How would Rashad Evans do against the best MWs of the histoty?

[DanDragon Machi]

Rashad was one of the shortest LHW of this time at 1,80 cm (Weidman is 1,85 and Rockhold is 1,90) and I always had the feeling that he could have had an excellent career in every MW era

MWs he would beat prime for prime IMO: Dricus, Strickland, Alex Pereira, Weidman, Mousasi, Vitor, Ronaldo Jacaré, Tim Kennedy
MWs I think he would lose: Andy, Izzy, Bobby, Rockhold, Romero,, Chimaev

Weidman, Rockhold and Romero are the fights more difficult to analyze. Rockhold would have my best bet of these three because he is the only that is cleary a better striker than Rashad

 

[smart.feller]

Umm...

When he dropped to 185 he looked terrible. He lost to Sam Alvey and Daniel Kelly. He would've had more success moving back up to HW than down to MW. You could attribute his sad MW run to his age and wear & tear, but the reality is the move down was a desperation move to rejuvenate his career, but that weight cut would've drained his performances at any stage.

 

[CannotWin]

Rashad would never beat Dricus, Weidman, Pereira, or Strickland. Rashad did fine for his era but his skills were rudimentary compared to guys today.

 

[rollthedice]

We seen what Machida done to him, Pereira would've made the shadface permanent if they ever fought

 

[DanDragon Machi]

We seen what Machida done to him, Pereira would've made the shadface permanent if they ever fought

There is a chasm between Machida's takedown defense and Alex

 

[rollthedice]

There is a chasm between Machida's takedown defense and Alex

Yup, one sprawls, the other uses a left hook

 

[cmw43]

Umm...

When he dropped to 185 he looked terrible. He lost to Sam Alvey and Daniel Kelly. He would've had more success moving back up to HW than down to MW. You could attribute his sad MW run to his age and wear & tear, but the reality is the move down was a desperation move to rejuvenate his career, but that weight cut would've drained his performances at any stage.

Rashad blew out his knee when he was training for the Jones fight, he was 17-1 at that time and that injury basically finished him as an elite fighter.

At that point he'd beat Chuck, Forrest, Rampage, Bisping, Tiago Silva and Phil Davis which is a great resume.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Rashad was one of the shortest LHW of this time at 1,80 cm (Weidman is 1,85 and Rockhold is 1,90) and I always had the feeling that he could have had an excellent career in every MW era

MWs he would beat prime for prime IMO: Dricus, Strickland, Alex Pereira, Weidman, Mousasi, Vitor, Ronaldo Jacaré, Tim Kennedy
MWs I think he would lose: Andy, Izzy, Bobby, Rockhold, Romero,, Chimaev

Weidman, Rockhold and Romero are the fights more difficult to analyze. Rockhold would have my best bet of these three because he is the only that is cleary a better striker than Rashad

Weidman is comfortably a better striker than Evans from what I remember. Just better timing.

Rashad hit hard and was fast, but a lot of that will be taken away when he is fighting MWs instead of LHWs. Their speed will be more comparable.

He might be able to lay and pray Mousasi on a good day. Same with Alex. His chances are better in 3 rounders than 5 the same way he kind of stole one from Rampage.

I'm more familiar with Kennedy pre UFC, so I won't touch on him much, but the others I think Evans is more likely than not to lose.

 

[pankrat]

He lost a lot of explosiveness and strenght with the weight cut, which was crucial for his game, so I dont think he would be very competitive.
Then again, with modern nutrition and weight cutting methods than what he had in his prime, he might be a force

 

[Reach4theSky]

We seen what Machida done to him, Pereira would've made the shadface permanent if they ever fought

 

[HuskySamoan]

Rashad was one of the shortest LHW of this time at 1,80 cm (Weidman is 1,85 and Rockhold is 1,90) and I always had the feeling that he could have had an excellent career in every MW era

MWs he would beat prime for prime IMO: Dricus, Strickland, Alex Pereira, Weidman, Mousasi, Vitor, Ronaldo Jacaré, Tim Kennedy
MWs I think he would lose: Andy, Izzy, Bobby, Rockhold, Romero,, Chimaev

Weidman, Rockhold and Romero are the fights more difficult to analyze. Rockhold would have my best bet of these three because he is the only that is cleary a better striker than Rashad

A prime Rashad? Like the one who wrestled Phil Davis and put on that amazingly dominant performance? I think Rashad would have done really well. One issue would have always been his chin but even standing he was a really quick handed guy with some decent power. I'd favor him vs Tim and Mousasi for sure...a prime Weidman? I'm much more skeptical and the Jacare that beat Romero and Lyoto? I'm also not sure. I think Rashad would beat Izzy and maybe Anderson...both those guys would be on their back pretty easily but Anderson is a tough call, Rashad likely crushes Pereira too, especially at 185.

TRTVitor would have made it very competitive, could see that going either way. Similarly with Romero...hard fight to call. I'll give the edge to Rashad vs Rockhold but only because of Luke's chin. I think Weidman probably beats Rashad and Dricus would be a tough outting too. I think prime Jacare and Whittaker are tough fights too.

