JOE got an opportunity to listen to Rashad Evans at the UFC Fight Club the day before UFC 138 in Birmingham.
When Rashad Evans climbed into the Octagon to fight Tito Ortiz, Chael Sonnen believed he had seen light-heavyweight perfection. He gushed about Evans describing him as the only fighter that could possibly beat Jon Jones. A gifted wrestler and devastating counter puncher, the only chink in the former light-heavyweight champion’s armour seems to be his personality.
Evans is articulate and outspoken and this may be where his issues lie. When he featured on the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 2, he was one of the shorter and lighter heavyweight contestants. Once he entered the octagon he seemed to double in size through character and movement. Criticised by opposing coach, Matt Hughes for being cocky, Evans has embraced his in-ring brashness rather than trying leave it in the cage. “I suppose it started with Matt Hughes calling me cocky on TUF. I just do my thing. I’ve got to be cocky. The guy standing across the cage is gonna try and beat me up so if me looking confident and being cocky makes him start to second guess himself then I might have a competitive edge. I’m just reinforcing the confidence I have in myself.”
Evans believes that is only part of the reason he is not more popular with UFC fans. “I’ve beaten a lot of popular fighters. The fans have to cheer for someone and boo the other guy. I don’t mind being the other guy. It used to upset me but I just do my thing.”
Evans has been slated to fight, light-heavyweight champion and his former team-mate, Jon Jones, twice. An injury to Jones’ hand and more recently and injury to Evans hand have derailed both fights. Jones will fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 in December and ironically Evans is hoping he wins.
“I’d prefer to fight Jones over Machida just from the competitive point of view. When I was at Jackson’s we were always sizing each other up.” He followed on by saying Jones would come out second best in a super-fight with Anderson Silva. “I think Anderson is fundamentally a better fighter. Jones throws some crazy stuff just to be flashy and some of it is stupid. I think Anderson could catch him if he threw any stupid shots.”
Evans hinted he may be done with fighting sooner than people think. “I’m not the type of fighter that’s going to keep fighting forever. As soon as it stops being enjoyable I’ll quit. I’ve been doing it for a long time already, since 2005 so I’ve only got another few years left.”
After fighting he hopes to continue in the fight game as an analyst but hinted he would like to give Hollywood a crack also.
Evans held the room’s attention for the time he was on stage but rarely did he get more than a ripple of applause. At one point he joked that more than one person was allowed clap. His biggest crowd reactions were during his impressions of Mike Tyson, his mother and Mike Tyson having a conversation with his mother. It was as if the crowd were waiting for something not to like. And then it came. Talking about why he believes he should be more popular he cited being respectful of opponents and not taking the thrash talk too far as reasons in his favour. Evans then felt he had to remind people he’s never spit on anyone. Though he may not have intended it, the crowd took this as a direct swipe at the UK’s favourite MMA son, Michael Bisping. Bisping allegedly spat at Jorge Rivera’s cornermen after their controversial fight at UFC 126.
Herein lies the problem with Evans. He is telling us why we should like him rather than letting us decide. He has 99% of the tools to appeal to fans – charm, humour, talent. But it’s the 1% that let him down. Normal behaviour is for people not to spit at each other so why try and make a virtue out behaving normally. Some things are better left unsaid.
Fergus Ryan, November 2011.
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