Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evan’s comeback was a victorious one at Eagle FC 44 at the FLXcast Arena in Miami.
Evans (20-8-1), who was fighting for the first time since June 2018, used grappling and ground control to decision Gabriel Checco (12-6-0) in the main event.
Evans with the takedown early on the jiu-jitsu specialist!#EagleFC44 pic.twitter.com/hGtnhYS3jD
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
Checco tried to use leg locks to counter the ground game of Evans but was unsuccessful. But the experience of Evans shone through as he matched maneuvers to get the 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 scores from the judges.
"Damn, is this really happening?"@SugaRashadEvans had a moment during his comeback fight at #EagleFC44 pic.twitter.com/VpFed0nLYr
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
With the win, Evans snapped a five-fight losing skid. Checco has now lost two of his last three fights.
In other bouts:
RASHAD EVANS DEF. GABRIEL CHECCO VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
RAY BORG DEF. CODY GIBSON VIA UD (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
RAMAZAN KURAMAGOMEDOV DEF. JOHN HOWARD VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
RAIMOND MAFOMEDALIEV DEF. ANTHONY NJOKUANI VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 2:49
DYLAN SALVADOR DEF. ARMAN OSPANOV VIA TKO (CORNER STOPPAGE) R2 5:00
YORGAN DE CASTRO DEF. SHUN ASHER VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 1:04
DEMARQUES JACKSON DEF. MILES HUNSINGER VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 0:54
SHAWN BUNCH DEF. FIRDAVS KHASANOV VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
LOIK RADZHABOV DEF. ZACH ZANE VIA SUBMISSION (STANDING GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 3:23
AYADI MAJDEDDINE DEF. SITIK MUDUEV VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
