Rashad Evans Hopes To Return This December, Would Never Fight “Rumble”

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans was dealt an unfortunate blow when he suffered a torn ACL while training wrestling for his scheduled UFC 170 showdown with rising contender Daniel Cormier.

Currently ranked at No. 2 in a division that has suddenly become stacked with potential challenger to Jon Jones’ title, “Suga” is aching to get back into the cage. During his recovery, he cornered good friend and teammate Anthony Johnson to a win over Phil Davis at last Saturday’s (April 26, 2014) UFC 172 from Baltimore, Maryland.

Evans was elated at “Rumble’s” return win, and he’s reportedly on track to come back sooner than expected. He elaborated on the situation to Ariel Helwani:

 “I saw our friend Rashad Evans on Saturday night, he was glowing; so happy about his boy “Rumble” Johnson’s win back in the UFC. I asked him how he’s feeling, and he said he’s feeling great. In fact, he bent his knee back just to show me how far his progress has come along.

He said he’s shooting for a return in December. Right now it’s a little early to say, you know, when exactly, against who, but everything’s going well with his rehab after that knee surgery.”

Indeed it is early to say whether or not a December return is in the cards, so Evans is enjoying his role as coach.

“Suga” was previously the only fighter to defeat Davis, and offered “Rumble” excellent insight. While the win instantly put Johnson in title contention, he won’t be fighting Evans for a No. 1 contender’s spot anytime soon:

“He (Evans) told me, by the way, he does not want to fight “Rumble” Johnson. They’re in the same weight class. Calls him a brother, a family member, his main sparring partner. Stop with the “Rumble” Johnson talk before it even starts.”

So it sounds like Evans is unwilling to fight “Rumble,” similar to how longtime former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre was unwilling to fight protégé Rory MacDonald. That’s no surprise, because the two fighters are close friends and pivotal members of South Florida’s Blackzilians team.

But the road to the belt may eventually go through both of them, making it far from guaranteed that they can avoid a potential clash. One of them may have to give way to the other’s title shot, but there is a lot that has to be cleared up before the division reaches that point.

Will it be “Suga” or “Rumble” who gets the first crack at UFC 205-pound gold?

Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie for USA TODAY Sports