RASHAD EVANS

rashad evens

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The Great

Rashad Evans record is an impressive, 14-1-1 and maybe even more impressive is the list of greats he has beat. Chuck Liddell, Forest Griffin, and most recently, Thiago Silva.

Background

Born on September 25, 1978, Rashad “Sugar” Anton Evans hails from Lansing Michigan. One of seven siblings, he got his start in wrestling at Niagara-Wheatfield High School in Sanborn, New York.

He actually got into wrestling to get in shape for football, playing both offense and defense.

College

Rashad Evans then attended Niagara County Community College where he took his wrestling skills to the next level, winning the National Junior College championship in 2000. rashad evens With a promising wrestling future under his belt, he then attended Michigan State University where he was a starter for three years when he defeated wrestling legend, Greg Jones.

He is only one in four wrestlers who has won against Jones.

Digging Deep

Thus began Evan's list of defeats by defense: his own defense that is. "It was done because people said I couldn't do it, and that made me dig a little deeper," he has been quoted as saying.

It was 2004 when Rashad Evans made his MMA debut. In a four man tournament, Rashad won all four. He went on to win a two-day tournament, Gladiator Challenge 26 and 27.

The Ultimate Fighter

Though he had competed as a light heavyweight, he was chosen to compete in the television reality show, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) for the show's second season in 2005.

The offer from The Ultimate Fighter together with Evan's 5-0 record made him “the man to watch.”

2005 proved to be huge for Rashad Evans. Not only did he become an assistant coach for the Michigan State wrestling program, he also competed on The Ultimate Fighter which aired in August.

As the series goes, contenders are followed through training and preliminary qualifying fights until one fighter is determined the winner in a season finale bout.

Rashad went into each of the fights as the underdog due to being the shortest and almost the lightest of the competitors.

Bad Behavior

Coached by Rich Franklin, Evans first went up against Tom Murphy and won by unanimous decision after three rounds. But his behavior in the ring caused much controversy, especially with opposing coach, Matt Hughes. rashad evens The next fight was against Mike Whitehead. Evans won by unanimous decision after three rounds and then went on to beat Keith Jardine exactly the same way, earning him the right to fight in the finale.

The UFC

In the final fight, Evans beat Brad Imes by split decision and won not only the Ultimate Fighter season 2 winning title but also a three year, six figure contract with the UFC and a brand new car.

On April 6, 2006, Evan's first fight under his new contract took place against Sam Hoger, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 1. The event was referred to as the “The Ultimate Fight Night 4.”

Evan's was now fighting in the light heavyweight in order to increase he chances of success.

Overcoming a kimura submission late in round two, Rashad Evans pulled out to defeat Hoger by split decision five minutes into the third round.

Evans next fight was against Ultimate Fighter finalist, Steven Bonnar in June of 2006 at UFC Fight Night 5. Dominating throughout the fight, Rashad repeated slams and take downs, winning by unanimous decision in round three.

By September, Evans was in the ring again, this time facing off against Jason Lambert in UFC 63.

Significantly outweighed by Lambert, Evans went into the fight more challenged than his prior fights under the UFC contract.

Lambert had won “eight straight “ before meeting up with Evans. Early on, Rashad Evans took control, throwing punches from the mounted position until securing the bout 2:38 into the second round.

UFC Success

UFC Fight Night 8 was held on January 25, 2007 and featured Evans vs. Salmon. Sean Salmon, who also had strong roots in wrestling, went into the fight with a 9-1 record.

Evans held a record of 9-0. The first round went to Salmon who won via two takedowns.

But Rashad bounced back in the second round, knocking Salmon out with a head kick that sent him to the hospital and won the fight for Rashad by Knock Out.

Facing Tito

Evan's next fight was against Tito Ortiz, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion at UFC 73:Stacked on July 7, 2007.

Ortiz was also a wrestling-based fighter and the two were so evenly matched, the fight ended in a draw by unanimous decision five minutes into the third round.

On November 17, 2008, Evans went toe-to-toe with undefeated Ultimate Fighter 3 winner, Michael Bisping.

The fight turned out to be surprisingly close, Evan's won by split decision. Two of the judges favored Evan's 29-28 while the other judge scored it 29-28, Bisping.

Liddell

Evan's next fight was UFC 88 in September and was the main event. He was up against the notorious Chuck Liddell and went in as the definite underdog.

But once again, he would give it all he had to beat the best and he did with a in the second round.

Not only did Rashad come out of the fight with the honor of “Knockout of the Night” but with a $60,000 bonus as well and a shot at the UFC title.

The Title

The face-off for the title took place at UFC 92 on December 27. 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada against UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Forrest Griffin.

It was the first event where two fighters from The Ultimate Fighter would compete for the title.

Griffin, who holds a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu, won the first two rounds but Evans kicked off the third round, literally and then applied a ground and pound that led to a TKO win when the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Rashad Evans took the title of the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Machida

rashad evens With a record of 13-0-1, Evans went up against Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida in UFC 98 in May of 2009.

Machida came out with a high kick then Evans with a low kick. Lyoto pulled a flurry of punches, but Evans got back up but more punches put him under causing his feet to give way.

Machida won the fight, 3:57 into the third round by knockout. Not only did Evans lose the fight, but the UFC title as well.

Thiago Silva

On January 2, 2010, Evans fought Thiago Silva in UFC 108. The morning of the fight, Rashad received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Rolles Gracie.

Silva holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt as well. Going into the fight, it was important to Evans to keep the fight above ground so as not to get submitted by the Jiu-Jitsu expert.