UFC light-heavyweight champion (2008) and Hall of Famer, now a desk analyst.
Track Record
Derived from every pick we've logged and verified — shown with its denominator, never a bare percentage. Draws and no-contests fall outside it.
Track record building — no calls resolved yet
On the Card
Rashad Evans's picks for UFC Freedom 250 — tap a row for the reasoning and the source clip.
Topuria vs Gaethje Rashad Evans: picks Gaethje · to win for Topuria vs Gaethje — upcoming. Note: A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Rashad dissents from the panel and picks Gaethje on the magnitude of the moment. Speaking as a former fighter, he says Gaethje is chasing the biggest moment of his life — unification, walking away undisputed — and a fighter driven by that force becomes far more dangerous than the calculated version opponents expect.
- The lone Gaethje pick — dissenting from a Topuria-leaning panel
- Reads the stakes (undisputed, the moment) as raising Gaethje's level
- Expects Topuria pulled into brawls he thinks he can win, then surprised
“For me, I'm going to go with Justin Gaethje in this fight, because we all as fighters, we're living for that moment.”
* A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Lewis vs Hokit Rashad Evans: picks Hokit · to win for Lewis vs Hokit — upcoming. Note: A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Rashad frames the fight as a showcase for Hokit to let his hands go and entertain, and believes he gets the win this weekend — while warning he must respect Derrick Lewis's knockout power.
- Sees it as Hokit's coming-out moment
- Must watch out for Lewis's one-shot power
“I think he's going to let his hands go and I think he's going to get the win this weekend.”
* A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Ruffy vs Chandler Rashad Evans: picks Ruffy · to win for Ruffy vs Chandler — upcoming. Note: A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Rashad picks Ruffy, saying he has so many tools that even a harder-than-ever Chandler at this stage of his career won't be enough.
- Ruffy's deep toolbox is the difference
- Expects Chandler to fight hard but fall short
“I feel like it's not going to be enough. I got Ruffy for the win in this one.”
* A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Nickal vs Daukaus Rashad Evans: picks Nickal · KO/TKO · R2 for Nickal vs Daukaus — upcoming. Note: A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Rashad takes Nickal: although Daukaus's desire for the upset is real, Nickal simply has more tools — better stand-up plus a ground game that speaks for itself — and gets him out of there in the second round.
- Nickal has more tools standing and on the mat
- Calls it a stoppage, round 2
“I think it's a stoppage. I think Bo Nickal gets him out of the second round.”
* A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Lopes vs Garcia Rashad Evans: no pick for Lopes vs Garcia — upcoming.
Rashad expressly declined to call it — 'a horrible fight for me to call.' He breaks down both men (Garcia treating it win-win out of Jackson-Wink, a must-win for Lopes) but never commits to a winner. From the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Resolved Calls
Once the card settles, every call shows up here with predicted vs actual.
No calls have resolved yet — check back after fight night.