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RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
If Rashad Evans moves down to 185, he instantly becomes the second best middleweight in the world. But the fact that he's coming off of a loss (even if it was to Jon Jones), disqualifies him in my mind from an immediate title shot. I've been saying for about four years now, even before he won the 205 title, that he'd be a better fit at 185 than at 205. Not that I was the only person on that particular bandwagon, but still. So, yeah, he has a future at 185.
I'm glad that Michael Bisping has been booked against Brian Stann, because I feared the possibility of seeing Bisping vs. Evans again. It was brutal the first time, and even though both guys are improved drastically from where they were in 2007, I still can't get the rancid taste of that fight out of my mind. If Evans drops and doesn't get an immediate title shot, he'd clearly be one win away from that title shot, so his debut at middleweight would have to be a #1 contender match. Vitor? Weidman? Lombard? Belcher? I do think that the next shot will go to either Hector Lombard if he dominates Tim Boetsch, or to Chris Weidman if Lombard doesn't dominate. I don't think Belcher's high enough profile for that fight (although I'd pick Belcher to win it). So in my mind, Rashad's hypothetical middleweight would be against either Vitor Belfort or either Weidman and Lombard, whomever doesn't get the next shot at Anderson Silva.
Yes, 185 is a mess.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Well, if he can do it and not ruin himself, I say he should. If he does make the move, I think that Rashad should be put straight into a number one contender's fight. I think Rashad deserves that, plus I think that there's a lot of guys who are on the same level in the division. I would especially feel good about Rashad fighting Hector Lombard, if Lombard were to beat Tim Boetsch.
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Well, with both Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen contemplating moves to other divisions, it makes more sense for both fighters to fight each other first at a catch-weight, similar to what Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva have done in the past. That would be a fight I would like to see Evans in because it's a good litmus test to face the two-time middleweight contender. The promos alone would be great, but more importantly it would help Evans figure out where his place in the UFC belongs, be it a fresh start at 185 or keeping steady in 205. The choice is up to Evans.
CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST
Rashad has spoken this week of cutting weight while maintaining his athleticism and all-round ability. Assuming he is able to take this all down with him then I truly believe he could be a real force, and potentially the next dominant champion, at 185.
Hang on! I didn't say he would beat Anderson Silva. He wouldn't (in my view) but he could be a front runner to replace Silva once the champ hangs up his mitts. The UFC, however, would find it very difficult to resist a Silva vs. Evans clash before the Brazilian retires and if Evans were to make an impressive debut he could well be in the mix immediately.
A win over Tim Boetsch will see Hector Lombard next in line - in a fight the UFC will have plenty to market - so you would assume Evans would need at least one win before gaining his own title shot.
I would like to see Evans straight in at the deep end. Make Evans vs. Sonnen for both men's next fight. I like how those two match up.
If nothing else the trash talk should be pretty fun to watch/hear. @MMATorchUK
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think a move to middleweight for Rashad Evans makes perfect sense. He will never realistically be able to defeat Jon Jones, and he has fought most every decent fighter at 205. As far as the UFC is concerned, this move would make several big money fights available in a reasonably short time frame. If he does move down to middleweight, he should fight Chael Sonnen. Two big names with two big talkers could be a huge fight by the end of 2012. If Evans can beat Sonnen, he can make his claim for a title shot. The UFC is running out of fighters to realistically challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight belt. As a former light-heavyweight title holder, Rashad can step in and have an immediate impact in the title hunt at 185.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Absolutely and I would love to see him face off with Anderson Silva or Vitor Belfort; both would make for fantastic fights and mutually beneficial opportunities. Weidman would also make a great opponent at this stage. With Rashad's natural athleticism and striking power he could be an extraordinarily dominant middleweight. Let's not forget this is the guy who won TUF at heavyweight. Rashad could choose to stay put in light heavy but he has nothing left to accomplish in the division aside from avenging his losses - so why not drop down and take on the best fighter on the planet in Anderson Silva.
GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Yes, he will not be the light heavyweight champion again. Ever. A move to middleweight instantly gives him size and strength over most of the division. Would he beat Anderson? No, but I say "look out" to the rest of the division because your career plans could change should Rashad decide to. I'd like to see his first fight against Chris Weidman in a number one contender match. The winner gets fed to The Spider.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
If he stays at light heavyweight, he's treading water until Jon Jones moves up to heavyweight. He's too good to wait for that to happen, but also not good enough to beat Jones if another title opportunity presents itself. Evans is a superb talent and one who's still somewhat underrated in my opinion. If I were him, i'd go for it and make the move. He's already said he's prepared to wait his turn, take a tune up fight at 185 lbs, and then fight for the title.
There are plenty of options awaiting him, but my personal preference would be a fight with either Chris Wiedman or Hector Lombard. One of them gets Anderson Silva, the other one gets Rashad Evans. Other options include Alan Belcher and Vitor Belfort so Joe Silva is spoiled for choice. Whatever happens, Evans moving down is the best thing for him right now.
JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
A lot of fighters are often willing to compete at a higher weight because if worse comes to worse, they can always drop down and make another run at the title. Well, worse has certainly come to worse for Rashad Evans at 205 because he's already held the title, lost the title, and was soundly defeated in his attempt to regain the gold. With a 17-2-1 record, no one can ever paint Rashad Evans with the "failed light heavyweight" brush, but at the same time there are very few fresh matchups left for him at that weight.
That being said though, I'm not sure Evans would still get fast tracked to a middleweight title shot the way he would have a few months ago. The division has picked up a lot of steam over the last few months and there are too many contenders out there for Evans to walk in, pick up a pedestrian victory over an average fighter and get Anderson Silva served up to him on a silver platter.
If Evans moves down he's going to really go in and blow the doors off a big name contender like Vitor Belfort to separate himself from the pack.
[Rashad Evans art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_13869.shtml
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