Title: Two Previous UFC Champions and Rivals Face Off Once More in Boxing Bout
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans, two iconic figures in the MMA world, are set to reignite their intense rivalry in 2025, this time in the boxing ring. Although the specific date hasn't been disclosed yet, both fighters, along with the Influencer Crossover Series' Instagram account, hint at an Albuquerque, New Mexico, showdown.
At 46 and 45 years old, these former UFC light heavyweight champions have a rich history. They both bested legend Chuck Liddell to claim the title. Evans did so in September 2008, following a one-punch knockout at UFC 88. The triumph was celebrated iconically, with an elaborate Redd Foxx (Fred G. Sanford) salute.
The ceiling was high for Evans, who faced Forrest Griffin for the title following his victory. Despite winning in the third round, Evans would eventually fail to defend his title after a vicious knockout by Lyoto Machida in his first defense.
Before Evans' triumph, Jackson clinched the title at UFC 71 in May 2007 with a thrilling finish over Liddell. Jackson then surrendered his title to Forrest Griffin via unanimous decision after a hard-fought second title defense.
Their paths crossed in May 2010, with Evans securing a unanimous decision victory. Their rivalry was riddled with bad blood, but the matchup resulted in just one encounter between them.
Both fighters had their title aspirations thwarted by Jon Jones, with Evans losing to him in 2012 and Jackson falling to Jones in 2011.
Since then, Rampage has dedicated his time to podcasting, achieving notable success with the Jaxxon Podcast. In contrast, Evans made a name for himself as a UFC analyst for Fight Night events. Evans was even inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2019.
Traditionally, Rampage's achievements merit Hall of Fame induction, particularly in the Pioneer wing. However, his strained relationship with the promotion has prevented him from joining his MMA contemporaries. Rampage has expressed his reluctance to accept an invitation to the Hall of Fame, which is a true pity, considering his significant contributions to the sport.
In this new medium of boxing, Rampage and Evans aim to garner a portion of the increasingly popular influencer boxing following. In 2024, we saw Jorge Masvidal square off against Nate Diaz, while Jake Paul fought against Ryan Bourland, Mike Perry, and Mike Tyson. The Tyson fight captivated record-breaking viewership on Netflix, solidifying the appeal of influencer boxing.
Once a date for Rampage-Evans is confirmed, we'll discover how large a chunk of this booming influencer boxing audience they can claim for themselves.
This boxing match between Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans, two former UFC light heavyweight champions, is set to take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2025. Fans have been eagerly waiting for 'Rampage vs. Rashad' since the announcement, as both fighters have a rich history in the UFC, with victories over Chuck Liddell and title defenses against Forrest Griffin. Despite their past rivalry, both Rampage and Rashad have found success in different arenas since their last encounter, with Rampage focusing on podcasting and Rashad becoming a UFC analyst and even being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2019. Now, in the world of boxing, they aim to tap into the growing influencer boxing following, following in the footsteps of celebrities like Jorge Masvidal and Mike Tyson.