Rashad Evans was looking forward to boxing his longtime rival, Rampage Jackson. However, leading up to the fight, Evans, a UFC Hall of Famer, realized the promoters weren`t keeping their promises to the fighters.
This led to a last-minute decision from both Evans and Jackson to withdraw from the event. They chose to avoid a potential mess where they would fight but not receive their agreed-upon payments.
“The negotiations fell apart regarding the promises made to Rampage and myself before the fight. They weren`t fulfilled,” Evans told MMA Fighting. “We tried to find a solution, but there wasn`t enough time to satisfy everyone. Ultimately, it was decided it was best to cancel, which 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 motivator for both of us. He`s in great shape, and so am I. We were really excited about it.”
While Evans didn`t go into specific contract details, he confirmed that money was definitely a factor in the decision to cancel the fight.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion mentioned that he was aware of stories in the industry where fighters were guaranteed payment but were cheated after the event. This was on his mind when they decided to pull out.
“Finances were definitely a component,” Evans stated. “That’s where things went wrong. We couldn`t get the assurances we needed that we`d be fully compensated before we were supposed to move forward and be certain everything would be handled after the fight. We wanted to avoid a situation where we wouldn`t get the money we were promised after fighting.”
“There are stories of other fighters in boxing matches who didn`t receive anywhere near their negotiated pay. So, we included safety measures to ensure we met certain payment milestones. We just couldn`t reach that agreement.”
Evans recalled the situation with UFC veterans Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz after their boxing match in July 2024. Diaz sued the promoter, Fanmio, for $9 million he claimed he was still owed from the event.
Masvidal later told MMA Fighting he couldn`t comment on his own payment issues from that event but suggested more information would come out eventually.
This situation caught Evans` attention and made him doubt whether he and Rampage might face a similar problem with their boxing match.
“We wanted to learn from the Diaz and Masvidal situation and make sure we were protected and everything was agreed upon before stepping into the ring,” Evans said. “It just couldn`t be done in time.”
“They are still working on the event, so I don`t know if there`s a solution or if they`ll come up with a last-minute offer. We might still be able to make something happen, but right now, we can`t proceed.”
Despite their UFC rivalry and plans to renew it in boxing, Evans confirmed he consulted with Rampage before cancelling the fight.
“We discussed it and made sure we were both okay with withdrawing from this promotion and possibly doing it another time,” Evans said. “Despite being rivals in the ring, there`s a unique relationship with an opponent like Rampage. We have great chemistry together, especially in fighting. You want to keep that because it makes fighting more enjoyable.”
It’s understandably disappointing for these veteran fighters, who haven`t competed recently but paused other projects to prepare for this boxing match.
While Evans trains regularly, he`s not doing the intense workouts needed for a fight camp. With the Rampage fight cancelled, Evans will shift back to his normal routine, but he still hopes the fight can be rescheduled.
In fact, Evans is open to working with a different promoter, perhaps one like Misfits Boxing or even for a show headlined by someone like Jake Paul.
“I’m going to regroup, but I definitely still want to box Rampage,” Evans said. “It was fun dedicating myself and getting back into a fighting mindset. Since retiring, I’ve been busy with other things and personal development outside of fighting, which is important. But there’s still a part of me that needs to fight again. I still have that feeling. Before I fully become an elder statesman, I want to experience it at least one more time or a couple of times.”
“If another opportunity arises with a different promotion that can make it happen, I’m all for it. It’s about ensuring we’re both taken care of and it makes sense for both of us. There are many promotions in this space that fit what we do. The influencer market has opened up in a great way, fans enjoy it, and it’s fun.”
Evans hasn’t given up on the Rampage boxing match completely, but he’s not going to worry too much about things outside of his control.
He has successfully transitioned to life after fighting, with businesses and combat sports analysis work. Evans has plenty to focus on, even though he still wants to box 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 more on my businesses and other things outside of fighting.”
