Rashad Evans out of UFC 205 bout with Tim Kennedy due to medical issue
Rashad Evans looks to return to action, UFC grants release
UFC Hall of Famer and former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (19-8-1) is looking to make a comeback in the sport of mixed martial arts.
“Suga” retired from competition following a first-round knockout loss to Anthony Smith at UFC 225 in June 2018. The former champion said:
“I’m gonna retire. There’s just so much that goes into it all, but at one point in my life I felt as if fighting was everything. It was everything. I put life second, but now life is taking over and now fighting has become second. Competing in a sport like mixed martial arts where you have a lot of guys who haven’t been to the top of the mountain and haven’t experienced it the things that I’ve experienced, they’re really hungry for it.”
Now, at age 40, Evans seeks to return to action, except it won’t be with the UFC.
UFC President Dana White told ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto that the promotion has released Evans so he can pursue other opportunities with different promotions.
In a separate discussion, Evans told Okamoto, “I changed my diet after I retired, and it’s drastically changed my body and how I feel. I am definitely heavily thinking about coming back.
“I just felt, when it came down to it — I want to make some money in this comeback, and I didn’t know if the UFC was interested. They’re focused on something different. I don’t think they’re into bringing back the older fighters who have retired. They’re into what’s next, what’s new.”
Evans dropped his last five fights with the UFC to include bouts with Smith, Ryan Bader, Sam Alvey, Daniel Kelly, and Glover Teixeira.
He made his pro debut in 2004 and signed with the UFC the next year after he won “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. He captured the 205-pound title in 2008 and holds notable wins over Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
If Evans does make a comeback, where do you think Rashad Evans will end up?
