UFC events

Trevor Wittman, head coach at the Grudge Training Center, a Jackson’s MMA affiliate gym where Evans has trained.

“Mentally, I know it’s a little rough for [Evans] to see one of the guys he made a pact with to not fight go out there and take his position … I had the conversation with Rashad that I felt Rashad should fight Jon Jones if he wins.”

“I feel Jon Jones could have been like, ‘Hey man, I’ll tell you what. I’m going to take another fight. And let Rashad -- he’s not at the beginning of his career. He’s at the peak and the tail end of it. Let him go fight for it.”

“It makes for a great fight. I think Rashad’s got the speed to do it. I think it’s just one of those things [that] makes for great media. To see two guys go out there, you’re fighting to make a legacy. You’re going out there and fighting one of your training partners: I think it’s a great thing. I think it’s great for the sport. A lot of people think we’re just brutal guys that kick each other’s ass. If we’re not in that mindset of brutality, you should be able to fight your friends, especially if there’s a world title on the line.”

“We’re in the gym. Do we pull our punches in the gym? Heck no. We’re in here and we’re fighting every day. I can understand if there’s nothing on the line, [then] heck no. But if Rashad -- this is my key point with it -- if Rashad steps back and … says, ‘I ain’t going to fight Jon Jones,’ he’s putting his family on the line. He’s putting his career on the line. Dana White already doesn’t like him. I don’t want to say Dana White doesn’t like him but doesn’t like the decisions he’s made, so he’s going to smear that all over the Internet. It’s going to be horrible for Rashad’s career.”

“I know Greg feels differently about it than I do. I love Greg to death. Everybody has their own ways on how they do things, and this is just my little thought on how it should work.”