In addition to the previously reported Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov bout for UFC on Fox 19 in April, the UFC is also targeting a light heavyweight matchup between Rashad Evans and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the event.
Plans for that fight were first reported this week by Combate in Brazil.
It’s a fight five years in the making, as the two were originally slated to meet back in April of 2011 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Rua held the title at the time, with Evans as the former Champion looking to regain the belt. However, injury derailed Evans at the time, and Jon Jones stepped in for that fight, capturing the title from Rua that he’d hold until getting stripped of the belt last year.
Evans and Rua have had their share of ups and downs since the matchup was first set to take place. Injuries have continued to be an issue for both off and on. Evans has fought just seven times in the past five years, with his fight with Ryan Bader last October his first after nearly two years out. Rua has fought nine times since, but has had several lengthy layoffs of his own. He won his most recent appearance, defeating Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last August.
UFC on Fox 19 is expected to come on April 16, though no location is set just yet, and the UFC has not officially announced the bout.
[Rashad Evans art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Attention iPhone/iPad users, if you’ve enjoyed our app in the past and followed us there, or if you’ve never checked it out, make sure to update to the latest version in the Apple store. We’ve launched a new look for the app, in line with our recent desktop overhaul. Make sure to check it out! An update to our Android app is on its way soon as well, so Android users keep an eye out for that update soon!
Leave a Reply