Rashad would have done well, maybe won a title if things went right, wouldn't have kept it too long though.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

A prime Rashad? Like the one who wrestled Phil Davis and put on that amazingly dominant performance? I think Rashad would have done really well. One issue would have always been his chin but even standing he was a really quick handed guy with some decent power. I'd favor him vs Tim and Mousasi for sure...a prime Weidman? I'm much more skeptical and the Jacare that beat Romero and Lyoto? I'm also not sure. I think Rashad would beat Izzy and maybe Anderson...both those guys would be on their back pretty easily but Anderson is a tough call, Rashad likely crushes Pereira too, especially at 185.

TRTVitor would have made it very competitive, could see that going either way. Similarly with Romero...hard fight to call. I'll give the edge to Rashad vs Rockhold but only because of Luke's chin. I think Weidman probably beats Rashad and Dricus would be a tough outting too. I think prime Jacare and Whittaker are tough fights too.

Rashad would have done well, maybe won a title if things went right, wouldn't have kept it too long though.

I doubt Rashad's ground game is good enough to lay and pray Silva in a 5 round fight. He'd have to do damage on the ground to make it work.

You have to take into account that Rashad is still very hittable. Lyoto Machida beat Rashad with timing and distance management, not really takedown defense. Silva would jack Rashad's jaw if he threw a punch, and knowing Rashad, he certainly would throw them.

I don't know if Rashad is technical enough to beat the best MWs. Evans was really more of a problem because of his athletic ability, which isn't as big of a factor at MW.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Rashad would have had a better career if he were a MW

 

[Goatenstein]

Umm...

When he dropped to 185 he looked terrible. He lost to Sam Alvey and Daniel Kelly. He would've had more success moving back up to HW than down to MW. You could attribute his sad MW run to his age and wear & tear, but the reality is the move down was a desperation move to rejuvenate his career, but that weight cut would've drained his performances at any stage.

He was already a shot fighter desperately trying to reclaim success, if he had gone MW in his prime it would have been a whole different story.

 

[HuskySamoan]

I doubt Rashad's ground game is good enough to lay and pray Silva in a 5 round fight. He'd have to do damage on the ground to make it work.

You have to take into account that Rashad is still very hittable. Lyoto Machida beat Rashad with timing and distance management, not really takedown defense. Silva would jack Rashad's jaw if he threw a punch, and knowing Rashad, he certainly would throw them.

I don't know if Rashad is technical enough to beat the best MWs. Evans was really more of a problem because of his athletic ability, which isn't as big of a factor at MW.

I agree with this somewhat, but your Lyoto comparison I don't like as much. I think Rashad got better after that loss and how you approach Lyoto with notoriously amazing takedown defense and Anderson who who's takedown defense was notoriouslt weak isn't comparable totally. If Chael and Weidman could be big trouble for Anderson, I think Rashad potentially could too. That said Rashad wasn't technically great standing and did rely on his athleticism a lot..I think it's. Tough fight to call personally. I think Rashad matches up competitively with a lot of these guys but i see him going at like a 50% clip through the gauntlet.

 

[OmegaRugal]

I agree with this somewhat, but your Lyoto comparison I don't like as much. I think Rashad got better after that loss and how you approach Lyoto with notoriously amazing takedown defense and Anderson who who's takedown defense was notoriouslt weak isn't comparable totally. If Chael and Weidman could be big trouble for Anderson, I think Rashad potentially could too. That said Rashad wasn't technically great standing and did rely on his athleticism a lot..I think it's. Tough fight to call personally. I think Rashad matches up competitively with a lot of these guys but i see him going at like a 50% clip through the gauntlet.

People should really look at Silva/Weidman 1 again


Silva defended every takedown with ease after the first one. With ease.

Silva’s takedown defense was far better than people seem to recall.

 

[Wilmer Digreux]

He would beat everybody

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

People should really look at Silva/Weidman 1 again


Silva defended every takedown with ease after the first one. With ease.

Silva’s takedown defense was far better than people seem to recall.

Anderson's TDD got better as he got older, there was a trade off, Anderson's TDD was at its best in his mid 30s and later but he was also slower in the stand up.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

I agree with this somewhat, but your Lyoto comparison I don't like as much. I think Rashad got better after that loss and how you approach Lyoto with notoriously amazing takedown defense and Anderson who who's takedown defense was notoriouslt weak isn't comparable totally. If Chael and Weidman could be big trouble for Anderson, I think Rashad potentially could too. That said Rashad wasn't technically great standing and did rely on his athleticism a lot..I think it's. Tough fight to call personally. I think Rashad matches up competitively with a lot of these guys but i see him going at like a 50% clip through the gauntlet.

I dont recall Weidman taking down Silva.

Evans didn't even attempt to takedown Lyoto at that point. Lyoto had fought Tito Ortiz successfully, but other than that, there wasn't really this idea that you couldn't take down Lyoto Machida.

Chael is bigger and a better wrestler than Evans though. Taking down people is what Chael does.

 

[Lawrence]

Rashad had a great championship run.

He was a rare undefeated Champion.

I don't think he beats all the guys you listed at 185, but he probably doesn't get blown out by most of them.