Rashad Evans
Active 2005–present · rated in 2 editions · peak overall 86.0
Scouting report
Winning The Ultimate Fighter 2 before capturing the Undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Championship with a knockout of Forrest Griffin at UFC 92, Rashad "Suga" Evans earned UFC Hall of Fame honors with hand speed and double-leg takedowns. Hailing from Niagara Falls, New York, Evans' wrestling and hands are captured by a 90 Wrestling and 87 Boxing, yielding an 86 Overall grade.
Peak ratings
By edition
Evans put together a championship challenge run between 2011 and 2013, stopping Tito Ortiz in Philadelphia, dominating Phil Davis over five rounds in Chicago, and challenging Jon Jones at UFC 145 in Atlanta, before scoring victories over Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen. His NCAA Division I wrestling pedigree, overhand right, and counter-punching are reflected in an 87 Boxing and 90 Wrestling.
Sidelined for nearly two years by knee injuries and surgeries, Evans returned in October 2015 at UFC 192 in Houston, dropping a decision to Ryan Bader. His wrestling transitions, overhand right power, and veteran fight intelligence preserved his ratings, including an 85 Boxing and 88 Wrestling score over this timeframe.
Rashad Evans and the explosive shot that started at Michigan State
Rashad Evans wrestled at Michigan State and won season two of The Ultimate Fighter. He became light heavyweight champion after beating Forrest Griffin, and he knocked out Chuck Liddell in a fight that stayed in people's minds. He is a good fit if you want a wrestler who also strikes with real intent.
Evans by category
Boxing. His heavy right hand ended Liddell. He mixes it with feints and quick angles.
Kickboxing. The lowest of his striking tools. He uses kicks sparingly.
Wrestling. The best on his card. Quick level changes and strong takedown defense made him hard to plan against.
BJJ. Solid but not a finisher on the mat.
Strength. Strong for a light heavyweight, and quick in short bursts.
Durability. Good. He took hard shots and kept fighting, though Machida did knock him out.
Cardio. Very good. He was well conditioned for five rounds.
Fight IQ. Good at adjusting, though the loss to Machida showed he can be caught by a single mistake.
Wrestling is the fast way to win rounds
Evans uses quick doubles to steal rounds and to mix with the punches. Opponents have to defend both the shot and the hand behind it. That double threat is the reason to draft him.
Kicks are optional: Kickboxing
A rangy kicker with a good sprawl can take away the wrestling and leave him standing at the end of a boot. Kickboxing is his lowest striking number, so a long-range player is the one to fear.
Keep exploring
Closest light heavyweight profiles to Rashad Evans, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Alexander Gustafssonbest boxing 90 · weakest bjj 78
- Ryan Baderbest wrestling 89 · weakest kickboxing 74
- Corey Andersonbest cardio 92 · weakest kickboxing 74
- Aleksandar Rakicbest strength 89 · weakest bjj 78
- Light Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Rashad Evans's strongest attribute, Wrestling.
Draft Rashad Evans into your build
Rashad Evans enters the pool on any spin landing on light heavyweight between 2010 and 2015. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Rashad Evans is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Rashad Evans's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.