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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Interesting Tidbit of the Day: Rampage Was Offered Fight With Shogun But He Turned it Down

(Video courtesy of YouTube/wallenrichard)
Tatame is reporting that Jon Jones was not the UFC’s first choice as Mauricio "Shogun" Rua’s replacement opponent for UFC 128. According to the UFC light heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage&qu…


(Video courtesy of YouTube/wallenrichard)

Tatame is reporting that Jon Jones was not the UFC’s first choice as Mauricio "Shogun" Rua’s replacement opponent for UFC 128. According to the UFC light heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was offered the title shot in place Rashad Evans, who injured his knee training last week in Albuquerque, but the A-Team star declined the fight for undisclosed reasons.

“The UFC had another opponent in mind, but it didn’t work out. For some reason [Qinton Jackson] didn’t accept the title shot," Shogun explained. “I’ll have to change my training because [Jon Jones] is a lot different than Rashad. He’s much taller, which will present a great challenge. He’s been surprising everybody in the UFC — defeating everybody with ease, and it’ll be a tough fight for me."


"Smell it!"

Maybe Rampage is still waking up in cold sweats from the recurring nightmare of getting his head soccer-kicked into the fifth row by Shogun.

Rashad Evans Staying Positive in the Face of Tragedy, Tells Jon Jones to ‘Go Get That Belt’

("I just want y’all to know that this shit is not awkward whatsoever.")
Rashad Evans’s unexpected knee injury may be a career-altering nightmare scenario, but the former light-heavyweight champion is doing his best to put on a brave public…

Jon Jones Rashad Evans UFC MMA photos
("I just want y’all to know that this shit is not awkward whatsoever.")

Rashad Evans‘s unexpected knee injury may be a career-altering nightmare scenario, but the former light-heavyweight champion is doing his best to put on a brave public face. After the bad news was dropped at UFC 126, Sugar posted the following on RashadEvans.tv:

"Hey my ppl! Last night most of u heard the news. If not here is the latest. I have 2 pull out of my Shogun fight because of injury. I severely sprained my MCL in practice. While in practice I got blindsided by another group of partners right into the side of my knee like football lineman style.. Since I’m hurt my teammate young phenom Bones Jones is gonna step in 4 me! I’m gonna recover & then see what happens next 4 me! Thank all u 4 the encouragement! I love my supports & my haters! Go get that belt brudda Jones!"

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