Rashad Evans decides against retirement, weighs light heavyweight return

Rashad Evans will live to fight another day.

Despite losing his last four fights in a row, the former UFC light heavyweight champion has decided against retirement, Evans told MMAFighting.com recently.

“I can’t retire like this,” he said. “I would never know peace again in my life. Endless nights I would be left looking at the ceiling unable to accept reality.”

Evans hasn’t won since his November 2013 victory over Chael Sonnen. Since then he’s dropped decisions to Ryan Bader, Daniel Kelly, Sam Alvey and was knocked out by Glover Teixeira. He’s also battled multiple knee injuries during that four-year period.

Earlier this year, Evans dropped down to middleweight to rekindle his career, however, he’s 0-2 at 185 pounds. He said he’s now considering moving back up to light heavyweight.

“I have to talk that over, but I feel like at 205 I had more energy,” he said.

Evans, who beat Forrest Griffin to become light heavyweight champion in 2008, doesn’t have a fight booked. His current plan is to return to action in early 2018.