Rashad Evans Expects Second Fight With Jon Jones

[No More Sorrow]

When Rashad Evans faced Jon Jones earlier this year, it was the culmination of one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history finally coming to a head.

The fight ended with Jones winning by unanimous decision, but now Evans is getting a second shot at his old training partner, except this time he’ll be on the outside of the Octagon when it happens.


Evans has been serving as the head coach for Vitor Belfort as he gets ready for his upcoming UFC 152 fight against Jones. There may not be anybody that better knows the UFC light heavyweight champion and his tendencies than his former friend and teammate.


“I probably know a lot more about Jon Jones than most people and have such insight, so Vitor asked me to be his righthand man in preparation for the fight,†Evans told MMAWeekly.com.


Evans has been working alongside Belfort for several weeks and believes that, despite the odds that have him as a huge underdog, this is his chance to shock the world and beat Jon Jones.


“I think it’s a huge mistake to consider him an underdog because this is an MMA fight,†said Evans. “You’ve seen some of the most dramatic finishes and upsets in this sport. It only takes a second. Anyone at this elite level, no matter what your rank, has a chance to beat someone. It may be your night; it may not be your night.â€


Throughout his storied career, Belfort has faced some of the toughest competition, even in different generations of fighters walking through the UFC cage doors. From his early days in the old-style UFC tournaments to his march towards a UFC middleweight title shot, Belfort has seen and done it all.


Evans has no doubt that when he walks into the Octagon with Jon Jones that Vitor Belfort can not only walk out the winner, he can also be the first ever fighter to knock out the incumbent UFC light heavyweight champion.


“I definitely think Vitor can knock him out. Vitor has probably the fastest hands I’ve seen in MMA, and besides that, he has the power behind it too. If you look at all his experience, he’s been doing this since Jon Jones was like in the third grade. He has been doing this a long time,†Evans commented.


Evans has embraced his role as coach over the last several weeks as he’s gotten Belfort ready for his showdown with Jones. Undoubtedly, Evans would love to be the one fighting Jones in Toronto, but he knows their time will come again, but right now it’s all about Vitor Belfort.


“I’m positive we will fight again at 205, maybe in a year or so, but we’ll fight again,†Evans said about a rematch with Jones.


As far as the eventual confrontation Evans and Jones will likely have next week in Toronto, the former champion isn’t angry or upset with his former teammate anymore.


Evans will even compliment Jones, which is a far cry from some of the words the two spewed about one another just a few short months ago.


“If he needed to talk about some things, I would talk to him. Once all of this is out of the way. Jon’s not a bad kid,†Evans said. “He has a good spirit inside of him, but I’m not going to share any secrets with him before the fight.â€

I think we can all agree when i say their first fight wasn't all that exciting, so hopefully if they do fight again somebody gets finished.

 

[PHX]

Considering the heated history and all that I thought the fight would be a hell a lot more aggressive. And for somebody who knows Jones so well it didn't exactly translate all that great in the fight.

 

[Slim]

Yeah the first fight wasn't all that good. I mean it was hype, it was energetic being there but watching it... it was like... come onnnnn do something interesting. A rematch between the two should definitely be somethin good.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I'd expect it too be better, but honestly i think it'd end in the same result with Jones winning.

 

[Slim]

Yeah I def see Jones winning a again... just hopefully he'll finish him the second time around.

 

[The Cork]

Rashad is basically what Sonnen was at 185lbs, too good against the scrubs and gatekeepers but came up short everytime against the big bad champ.

If he cut weight it'd give his career a new lease of life.

 

[Deezy]

Rashad could jump a division, but he needs to face Jones one more time and actually pill the damn trigger when he gets the chance, he was stuck in neutral that entire fight and didn't have any aggression.

 

[Chase]

Rashad too me is one of the only guys who I think I can beat Jones. I don't know why people are knocking the first fight, just because they weren't aggressive for all the hatred they have is kind of a silly reason. I mean not saying it was the best fight ever but it was a good technical battle

 

[Ben]

I have no interest in seeing a rematch, basically like Cork said, Shad can beat pretty much everyone in the division just can't touch Bones.

 

[Troy]

Don't really see the need for a rematch since the first fight was a convincing win for Jones. I would rather see a Machida or even Belfort getting a rematch because they were more damaging even though they still didn't win.

Does Rashad even have a fight scheduled anytime soon?