Evans’ own teammate – into the title fight in his place, leaving Evans’ future as uncertain as ever.

“It’s hard,” said Evans. “Of course it’s hard. I can’t lie and say it’s not hard or that I don’t think sometimes, I wish it was me. I’d be lying if I said that. But I believe that everything happens for a reason.”

MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Jon Jones Moves to No. 2

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Light HeavyweightsThe last time I ranked the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, I wrestled with the question of who’s the No. 2 fighter in the weight class: Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson or Rashad Evans?

N…

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Jon JonesThe last time I ranked the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, I wrestled with the question of who’s the No. 2 fighter in the weight class: Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson or Rashad Evans?

Now I have the answer: None of the above.

Jon Jones put on his fourth consecutive spectacular performance in beating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, and I can no longer put Jones below anyone other than champion Shogun Rua. With just about any other fighter of Jones’ age and experience I’d say the UFC is rushing him into a title shot in this situation, but with Jones I can’t argue: He has proven that he deserves to be considered the second-best light heavyweight in the sport.

So I’ve got Shogun and Jones, who will meet in the main event at UFC 128, at 1-2 in our light heavyweight rankings. Find out where the rest of the division stacks up below.

Thiago Silva’s Drug Test Still Processing, Evans Not Offered UFC 130 Bout

Filed under: UFCFormer UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans has not been offered a fight with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130 in May, Evans’ manager, Malki Kawa, told MMA Fighting on Wednesday.

After MMA Weekly reported earlier in the day tha…

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Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans has not been offered a fight with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130 in May, Evans’ manager, Malki Kawa, told MMA Fighting on Wednesday.

After MMA Weekly reported earlier in the day that Jackson’s original opponent for that event, Thiago Silva, had been forced off the card, rumors circulated that Evans could be tapped as a replacement on the May 28 fight card.

Those reports are premature, according to Evans’ management. And yet, as of Wednesday afternoon there are still questions surrounding Silva’s ability to participate in the bout.

Rashad Evans May (Or May Not) Rematch Rampage Jackson at UFC 130, Due to Thiago Silva’s (Allegedly) Failed Steroid Test

(If you look at the changes in Thiago Silva’s body shape over the years, you do have to wonder…)
Could Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson settle their continuing feud with a formal rematch when Sugar’s knee is healthy again? Is Th…

Thiago Silva action figure UFCThiago Silva action figure
(If you look at the changes in Thiago Silva’s body shape over the years, you do have to wonder…)

Could Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson settle their continuing feud with a formal rematch when Sugar’s knee is healthy again? Is Thiago Silva about to get busted for steroids? There’s a ton of conflicting information surrounding these related stories, so we’ll just pass along what we’ve heard…

– MMAWeekly was the first to report that UFC light-heavyweight contender Thiago Silva has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled match against Quinton Jackson at UFC 130 (May 28, Las Vegas). "Sources close to the bout" confirmed that Rashad Evans will be stepping in for the Pitbull — meaning that Evans’s first opponent since outpointing Quinton Jackson last May will be…Quinton Jackson, once again.

– However, Thiago Silva himself denied the report to Tatame, saying "I’m very healthy and looking forward to fight Rampage…Nobody called us about anything, the fight is on.” Quinton Jackson’s camp was also surprised by the report, and according to Rashad Evans’s manager, Evans hasn’t been offered the fight either.

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‘Rampage’ Jackson Offers Weighty Explanation for Turning Down Title Shot

Filed under: UFCQuinton “Rampage” Jackson did indeed turn down a chance to fight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 128, Jackson confirmed via his Twitter earlier today, but it’s the reason he turned it down that gives us …

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Quinton “Rampage” Jackson did indeed turn down a chance to fight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 128, Jackson confirmed via his Twitter earlier today, but it’s the reason he turned it down that gives us an insight into the current state of his MMA career.

“I turned down the fight cause of short notice,I would have 2 lose 45 lbs n 4 weeks,u would have 2 be a fighter 2 understand,life goes on,” Jackson tweeted on Tuesday.

Of course, after he turned down the chance to step in for the injured Rashad Evans, the UFC offered it to Evans’ teammate, Jon Jones, who was only too happy to seize the opportunity. So what does that tell us, aside from the fact that Jackson is walking around closer to the heavyweight limit than the light heavyweight one?

Rashad Evans Doesn’t Seem to Remember Getting Knocked Out by Lyoto Machida

(Props: MMA30tv)
This video has been making the rounds today mostly because of the part that begins at the 4:40 mark, in which Rashad Evans describes a physical encounter he had with Quinton Jackson recently at a Las Vegas nightclub. Basicall…

(Props: MMA30tv)

This video has been making the rounds today mostly because of the part that begins at the 4:40 mark, in which Rashad Evans describes a physical encounter he had with Quinton Jackson recently at a Las Vegas nightclub. Basically, Rashad approached his TUF 10 coaching rival to congratulate him on his win over Lyoto Machida (and also bust his balls a bit). The conversation took a left turn, which led to Rampage slapping Rashad in the face. Rashad returned the slap, and then security stepped in. End of story.

But the way Rashad sets up the story is a little strange. He says: "I seen him at XS, right? And I go up to him and give him his props for his win, y’know, he beat Machida, I beat Machida, and I was like ‘good job,’ you know. And I said ‘but you know, you kind of used a little bit of my strategy in that fight.’ [Rampage said] ‘Whatchu talkin’ ’bout?’ And I said, ‘well I mean, you were taking him down a lot, and you said that I wrestled you a lot, so, you said I was kinda weak for doing that, but then you go and do the same thing."

Rashad, if you’re reading this, maybe this will help jog your memory…

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