Rashad Evans was eagerly anticipating his boxing debut against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, his longtime rival. However, in the days leading up to the fight, the UFC Hall of Famer realized that the promoters were not fulfilling their promises to the fighters.
This realization led to a last-minute decision by both Evans and Jackson to withdraw from the fight card. They chose to avoid a potentially problematic situation where they would fight without assurance of receiving their contractual payments afterwards.
“Negotiations fell apart regarding the promises made to Rampage and me before the fight. These promises were not kept,” Evans told MMA Fighting on Monday. “We attempted to find solutions, but there wasn`t enough time to satisfy everyone. Ultimately, the involved parties decided it was best to cancel the fight. It was disappointing.”
Evans added, “We had been building up to this for a while and trained hard for it. We were serious about this fight. It was a great focus for both of us. He’s in excellent shape, and I got into great shape too. We were really looking forward to it.”
While Evans didn`t go into specific contract details, he confirmed that financial issues were a significant factor in the decision to cancel the fight.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion mentioned that he was aware of industry stories where fighters were promised certain payments but were not paid after the event. These stories were in his mind when he decided to pull out of the fight.
“Finances were definitely a component,” Evans stated. “That’s where things started to go wrong. We couldn`t reach an agreement that assured us we would be fully compensated before the fight. We wanted to avoid a situation where we wouldn`t receive the promised money after the fight.”
“There have been reports about fighters in boxing matches not receiving the agreed-upon payments. So, we implemented safety measures to ensure we reached certain milestones and received our due payment on time. Unfortunately, we couldn`t reach such an agreement.”
Evans recalled the situation with UFC veterans Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, whose boxing match in July 2024 led to Diaz suing the promoter for $9 million in unpaid earnings.
Masvidal reportedly “plead the fifth” regarding his payment issues from that event but hinted that more information would surface eventually.
This situation raised concerns for Evans, making him question whether he and Rampage might face a similar payment ordeal with their boxing match.
“We wanted to learn from the Diaz and Masvidal situation and ensure we were protected and that everything was settled before stepping into the ring,” Evans explained. “It just couldn’t be done in time.”
“They are still organizing the card, so there might be a last-minute solution. If they come up with something, we might reconsider. But as of now, we cannot proceed.”
Despite their UFC rivalry, Evans confirmed that he consulted with Rampage before deciding to cancel the fight.
“We discussed it and made sure we were both comfortable stepping away from this promotion and possibly rescheduling for another time,” Evans said. “Despite being adversaries in the ring, there’s a unique relationship between opponents like Rampage and me. We have special chemistry, especially in fighting. It’s something you value because it makes fighting more enjoyable.”
The cancellation is understandably disappointing for both veteran fighters who put other commitments aside to prepare for this boxing match.
Evans, who trains regularly, had intensified his workouts to prepare for the fight. With the Rampage bout cancelled, he will now refocus on his regular activities but remains hopeful the fight can be rescheduled.
Evans is open to working with a different promoter, possibly one like Misfits Boxing or even a promotion headlined by Jake Paul.
“I’m regrouping but still want to box Rampage,” Evans stated. “I enjoyed dedicating myself to training and getting back into a fighting mindset. Since retiring from active fighting, I’ve been developing myself outside of the fight game, which is important. But I still have that itch to compete. Before fully transitioning into an elder statesman role, I want to experience that feeling again, maybe a couple more times.”
“If another promotion can make it happen and ensure we are both taken care of, I’m all for it. It needs to make sense for both of us. The influencer market has created opportunities that fit what we do and are well-received by fans, making it enjoyable.”
Evans hasn’t completely given up on the Rampage fight but won’t dwell on issues beyond his control.
He has successfully transitioned to life after fighting, with businesses and analyst work in combat sports. Evans has plenty to keep him busy, even if he still desires to fight Rampage again.
“Life goes on if this doesn’t happen in the short term,” Evans concluded. “I’ll reduce my training to a couple of times a week and focus on my other businesses and activities outside of fighting.”
