One of the greatest light heavyweights in MMA history is retiring. That, plus a former light heavyweight returns to the UFC, in today’s MMA odds and ends.
Rashad Evans Retires From MMA
After much speculation, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has officially announced his retirement from MMA. “Suga” officially announced that he is hanging up the gloves during the inaugural episode of Ariel Helwani’s new MMA Show on ESPN. Evans (19-8-1) burst onto the MMA scene back in 2005 when he won The Ultimate Fighter 2 and has gone on to have a brilliant carer in the UFC. After starting off his career going undefeated in his first 13 bouts, including victories over the likes of Michael Bisping and Stephan Bonnar, Evans got the opportunity to fight Chuck Liddell and he knocked him out in devastating fashion to earn a title shot against Forrest Griffin, who he brutally knocked out to win the UFC light heavyweight title. Evans’ title reign was not long, however, as Lyoto Machida knocked him out to take the title in his first defense. Evans then won four-straight fights over top contenders Thiago Silva, Quinton “Ramage” Jackson, Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis to earn another title shot against arch-rival Jon Jones, but he lost that fight as well and he never quite recovered from it, losing in upset fashion to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his next fight. Evans bounced back with wins over Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen to re-emerge as a contender, but he then lost five-straight fights to end his career, losing decisions to Ryan Bader, Daniel Kelly and Sam Aley, and getting brutally knocked out by both Glover Teixeira and Anthony Smith. The KO loss to Smith proved to be the final straw for Evans, and he’s decided to step away from the sport at age 38. Evans will go down as one of the greatest light heavyweights to ever compete in MMA, and is a lock to enter the UFC Hall of Fame at some point.
Nikita Krylov Negotiating New UFC Contract
Former UFC light heavyweight fighter Nikita Krylov, who has won four-straight fights in Russia since being released by the UFC in 2017, is headed back to the Octagon. MMAFighting.com confirmed the news with Fight Nights Global itself, which said Krylov’s contract with them was up and that he was free to negotiate a new deal with the UFC in anticipation of the promotion’s debut in Moscow, Russia on September 15. Krylov (24-5) went 6-3 in the UFC including a five-fight win streak before suffering a submission loss to Misha Cirkunov. The UFC released him after that bout and he went over to Fight Nights Global where he won four-straight fights including back-to-back knockouts over Fabio Maldonado and Emanuel Newton in his last two matches. Krylov is still only 26-years-old and all 24 of his wins have come by stoppage. He should have never been allowed to leave the UFC in the first place but it’s a good thing that he’s back. No opponent has been announced for his return yet, but fan-friendly fights against the likes of Sam Alvey or Anthony Smith are possible.
