UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans returned from retirement at Eagle FC 44 and secured his first victory since November 2013.
Evans (20-8-1), a former UFC light heavyweight champion, ended a five-fight losing skid in what was his first fight since he walked away from the sport in June 2018. He used his wrestling to secure a unanimous decision victory over Checco (12-6) in the 205-pound bout on Friday at the FLXcast Arena in Miami. The scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
Evans was very cautious to begin the fight, allowing Checco to tee off on his legs and body with peppering kicks. He times one of those kicks, however, and used it to scoop Checco and slam him to the mat and into side control. He eventually recovered guard, but Evans was heavy on top and started to establish control and inflict some damage with short shots for the remainder of the round.
Evans with the takedown early on the jiu-jitsu specialist!#EagleFC44 pic.twitter.com/hGtnhYS3jD
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
The 42-year-old came out looking to pick up where he left off in Round 2, and he did it by getting another takedown. Checco was much more aggressive off his back over the five minutes, however, attacking for leg locks over and over. Evans was wise to every submission attempt, though, and fended Checco off to make it to the end of the stanza.
Evans reverses the leg lock and now has Checco in a crucifix! #EagleFC44 pic.twitter.com/HeY7lZFh8R
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
In a critical third round, Checco came in too aggressive on a punch and got countered. Checco immediately went back to the leg lock attempts, but Evans stayed composed and found his way out again before moving to side control. Evans did his work from on top, landing punches and grinding his way to the final bell to secure the victory.
“The action happened fast and before I knew it I was just back in the fight. It felt like a dream,” Evans said in his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo. “I felt the love (for the sport) again. … I feel like I need to get in a better shape, but I’m open and I’m ready to roll. Eagle, I’m ready baby. Just put me in again.”
Up-to-the-minute Eagle FC 44 results include:
- Tyrone Spong vs. Sergei Kharitonov
- Rashad Evans def. Gabriel Checco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ray Borg def. Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
- John Howard vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov
- Raimond Magomedaliev def. Anthony Njokuani via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:49
- Dylan Salvador def. Arman Ospanov via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
- Yorgan De Castro def. Shaun Asher via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:04
- Demarques Jackson def. Miles Hunsinger via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:54
- Shawn Bunch def. Firdavs Khasanov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Loik Radzhabov def. Zach Zane via submission (standing guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:23
- Ayadi Majdeddine def. Sitik Muduev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
