Elias Theodorou elaborates on callout of Rashad Evans

Last Sunday, on the main card of the UFC’s second trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou scored a nice decision win over Brazilian Ultimate Fighter winner Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira.

Shortly after this win, Theodorou expressed interest in fighting Rashad Evans, a former UFC light heavyweight champion who will debut in the middleweight division opposite Daniel Kelly at UFC 209.

On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Theodorou opened up on this callout, explaining why the idea of a fight with Evans is so appealing to him.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Theodorou said of Evans. “Obviously, with him being an Ultimate Fighter winner and a former champion, he’s more than a name. He’s relevant. As someone who just beat another Ultimate Fighter winner in [Cezar Ferreira], why [would I] not add another Ultimate Fighter winner and champion.” 

“I got into this sport to fight the best of the best, and I think Rashad at 185 pounds would be a very tough challenge. He obviously has experience on me, just overall veteran experience, and it’d be great because he’s a name.”

While Theodorou’s ideal next fight would be with Evans, he went on to explain that he’d also happily take on Daniel Kelly, should he defeat the former light heavyweight champ at UFC 209.

“Daniel Kelly has also been on a tear,” Theodorou said. “He’s on a three-fight win-streak with only one loss to a very tough individual who I fought – Sam Alvey. So if Dan gets by Rashad, I would love to give him respect, and his credit where credit’s due. I would happily take on both.”

Theodorou then added that a fight with the winner of Evans and Kelly’s fight is also appealing because it makes sense time-wise. He believes he and the winner of this fight will both be ready to return to the cage around the same time.

“I think the timing would work out perfectly,” he said. “I have a lot of projects on the go, and a lot of meetings here and there. They’re going to fight in about two weeks’ time, so that allows them to fight, and the winner to rest up, and then take on yours truly.”

Are you interested in an Elias Theodorou vs. Rashad Evans bout? How do you think this fight would go? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/23/2017.