In 2010, a fierce rivalry dominated the world of mixed martial arts between Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Rashad Evans. These two former UFC light heavyweight champions clashed in the cage in May of that year, after serving as competing coaches on a season of 'The Ultimate Fighter'. Evans emerged victorious with a unanimous decision win in a three-round fight. Now, over 15 years later, it seems their paths are set to cross once again, but this time in the boxing ring.

Evans' Decision to Box with 'Rampage'

Evans, now 45 years old, shared his decision with MMA Fighting this week. "You'll be interested to hear that I've jumped into training camp, and I'm going to do a boxing match with 'Rampage,'" he said. "We're looking to do it potentially at the end of February, and it's most likely going to be here in Florida. We're going to do a boxing match." When asked about a return to mixed martial arts competition after his last fight in January 2022, where he scored a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Checco, Evans had this to say. "I was like I'm 45 years old right now, and I could just be done with it all and just enjoy this phase of my life that I'm in right now. But then I will always wonder if I would have just had that one boxing match just for fun, just to try it out." Boxing is something Evans is a huge fan of, and he sees this as another chance to fight 'Rampage'. "Rampage' is in pretty good shape right now. He was getting ready for Shannon “The Cannon” [Briggs] so he’s in pretty good shape. I want to get a chance to do it again with it."

The Cooling of Tempers

Since their intense rivalry years ago, there has been a change in their relationship. "We've got a pretty decent relationship," Evans stated. "We've got a level of respect for each other, but we still have fun and we're still clowning each other. I've still got to deal with him trying to clown me, or I'll send him a message and try to clown him. We're fiercely competitive with each other. That's a good thing." After working together on the movie 'Boss Level', their relationship took a turn for the better. "After we did the movie 'Boss Level', it changed our relationship because we finally had a chance to have a conversation and seeing the kind of person that he truly was and working with him so close on that for a few months was a game changer as far as our relationship. With this fight, it's fun because there's not that anger/animosity, but at the same time, it's still competitive."

The Training and Preparation

Both fighters are putting in the work to prepare for this highly anticipated bout. 'Rampage' has been getting ready for Shannon “The Cannon” [Briggs], which has kept him in good shape. Evans, too, is focused on his training and is excited to step into the boxing ring with his longtime rival. The details of their training camps and the strategies they are developing are closely guarded secrets for now, but fans can expect a thrilling fight when they finally meet in the ring.

The Impact on the Boxing World

This matchup between Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Rashad Evans has the potential to make a significant impact on the boxing world. These are two highly respected fighters with a long history of success, and their presence in the ring will draw a lot of attention. It's not often that former UFC champions cross over into the boxing arena, and this fight offers a unique opportunity for fans to see two greats go head-to-head. Whether it's a display of boxing skills or a battle of wills, this fight is sure to be a memorable one.