Rashad Evans Won't Rule Out Move to Middleweight

[No More Sorrow]

.Apr 22, 2012 - ATLANTA -- Rashad Evans has long been considered a small light-heavyweight, but even after suffering his second career loss, he plans to stay there.

That said, during the UFC 145 post-fight press conference, he opened the door a crack for a possible move to middleweight following his defeat at the hands of Jon Jones.


"I’m a 205-pounder," Evans said. "I’ve only lost twice and I lost to a good competitor … But if an opportunity happens at 185, I'll take it. But I like 205, I'll just have to work my way back up and get back to a title shot."


Evans road back to a championship opportunity would figure to be shorter at middleweight, where he would be starting with a clean slate. In addition, due to division champion Anderson Silva's long reign, there is always a need for new contenders. Right now, while Chael Sonnen is on deck to face Silva, there's no clear-cut next challenger after him.


In the light-heavyweight division, besides top contender Dan Henderson, there's veterans like Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Lyoto Machida, and rising younger fighters like Alexander Gustafsson and Ryan Bader trying to make the leap. It is simply a more crowded field.


When asked about it the possibility of offering Evans a middleweight, UFC president Dana White said he had never considered the possibility.


"I honestly have never thought about it," he said. "We'll see what happens."


White also might have offered Evans enough hope to stay at his longtime home as well, saying an eventual rematch between him and Jones could never be ruled out.


"Anything's possible," he said. "If they keep winning, absolutely."


Evans' two career losses have both come in title fights. Besides losing to Jones, his other defeat was his championship loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 in May 2009.

Think he could do some damage at MW and it would make for some interesting match ups, but ultimately i think he'll stay at 205.

 

[Slim]

I'm just curious to see how he would look if he were to move to middleweight. He would lose that speed advantage that he has, he'd have to be a lot leaner too if he were to make that transition cause he is a stocky built light heavyweight.

I mean if he were to move... he'd do some real heavy damage there. But I really don't see it happening anytime soon. Maybe after a second title loss he would... but until then he's stayin. He has dominated the division and still has a whole lot to offer.

 

[Troy]

One thing that bugs me in that news article is they claim that there are no clear challengers for the MW title, what about Bisping the guy that came very close to beating Sonnen?

I never thought of Rashad as a potential MW fighter but if he is happy to cut then I think he could do well there for a couple of fights. Don't think that he needs to drop down yet as he has only lost two title fights so these calls should wait until he has a bad run at LHW.