The former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans will make his return to the sport after a 3-year retirement at Eagle FC 44. Eagle FC 44 will take place on January 28th. The news was broken by Yahoo Sports, according to reporter Jed Goodman.
Yahoo Sports reporting Rashad Evans is coming out of retirement. Will fight on Eagle FC 44 January 28.
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 6, 2021
Eagle FC is of course the promotion owned by former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The promotion has recently made news both with reports it plans to host events in the US and also with its negotiations with the recently released UFC lightweight veteran Kevin Lee. The promotion is holding a press conference on December 15th. Evans’s opponent is yet to be announced. Evans coming out of retirement was first announced six months ago by his manager, Ali Abdelaziz. However, at that time he was mooting fights with boxers such as Roy Jones Jr.; his return to MMA comes as a new development.
Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) is coming out of retirement, per his manager Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00). Discussions are already underway for his return. Not surprising, considering the climate of combat sports right now. Targeted opponents include Logan Paul and Roy Jones.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) June 19, 2021
Rashad Evans’s light heavyweight run to the title in the UFC included wins over names such as Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell before besting Forest Griffin to win the title. His subsequent defence against Lyoto Machida was the first men’s UFC title bout in the modern era where both participants were undefeated. Evans would lose his ‘0’ to Machida in a knockout loss. Subsequent fights would include victories over Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Phil Davis as well as a loss to Jon Jones in a bid to acquire the belt a second time.
Evans’s last victory came on November 16, 2013 when he finished Chael Sonnen with punches. Afterwards, ‘Sugar’ would go on a five fight skid and retired from the sport after a loss to Anthony Smith in 2018. Evans didn’t rest on his laurels, however. He has worked as an analyst and commentator since and is booked for an appearance at Combat Jiu-Jitsu for a grappling match on December 19th this month.
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