• UFC 133

Rashad targets Jones after 'f***ing up' Dana's theory

ESPN staff
August 7, 2011
Rashad Evans has invited Rampage Jackson to train with him for the fight with Jon Jones © Getty Images
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Rashad Evans admits he is desperate to "teach Jon Jones a lesson" after he shattered Dana White's theory about ring rust at UFC 133.

Evans returned from a 14-month absence to defeat a confident Tito Ortiz by TKO in the second round of their August 6 encounter. Suga Rashad, despite the layoff, looked sharper than in many of his previous fights, and White was clearly impressed.

"I'm a big believer in ring rust," White said in the post-fight press conference. "Rashad f***ed up my theory."

Evans was originally the light-heavyweight division's No. 1 contender. Only injury, first to himself and then to Jones, stopped him from having the chance to regain the belt he lost to Lyoto Machida.

A training camp split between he and Jones has only soured matters before an inevitable 205lb clash in the future. Jones accuses Evans of being cocky and, if the negative reaction of the Philadelphia crowd at the UFC 133 weigh-in is anything to go by, fans believe the champion.

The truth, however, is very different according to Rashad.

"I would prefer to [win the title] from Jones," he said. "You think I'm cocky? He's for-real cocky. He's like go-to-sleep-praising-himself cocky. I would love to teach him a lesson.

"I know where Jon's weak and he knows where I'm weak. So we'll see who covers those [weak areas] first. If he makes it past Rampage, I'll have a chance to do that. I think Rampage should train in my camp for this fight."

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