Issue 148

December 2016

Rashad Evans isn't ready to retire just yet.

UFC Middleweight,

Alias: Suga,

Team: Blackzilians,

Record: 24-8-1.

Despite a friendly recommendation from UFC president Dana White to call it a day, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans insists he’s still got the tools to dominate inside the Octagon.

Now, he’s relentlessly working towards a switch to middleweight for UFC 205 in his home state to prove to the world that ‘Suga’ has still got it.

The native of Niagara Falls, New York, suffered the most brutal defeat of his 25 -fight career when Glover Teixeira knocked him out inside two minutes.

He admits the aftermath was the darkest time of his professional career.

But walking away was never an option for the TUF 2 winner, who has set his sights on a familiar opponent for his return at Madison Square Garden.

How close did you come to actually retiring?

That was never really an option for me. Fighting is who I am. I was disappointed and embarrassed by the loss to Glover, of course. But by the next morning, I knew what and where my future was.

I knew it wasn’t over, I just needed a fresh beginning. Listen, I’m a fighter. It’s who I am. And I’m not done yet.

Was the loss against Glover Teixeira the toughest of your career?

The last loss for sure was hardest – just because it made me question everything about myself in this sport.

That was the moment when I think some guys may have walked away – called it a day.

Getting knocked out like that made me realize just how far away I am from the guys at the top of the light heavyweight division. It was then that I realized that to move forward as a fighter, something had to change dramatically.

I had to do something to come back from that.

Is your knee injury still hampering you?

It is, but not because of the knee itself. The knee is fine now. I can say that and mean that.

But once I’m in there or I’m training, I’m almost waiting for it to go again. I’m second-guessing my movement and my style because my confidence in the knee is not there any more.

That’s something I’ve really got to work on and have been working on, in the gym. We’ve been focusing on explosive movement – just like in a fight – and I’m getting there.

But it’s still a work-in-progress.

Did you learn anything from the loss to Teixeira?

Not really. I guess it answered a question about where I was or wasn’t at in my career. But when a fight is only a minute and a half, and you have such a good camp, it’s hard to learn much about your performance.

When did you decide moving to middleweight would be the best next step?

I had thought about it already, but after the Glover fight, that’s when I knew for sure 185lb is next. It’s what I need.

George Lockhart (nutritionist) and his people are on board so I’m excited to get down there and start a new chapter.

I can compete at 205, of course, but I feel like I need to start dominating opponents again. I feel as a middleweight I’m going to be a real force and, listen, I’m more focused than ever.

I’m on a two-fight skid, only the second of my career, so I’m not comfortable in this position. I’m coming to win big.

What would it feel like to feature on the MSG card at UFC 205?

It’s perfect for me – a perfect event to come back and show the fans what I have left to offer.

It really means everything to me. I have to make a statement on a night that will go down forever as a part of MMA history.

That’s too good an opportunity to miss. It’s what I’m in this game for – to be a part of the big events. And for me, as a New Yorker, there’s no bigger event.

Do you have any issue fighting another ex-teammate like Tim Kennedy?

I have no problem fighting against Tim. We are professionals after all. I always thought we may fight one another one day, back when we were at Jackson’s training together.

It’s a great fight and if that’s the fight, I’d look forward to it. I have so much respect for Tim and believe me we used to have wars in the gym in Albuquerque so the fans will be in for a real treat.

But, if it does happen, then I’ve got to do something special.

Does losing two fights in a row bring added pressure?

Of course it does. I’ve never lost three fights back-to-back in my life and I don’t want to start now.

I love fighting and if you lose three, well, where do I go from there? It would be tough to come back from that.

So the pressure is on but that’s how I like it. Look back over my career. I love the big nights, the big fights. That’s what I’m in this for. New York, Madison Square Garden, my back against the wall.

That’s when the real Rashad Evans turns up and puts on a show. ‘Suga’ will be back that night I can assure you.

SECOND LOSING SKID

The last time Evans was coming off a two-fight losing streak, he responded with a win over an MMA legend.

It was close, but he edged past Dan Henderson by split-decision.