Former training partners Evans, Jones to settle differences at UFC 145
Today is the day Rashad Evans always knew would come.
From the day in August 2009 when his then-trainer, Greg Jackson, brought young phenom Jon Jones into the gym and assured Evans everything would be fine even though they were in the same weight class, Evans believed he would find himself staring across the cage at Jones.
“I always knew he was incredibly talented,” Evans said. “Greg said at the time, ‘He’s not even close to your level yet,’ and I said, ‘He’s going to get there.’ I knew it was going to be an issue.”
Oh, what an issue it became.
After a year of verbal jabs and trash talking, it will be settled tonight when Jones defends his Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title against Evans in the main event of UFC 145 in Atlanta.
Training with Evans and other elite fighters under Jackson’s tutelage in Albuquerque, N.M., Jones quickly ascended the ranks. Last April, he agreed to step in for an injured Evans to fight for the belt against champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. During an interview promoting the fight, Evans was stunned to hear Jones say if the UFC “absolutely wanted” him to fight Evans down the road, “that’s what would have to happen.”
The comment triggered an ugly split as Evans publicly lashed out against Jones and Jackson and announced he was forming his own camp in Florida. After Jones thrashed Rua to take the belt, Evans stepped in the cage and was announced as the next challenger.
The fight never materialized when Jones hurt his hand and Evans went on to injure his thumb in a win over Tito Ortiz. Jones was impressive in defending the belt against former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida, while Evans returned to beat Phil Davis.
All that brought the matchup between Evans and Jones back to fruition, and the war of words has only intensified.
Evans has called Jones arrogant and fake, while Jones has criticized Evans for, among other things, being selfish in his handling of the situation with Jackson.
The famed trainer originally said he would not work the corner of Jones against his former pupil but reversed course in February. Evans says he always knew Jackson would be in Jones’ corner, and he seems to have more animosity toward Jackson than Jones.
“Greg talks about, ‘Oh, you know for the team, the team did great,’ but the team consists of I, which is Greg Jackson. That’s what the team consists of,” Evans said. “It’s about Greg Jackson getting the coach of the year award. That’s pretty much what it consists of.”
Evans, a 32-year-old former champion, admits controlling all of his emotions could be an issue when he steps in the cage and looks across to see his former coach and training partner.
“Right now, I don’t think it will be a problem,” he said, acknowledging this has been the most emotional buildup to a fight he has experienced. “But you never actually know until you get in there.”
The 24-year-old Jones, who has yet to face any sort of adversity in the cage during his career, expects to be fine.
“Emotions won’t play into it for me,” he said. “They never will.”
Though they won’t go as far as to say they can be friends again, both fighters seem to agree slugging it out in the cage will settle their feud.
“It would be cool to be able to be like, ‘Hey, good fight.’ You know, ‘Blah, blah, blah’ and just keep it moving,” Jones said. “We’re adults here, and it’s not like I don’t know Rashad.”
The bout headlines a five-fight main card that will air live on pay per view at 7 p.m.
Bantamweight Michael McDonald, a 21-year-old Californian and one of the sport’s top young prospects, will fight Miguel Torres. Also, heavyweights Brendan Schaub and Ben Rothwell will meet.
John Alessio, who trains in Las Vegas, will step in as a late replacement to fight Mark Bocek in a lightweight bout.
Four preliminary fights will air live on FX (Cable 24) at 5 p.m., including lightweight John Makdessi facing Las Vegan Anthony Njokuani. Kickboxing star Stephen Thompson makes his second UFC appearance, against welterweight Matt Brown, and former “The Ultimate Fighter” winners Mac Danzig and Efrain Escudero will meet in a lightweight bout.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.