On the second season of The Ultimate Fighter, Rashad Evans and Mike Whitehead had plenty of personal animosity in the house and had a fight in the Octagon. That was almost four years ago, but Whitehead made clear after Evans beat Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 that he still can't stand Evans:
"Forrest lost to a guy that I don't have a lot of respect for," Whitehead said. "I just hate the way that f**king Rashad goes out, just the way he carries himself, he's almost as bad as Tito [Ortiz] now. ... Kissing his glove and touching his d**k, that's not a good ambassador for our sport."
In my view, Whitehead comes across looking jealous of the fact that Evans -- now the UFC light heavyweight champion -- has had a lot more professional success than he has. Whitehead and Evans both got their chances on The Ultimate Fighter, and Evans did a much better job of taking advantage of that chance.
Still, Whitehead is right that Evans does take things too far sometimes. I'd like to see Evans carry himself a little bit more like a champion.
Four Years After The Ultimate Fighter, Mike Whitehead Still Hates Rashad Evans
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12/30/2008 10:28 AM ET By Michael David Smith
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- Michael David Smith
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Read More: MMA Videos UFC Forrest+Griffin, ForrestGriffin, Mike+Whitehead, MikeWhitehead, Rashad+Evans, RashadEvans, UFC+92, Ufc92
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
He's right. That move was lame and is not fitting of a champion.
Just like when he showboated on TUF. He needs to show more respect for the audience, his opponent and the sport.
I definitely agree with Whitehead. Rashad has shown the same flashy/disrespectful attitude as Mayweather and Jones have in boxing.
He needs to lose a fight or 2 ... that should humble him a little.
Rashad has been handled with "kid gloves" in my opinion. Forrest, Bisping, Salmon, Ortiz, Bonnar ... non of these guys are big bangers. Liddell is the only fighter he has faced with a big punch, and unfortunately he never got a chance to use it!
I should have said that I agree with Michael's paraphrasing ... I never watch all of these videos. He may have been a cry-baby for all I know.
WAAAA WAAA WAAA Whitehead sounds like a complete baby. Like the article says Whitehead was jealous simply because Rashad has had a better career than he has.
As far as the gesture. This was after Forrest blasted Rashad with several hard shots. It was clearly in the heat of battle. While the move may have been a little crass, it's not like he held a choke for a few extra seconds or licked the blood of a fighters gloves after defeating him. Also it appears Forrest wasn't bothered by it.
Get over it, Mike and stop being such a boring fighter. i;m still pissed at you non fight against Babalu at affliction 1.
Evans have proved everyone wrong - give him the respect he is due.
Whitehead is just a big guy with a big jealous mouth.
One guys said: "Liddell is the only fighter he has faced with a big punch, and unfortunately he never got a chance to use it!" - what does this say about Liddell? Why couldn't he use -whatis his excuse?
Give it up.
Liddell got knocked out ... everyone knows that. Doesn't change the truth in my statement one bit.
I'm so sick of all these little cry babies. Name a sport that athletes don't showboat a little? Jesus. My thing is this...it ain't bragging or being cocky if you can back it up.
Rashad is a big *****. It's too bad, cuz he's a great fighter, but most people hate him cuz of the way he carries himself. By the way, the only fight left to see would be Rashad vs. Anderson Silva @ 205. I think Anderson is the only one who could beat him right now.
Didn't really think about the racial angle, but I'm old enough remember the Original, The Greatest, The Greatest of All Time, Shook Up The World, Muhammad Ali, and I haven't seen Rashad Evans do anything that approaches the outrageously hyperbolic self promotion that took Ali from obscurity in Lexington, Kenucky to being the single most recognizable human on the planet.
Mike Whitehead is full of sour grapes, and while I didn't remember him from TUF, it's obvious he has not had the success in the ring Evans is enjoying, or I'd know who he is.
Rashad Evans is the new UFC Light Heavyweigh champion, and until someone gets past him in the ring, I'll watch his fights and applaud his performances. He has improved every aspect of his MMA game, most obviously his striking and stand up skills, and is deserving of his moment in the sun, after beating a legitimate and strong champion in Forrest Griffin.
This is a perfect example of "When keeping it real, goes wrong"
-Dave Chappell
Why must everything be about race? People have said the same things about Tito, Frank Shamrock, and even recently about Steve Cantwell after he broke Al-Hassan's arm. Where these comments racially motivated too?
Isn't it possible that some people just think Rashad is an A-hole ... ?
This was a reply ... guess they got the boot?
Kelvin hit it on the head. This is entertainment. Period. The only ones who havent gotten that part are some of the fighters. In a company like UFC they are there to entertain and make money, so if you can entertain the crowd and make them money then you are on the fast track, plain and simple. Why do we watch Roy Jones .. For me, not because he can box , because he is entertaining to watch. Remember the best way to get big in this sport is to be a big draw. If just being a great fighter was the case I think Lyoto would have had a title shot 5 UFC's ago. I will say one thing to agree with whitehead I hope with all my heart that affliction makes it. I hope there is another company that keeps it going or becomes a viable option for fighters in this sport. So it can finally get back to more of what made this sport entertaining to me, the fighters and there skill set and who is the best .