Rashad looking to move to middleweight...

Discussion in 'MMA Forum' started by Kittikasem, Jul 15, 2012.

  1. Kittikasem

    Kittikasem Guest

    http://www.espn.co.uk/ufc/sport/story/160472.html


    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans told ESPN that he is giving "serious consideration" to moving to the middleweight division.
    "I've been thinking about going down to middleweight lately," Evans said. "I haven't totally made up my mind. It's something I'm going to think about a little more in the coming months and see where my body's at, but I'm definitely giving it serious consideration. The odds of me moving down to 185 are 50-50 or better."
    A potential title fight with middleweight champion Anderson Silva is fueling Evans' motivation to make the cut.
    Despite several current middleweights being considered for top-contender status, Evans is confident he would not have to wait long to land a fight with the champion.
    "Yes, I would like to fight Anderson at 185," Evans said. "Don't get me wrong, Anderson is my favourite fighter. He's somebody I've looked up to for a long time. But if I had the chance to fight Anderson, it would be a dream come true.
    "I'd like to go right into a title fight, but realistically there are other contenders at 185, and to skip over everybody wouldn't be fair. So, it would make sense for me to establish myself in the weight class and have a fight or two, whatever the case may be."
    An obstacle that could dash any hope of Evans becoming a middleweight is the physical impact such a cut might have on his body.
    The 5-foot-11 native of Niagara Falls, does not want to place too much stress on his stocky fame. He's also concerned that a difficult reduction in weight might diminish his performance inside the Octagon.
    "I'm pretty sure I can make the cut," said Evans, who has a professional mixed martial arts record of 17-2-1, "but I've never been down that low. If I decide to move down, I will do a practice cut first to make sure my body can do it. That will determine whether I can fight at middleweight or not."

    ---

    As far as I know, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Rich Franklin, Alan Belcher, and Chris Weidman all don't have fights lined up (whereas Bisping, Stann, Lombard and Boetsch do).

    Who would be the best opponent to welcome Rashad to 185 between those five, Belfort, Sonnen, Franklin, Belcher or Weidman? Or can you think of someone else?

    :bbb
     
  2. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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  3. Ne5ville14

    Ne5ville14 Rationalist by default... Full Member

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    So...I am prolly the only one that don't think Evans can make 185... ?
     
  4. Kittikasem

    Kittikasem Guest

    Belfort would knock him out anyway.

    I don't have a problem with this if he has to fight some contenders first.

    There's plenty of good ones at 185 just now.
     
  5. Kittikasem

    Kittikasem Guest

    I think he'd weaken himself, as his torso is huge. But, fighters do this, fight at weights too low for them. We see it time and again.
     
  6. Ne5ville14

    Ne5ville14 Rationalist by default... Full Member

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    I know...and I think I'm the only one that doesn't really like the idea of cutting weight....moral can be a *****...

    I don't think anything is wrong with juicing, but weight cutting pisses me off...I still don't understand why.
     
  7. achillesthegreat

    achillesthegreat FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Full Member

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    Evans has always been a 185 pounder who is overmuscled. He did very well at 205 but if he lost the muscle giving him an artificial weight then he could make 185. He isn't even that tall either.
     
  8. Kittikasem

    Kittikasem Guest

    I think that's a bit of a push. He was fighting as a heavyweight before he moved to 205. He may be able to make 185 with some effort, but to say he's always been a 185-pounder is not accurate IMO. His body frame is big, huge legs, and when did he ever fight at 185?
     
  9. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Good question :bart
     
  10. AJAX

    AJAX war sonnen! Full Member

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    You don't think there is anything wrong with Juicing??? but weight cuttung pisses you off?

    I don't like the voodoo of people trying to be the bigger guy but how can you support guys who use PED's? that's cheating in it's purist form.
     
  11. scurlaruntings

    scurlaruntings ESB 2002 Club Full Member

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    :thumbsup

    That dude can make 85 with room to spare. He's not a big guy and neither does he have a big bone structure.
     
  12. Kittikasem

    Kittikasem Guest

    You really think so? I'm not convinced. His body is huge compared to regular middleweights.

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  13. scurlaruntings

    scurlaruntings ESB 2002 Club Full Member

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    Yup he can make it easy. Dude has a small bone structure and is less than 6ft. He's not particularly ripped and does carry excess muscle. I remember him on TUF. He was huge back then. I was more surprised he didn't go straight to 85 rather than stop off at 205.

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    Look at how doughy his arms looks. And the extra weight around the obliques. He can easily dry out to 85.
     
  14. davidwatts

    davidwatts Guest

    young bisping will be pissed off if rashad gets a title shot before him, mikey would not be pleased at all.

    of course this is all jon jones' fault isn't it? evans knows he can never be the champ again while jones is the king.
    bisping, evans, the floodgates have opened!
    "damn you jon jones, look what you've done!!!" :twisted::|
     
  15. Ne5ville14

    Ne5ville14 Rationalist by default... Full Member

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    I don't get it myself either....I'm not trying to say it's logical or anything.


    And I'm not supporting it, I just see them as the next "evolutionnary" step and it bothers me less then weight cutting. That and eugenics ! :good