Evans wants to fight again soon, ideally against Anderson Silva
Rashad Evans: “I feel like just getting in a good, competitive rhythm, being out there more than just one time a year, my next performance will be 10 times better.”
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans bounced back admirably from a 2012 title shot at Jon Jones. In 2013 he had three fights, losing to Little Nog and then beating Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen. Thereafter linger knee injuries ate into his career.
Evans had no fights in 2014. He fought just once in 2015, a loss to Ryan Bader. He fought just once in 2016, a loss to Glover Teixeira. Then he dropped to middleweight and lost a split decision to Dan Kelly at UFC 209 on March 4.
During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Evans pointed to a lack of activity as a source of his problems. So he wants to fight again, soon. And he has a suggestion somewhat in keeping with the legend’s league concept that Vitor Belfort floated. While Belfort wants rules more in keeping with the advance of age, Suga is looking for a unified rules fight, but vs. another aging former champion – Anderson Silva.
I was kind of disappointed in my performance, just because I didn’t perform the way I feel like I really could have,” said Evans, as transcribed by Adam Guillen Jr. for MMA Mania. “I feel like just getting in a good, competitive rhythm, being out there more than just one time a year, my next performance will be 10 times better. It’s really, really hard to compete against these guys who are competing every few months if you are not competing at all. No matter who you are, it’s just a competitive rhythm being out in the Octagon; the feel of it, feeling comfortable in the cage. When you feel comfortable in the cage, it allows you to just fight and not second guess and contemplate your next move when you are in free mode. I just need to go out there and fight as soon as possible.
As far as divisions go, Evans says 185 suits him and his sole regret is not dropping down sooner.