Rashad Evans: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier would be ‘a totally different fight’ at heavyweight

Rashad Evans, who will soon be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, has retired from MMA competition. That being said, he’s become a staple of the broadcast desk on UFC fight nights, where he provides excellent analysis of the action set to unfold in the cage.

Speaking on SiriusXM, Rashad Evans flaunted his aptitude for high quality analysis, breaking down a potential heavyweight rematch between light heavyweight rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier.

Jon Jones won the pair’s first fight by decision. The second time they met, Jones won by knockout — though this result was overturned when he failed a drug test. Should the pair meet for a third time in the heavyweight division, Evans believe the result could be very different.

"It'd be interesting to see the matchup at heavyweight because I guarantee it'd be a lot different fight." — @SugaRashadEvans to @MieshaTate and @RyanMcKinnell on a potential third showdown between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier pic.twitter.com/fWDHPXfOuw

— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) May 23, 2019

“I think if Jon Jones did fight DC at heavyweight it’d be a totally different fight. I think Jon Jones knows that, he is a very smart fighter,” Rashad Evans said (transcript via Bloody Elbow). “I think he has a better chance of beating DC at 205 because when DC makes 205, it’s not only the fact that he’s gotta face Jon Jones’ skills — because that’s one thing in itself.

“But then he has to worry about facing himself on a physical sense. How much did he deplete his body during the weight cut?” he continued. “That seems to be what causes the damage later on in the fight when he can’t absorb a shot to the head because he doesn’t have enough fluid in his head because he’s dehydrated. That’s what happens when you cut too much weight.

“At heavyweight, he is a little bit more durable. He has this strength at heavyweight that he doesn’t have at 205,” Evans concluded. “It’d be interesting to see the matchup at heavyweight because I guarantee it’d be a lot different.”

What do you think of these comments from Rashad Evans? Who do you think would win a Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier rematch if the fight happened at heavyweight?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/24/2019.