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Rampage needs to fight like he's p***ed off - Rashad

Rashad Evans claims 'the dog has gone' from the once-destructive Rampage Jackson © Getty Images

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Rashad Evans insists Rampage Jackson will be unable to breathe life into his fighting career by switching to boxing, because the former champion is no longer "p***ed off".

Evans and Jackson have gained a mutual respect for each other in recent months, with Evans even offering to help train Jackson for his title fight against Jon Jones. Rampage ended up losing to a fourth-round submission which, in Evans' eyes, was caused by a lack of footwork.

"I think Rampage had some bright spots in the fight, but one of his troubles was what I always thought he had trouble with, and that's his footwork," Evans told Fight Hype. "He just doesn't have the footwork to use those powerful hands. That's what the fight came down to for me."

In the aftermath of that loss, Rampage told the ESPN UFC Podcast that he was seriously considering a switch to boxing, where he believes he could fight people who would stand and trade with him. UFC president Dana White has since responded by warning Jackson that the money and competition won't be what he expects.

Evans is convinced Jackson's troubles are not entirely technical, believing Jackson has simply lost the fire that used to see him destroy the world's best.

"Rampage is better than that," Evans said. "I think his problem is he has gotten a little bit frustrated and he has to tap into that dog again. Back in the day, when he fought in Pride, he was a beast.

"Not because he had the best technique, but because he had that dog in him and he was p***ed off and he fought like he was p***ed off. He don't fight like that anymore."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.