Rashad Evans No Longer Expected To Fight Alexander Gustafsson In His Octagon Return

Although he initially wanted to fight top-ranked contender Alexander Gustafsson upon his return, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans is having second thoughts.

“Suga” Rashad told veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani that following major ACL surgery, his management team wouldn’t allow him to rush back into the Octagon before they feel he is ready.

“My leg isn’t strong,” Evans told Helwani. “I can’t explode off it like I normally used to be able to and it still feels unstable. My management team wouldn’t let me take the fight. Glenn [Robinson, his manager] said, ‘At this stage of your career there is no need to rush into a fight especially coming back from a major injury’.”

Despite the slight delay, Evans is still reportedly planning on making his UFC return in early 2015 — likely in March — against an opponent yet to be determined.

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