• UFC 130

Rashad fit, but UFC opted for Hamill v Rampage

ESPN staff
February 15, 2011
Rashad Evans claims he would have been fit for May © UFC
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Rashad Evans claims it was the UFC, not his injury, that prevented a rematch with Rampage Jackson happening at UFC 130.

Following a delay in the clearance of Thiago Silva's drug tests at UFC 125, reports emerged that Evans had stepped in to take on Rampage, a man he coached against and then beat at UFC 114.

However, those reports proved unfounded when Matt Hamill eventually became Jackson's new opponent, leaving questions asked as to why the UFC did not opt for Evans, who is currently recovering from a knee problem.

The most likely reason is that the UFC was not willing to gamble on a fresh pullout from Evans, who had been forced to withdraw from his March 19 title shot at Mauricio Shogun Rua due to his ligament injury. However, the former light-heavyweight champion insists he would have been ready.

"I wanted it. I was gonna do it for May," Evans told Pro MMA Radio. "When I heard Thiago [Silva] was out I was like, 'Alright, I'll fight Rampage again,' but then they put Matt Hamill in there.

"They didn't want to put that fight together for whatever reason. I would have found a way. I would have gave it a go. I've been doing some pretty aggressive treatment on my knee and I was thinking I was gonna be ready."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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