Rashad Evans Top 5 Career Moments

Rashad Evans Top 5 Career Moments:

By Jon Prentice

During this weekends UFC Rochester it was announced that former light heavyweight champion and TUF 2 winner “Suga” Rashad Evans would be inducted into the modern wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. Evans retired from MMA following a first round KO loss to Anthony Smith at UFC 225, Evans’ 5th consecutive defeat, however, it comes as no great surprise that the UFC have made the decision to induct Evans into the HOF class of 2019. “Suga” called it a day following a career spanning 15 years, leaving the sport with a record of 19-8-1.

Evans, who competed a heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight during his UFC tenure, was blighted by serious injuries throughout his career, however his achievements still rank amongst the best in UFC history. There is no doubt that he is a future hall of famer, so I thought I would take a look back at my personal 5 favourite moments from the career of “Suga” Rashad Evans!

5: TUF 2 heavyweight Finale: Evans vs Imes, 5th November 2005

I thought a good way to open up my countdown would be with Evans first foray within the UFC. Evans made his UFC bow in the heavyweight division having progressed through the Ultimate Fighter house in only the second season of the competition. With a record of 5-0 entering the house, Evans was very much a wrestler back then, a far superior one to his TUF counterparts at that, with him dominating Tom Murphy, Mike Whitehead and Keith Jardine all via unanimous decision on his way to the finale where he would face of with Brad Imes. As a brash and cocky youngster, Evans didn’t gain many fans during his time in the house, with his showboating and antics riling opposition coach Matt Hughes on several occasions.

In the finale he took on a giant figure in Imes who stood at 6ft 7in to Evans 5ft 11in and had a 30lbs weight advantage. Imes dominated the early exchanges and even took wrestler Evans down, however Evans rocked Imes late in the round, knocking him down and changing the landscape of the match up entirely. Evans came out as the winner via split decision, winning the TUF trophy and cementing his place within the UFC.

4: UFC 133 Evans vs Ortiz 2, 6th August 2011

Two former light heavyweight champions in Evans and Ortiz did battle for the second time in Philadelphia, both hoping to get one over on their rival having played out a draw in their original encounter at UFC 73 in 2007.

Both fighters slugged it out in the first round with Evans pressing Ortiz against the cage and unleashing a flurry of punches that rocked the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy”, Tito fired back himself with counter knees in a frenetic opening round that curtailed with a huge Evans takedown slam and ground and pound with Ortiz managing to see out the round.

Early in the second round Ortiz locked on a nasty guillotine and the fight looked as though it would be over. With Tito squeezing with all his might, Evans weathered the storm and freed himself from the choke much to the roaring crowds delight. Late in the second round with Ortiz on his knees against the cage, Evans threw a huge knee to the mid section forcing his opponent to keel over, Evans followed up landing some nasty ground and pound and the fight was stopped with 10 seconds remaining in the round. An all out war between two former champs!

3: UFC Fight Night 8: Evans vs Salmon, 25th January 2007

Having won his first three appearances in the UFC proper, Evans headlined UFC Fight Night 8 when he took on Sean Salmon in Florida in a light heavyweight showdown. Salmon was making his debut in the UFC and encountered an undefeated Evans who had continued his success from the TUF house into his UFC run. Still a very raw striker and predominantly known as a wrestler, Evans had picked up only his first TKO victory of his career in his previous fight against Jason Lambert, however many were still questioning his ability in the stand up department, cue the head kick that was heard around the world!

Entering the second round, Evans backed Salmon up against the fence, threw a couple of feints with the left hand and then unleashed one hell of a head kick with his right leg that cracked off Salmon’s skull rendering him unconscious with immediate effect. Picking up a Knockout of the Night bonus, Evans certainly silenced the doubters with one of the most brutal headkick knockouts MMA fans have ever witnessed.

2: UFC 92 Evans vs Griffin, 27th December 2008

Having gone unbeaten for the entirety of his 12 fight career, Evans challenged for the light heavyweight title in December of 2008 taking on TUF 1 winner and fan favourite Forrest Griffin, who himself had just won the title from Rampage Jackson via unanimous decision.

With Evans now a lot more comfortable and confident in his stand up skills, the opening two rounds played out mostly on the feet with Rashad looking to get in and out quickly whilst Griffin maintained distance well landing kicks from the outside. Griffin arguably won the first two rounds as the fight headed into the third.

As the third round played out, Griffin attempted a kick that missed and Evans pounced taking the fight to the mat. Evans landed some heavy ground and pound however Griffin managed to recover to full guard. Evans postured up landing a huge elbow that rocked the champion and followed up with a flurry of shots that forced the referee to waive off the fight. The main event between the TUF winners picked up the Fight of the Night award, Evans was the new light heavyweight champion of the world!

1: UFC 88 Evans vs Liddell, 6th September 2008

For my number one pick how could I choose anything other than the fight that earned Evans his title shot in the first place, in the process scoring one of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history!!!

Taking on the former light heavyweight champion and one of the best of all time, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Evans put on one of the best displays of his career to cement his status as a title contender. Beforehand Evans stated that he would be “hosting Chuck Liddell’s retirement party”, and despite not being entirely correct, Liddell was never really the same again following the fight.

The first round was pretty uneventful, with Liddell stalking Evans but very little thrown by either fighter. Evans did manage to cut Liddell under the eye, however The Iceman won the round ending with a late flurry.

Then came the second round and the overhand right that shook the world. As Liddell continued to walk down Evans, the two exchanged punches and traded leather. Liddell went for an uppercut as Evans flicked out the jab and unleashed the overhand right that landed clean on The Iceman’s jaw, folding him and putting him to sleep. Liddell lay motionless on the floor for a worringly long period of time before eventually making his way back to his feet, Evans picked up the biggest win of his career to date and one of the, and my, favourite knockouts of all time.