Rashad Evans knows what it's like to go under the knife, then face the prospect of a return to the cage after a long time on the sidelines.
For Evans, a UFC Hall of Famer, a knee surgery kept him out for nearly two years from 2013-2015. When he returned to try to add to a two-fight streak against legends Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen, he struggled and was swept on the scorecards by Ryan Bader. It was the first time in his career he didn't win a round from a single judge.
And not that her situation is identical to his, but Evans has some concern that women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison will be her normal self when she returns this week in the co-main event at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York (Paramount+).
Harrison (19-1 MMA,
3-0 UFC) takes on former two-division champion Amanda Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC), who generally is regarded as the GOAT of women's MMA. Nunes is coming back from a retirement of nearly three years to try to win back the 135-pound title she vacated.
Harrison was supposed to fight Nunes in January, but was forced out with neck surgery. And that's one of the big reasons Evans, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, is concerned for the champ compared to the worry about Nunes returning from a longer layoff.
Plus, Harrison used to fight at 155 pounds in the PFL. She's not only down one weight class from those days, she's down two.
“I would say that Kayla probably has the bigger obstacle because it’s not only her neck, it’s also this huge weight cut," Evans told MMA Junkie. "She has to cut a lot of weight, and that’s hard on your body – especially when you put that kind of stress on your body after a neck surgery and the grind of your camp, especially against someone like Amanda Nunes, who is a sharpshooter. She can land some big punches.
"She knows her game and they’re very familiar with each other. Amanda Nunes has been out for a few years, but I think that time off could’ve served her so well. Sometimes you’ve got to take some time away from the sport and it just reinvigorates everything … We could possibly be seeing the best version of Amanda Nunes. I don’t want to pick Kayla to go out there and dominate like she has. I think she has as much obstacles coming into this as Amanda Nunes does.”
Ultimately, Evans is concerned that Harrison may have left herself a significant weight cut again during fight week, and if that's the case, he'll side with the GOAT.
“My biggest questions are with Kayla," Evans said. "How much has this weight cut really hurt her? … Does she have that imposing strength to really dominate in the way she has in the past? That’s going to be my biggest question. I think her neck is going to be fine and there won’t be any problems with that, but because of the weight cut question, because of the fact Amanda is coming into this fight what appears to be fresher after a couple years off, I’m leaning toward Amanda – and I’m feeling bad for even saying that.
"I just feel like Kayla’s fighting against a lot coming into this fight and it might be more than she’s even realizing. When you’re cutting that kind of weight, it’s hard to take a big shot. It really is. That dehydration on that level, it really makes it hard for the brain to absorb a shot. And Amanda’s going to land. She could be looking better than she ever has because sometimes being away from the sport allows you to see things differently and be a better coach to yourself.”
To hear more from Evans, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Does Kayla Harrison have too much to overcome vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334?
