Rashad Evans Rashad Evans ’ long injury layoff appears to have an end in sight. The ex-UFC light heavyweight champion, who tore his ACL in early 2014 , said he’s targeting a return in September, or 22 months after he pounded out Chael Sonnen at UFC 167. With newly minted champ Daniel Cormier (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) now aligned with Alexander Gustafsson (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Evans (19-3-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) told FOX Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight” that he wants to face Ryan Bader (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC), whose burgeoning rivalry with Cormier has taken a back seat to a meeting with the onetime title challenger. Although Cormier called out Bader after winning the title at this past month’s UFC 187, and the two nearly came to blows , Bader’s rep told MMAjunkie the “TUF 8″ winner won’t be fighting for the title, and they have no further comment on the matter. That opens up a target of opportunity for Evans, who aims to win back the title he lost in 2009 via knockout against Lyoto Machida. Since relinquishing the belt, the ex-champ has met with mixed success, winning four straight before losing a title fight against now-former champ Jon Jones
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Former UFC champ Rashad Evans aims for September return, wants Ryan Bader – MMA Junkie