CREDIT: Carlos M. Saavedra (Photo by Carlos M. Saavedra /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set … [+]
The Global Fight League held its inaugural draft on Friday night. We can now definitively say, fighters who did not consent to being included in the league’s draft pool were also included.
Rashad Evans was drafted to the league’s Los Angeles team.
However, Evans made it clear that he did not want to be drafted in the league. Evans and former UFC opponent Quinton “Rampage” Jackson agreed to a boxing match in April.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 04: Rashad Evans arrives before the UFC 272 weigh-ins at the UFC … [+]
The Rampage took to social media to question Evans joining the league.
“I don’t know how Rashad is here when I’m scheduled to beat his ass in April,” Rampage posted on X.
Evans assured his opponent that he would indeed fight him in the scheduled boxing match and offered: “Let me be clear! The only commitment I have is to get my ass out in April!! I was added to it without my consent!! You’re not that easy!”
I reached out to Evans via message for more details.
“I never signed with them,” Evans said. “I expressed interest in racing with them in the future. I told them I can’t sign anything with them until I fight Rampage in April.
It’s not clear where the mix-up happened, but the two sides are not on the same page.
“As soon as I saw I was being drafted, I was bummed,” Evans added. “Because I specifically told my manager not to allow that to happen. This organization is amateur. I feel bad for the guys who jumped on this promotion and left viable contracts with other offers. This behavior told me everything I need to know about this organization. They made promises they can’t keep.”
Most knockouts in UFC light heavyweight history
- Corey Anderson – 53
- Rashad Evans – 50
- Ryan Bader – 46
- John Jones – 42
- Ion Cutelaba – 37
- Glover Teixeira – 36
- Patrick Cummins – 35
- Tito Ortiz – 33
- Matt Hamill – 31
- Phil Davis – 31
Many MMA fans really want the Global Fight League to succeed, but every day a troubling piece of news comes out that casts serious doubt on its legitimacy.
Although there were many production errors, the stream was strangely entertaining and there was no shortage of big names appearing as part of the stream. If this thing is going to succeed, they need to stop sabotaging themselves with outrageous decisions that aren’t good for the long-term success of the league.
There are so many head-scratching decisions. Why do they go with a season or team idea? That never worked in MMA. Why do they prematurely announce fighters as part of their roster without written agreements?
The combination of legends and prospects is an interesting combination, but fans have to be able to trust and believe in what the promotion is selling.
With what we are starting to hear from fighters and others, we have to question the participation of any fighters who have not acknowledged their plans to compete in the new league.
