Rashad Evans out of UFC 205 bout with Tim Kennedy due to medical issue
Report: Rashad Evans to face Gabriel Checco in Eagle FC debut in January
Former UFC light heavyweight champion “Suga” Rashad Evans has found an opponent for his comeback fight next year. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi was first to report on Wednesday night that Evans, who will be coming out of retirement to fight for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion, will face Gabriel Checco in his promotional debut on January 28, 2022 for Eagle FC 44, the promotion’s debut in the United States.
Rashad Evans has not competed in a fight since back in 2018 when he dropped his fifth-consecutive fight, a first-round knockout loss to Anthony Smith at UFC 225. Following the loss to Smith, Evans opted for retirement and has spent his time doing multiple roles in the media, including serving as a part-time analyst for ESPN’s UFC coverage.
Famously known for winning Season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter television series which he did as a heavyweight, Rashad Evans would go on to start his UFC tenure as a light heavyweight and won 8 of his first 9 fights, with the other fight resulting in a draw to Tito Ortiz. He rode that winning streak into a shocking upset of Chuck Liddell at UFC 88 in 2008, and after his victory over Liddell, Evans would go on to win the UFC light heavyweight title with a third-round TKO of Forrest Griffin.
Evans dropped the title to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 and after losing the belt, he would go on to 6of his next 8 fights, but over time and battling injuries, things would take a big dip in his career. From 2015 to 2018, Evans would endure a five-fight losing streak but when he announced his return in 2021, he made it known that he missed the feeling of being inside the cage and fighting an opponent.
As for Rashad Evans’ opponent, Gabriel Checco’s last fight came at XMMA 3 in October when he picked up a first-round victory. Checco is a very active grappling competitor, but has won two of his last three fights inside the cage, and has had fight experience against UFC fighters Jordan Wright and Ian Heinisch, both of which he lost.
The fight has yet to be confirmed or announced by the Eagle FC promotion which has three confirmed bouts, and two reported, including Miles Hunsinger facing Demarques Jackson.
Here’s how the Eagle FC fight card currently stands, with two of the fights yet to be confirmed:
- Tyrone Spong vs Sergei Kharitonov (main event)
- Ray Borg vs Cody Gibson
- Renan Barao vs Horacio Gutierrez
- Rashad Evans vs Gabriel Checco (reported, not confirmed)
- Miles Hunsinger vs Demarques Jackson (reported, not confirmed)
