After needed 'gut check,' Rashad Evans shares all sorts of wisdom ahead of UFC Fight Night 114

MEXICO CITY – Rashad Evans’ record has seen better days, but the former UFC light-heavyweight champion is determined not to let the fear of the destination spoil the fun of the ride.

Evans suffered one the toughest blows of his career in his most recent octagon outing, when a UFC 209 split-decision loss to Daniel Kelly added a third defeat to his skid. The scrap was also Evans’ middleweight debut after a more than decade-long UFC run that started at heavyweight and saw “Suga” taking the 205-pound title along the way.

Looking back on the close call with Kelly, Evans (19-6-1 MMA, 14-6-1 UFC)  doesn’t think the cut was the problem. If anything, he felt like he was finally in a proper weight division. Which is why the key for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 114 middleweight encounter with Sam Alvey (30-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) – and others that may follow – lies somewhere other than his body.

“I just need to go out there and believe,” Evans told MMAjunkie. “And most importantly, have fun.”

So, just get over the mental hurdles. Sounds simple enough, right?

“It’s the hardest part because you’re constantly compared to what your results used to be,” Evans said. “For the longest time, I went undefeated. And that’s great. But in life and in your career, sometimes you hit those valleys. And it’s about making it past those things.

“And when you get stuck in one, or when you’re in one, don’t start second-guessing yourself. It’s a difficult process, and it’s easier said than done. But at the end of the day, as long as you stay with that belief inside, you’ll be OK.”

Evans and Alvey meet on the FS1-televised main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 114 event, which takes place at Mexico City Arena, in Mexico.

The fight comes at a very delicate moment for Evans. For the first time in his pro career, he’s lost to three straight opponents: Ryan Bader, Glover Teixeira and, most recently, Kelly. With those defeats and some serious injuries, Evans hasn’t won a UFC fight since a TKO victory over Chael Sonnen in November 2013.

A negative outcome at this stage of his career could be worrisome for the former champ. Yet Evans, who needed 15 fights to take his first pro loss, just doesn’t seem all that hung up on outcomes.

“Here’s the reality: Who knows what life is going to bring?” Evans said. “I can wish for one thing, but life can have a totally different plan. All I know is that I’m very blessed to be here. All I know is that this dream came out of nowhere.

“And I’ve already won. I’ve already won just by being here. I’ve already won by being in the game for 15 years, so whatever’s to come is whatever’s to come. I’m just going to enjoy myself along the way.”

While he’s in positive spirits now, Evans admitted that it took some work to get here.

“There was definitely a part where I had that doubt, and I started to give in to what people were saying,” Evans said. “Just the mental weaknesses, just giving into the pressures of whatever was causing me to not go out and compete and be at my best.

“The easiest thing in the world is to just give in and to give up. And I really had to have a gut check. And just be honest with myself. And just face some of the things that I didn’t want to face. Get my mind turned around in order to put myself in the position where I feel like I can compete.”

It’s been a long road for the 37-year-old fighter. He won a season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” He held a UFC belt. His star-studded resume includes the likes of Jon Jones, Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Chuck Liddell. If he were to call it quits today, he would already retire as a big part of MMA history.

So what keeps him going?

“It’s because it’s who I am,” Evans said. “I’m a fighter. It’s inside of me. Right now, this is what is my internal calling. In time, I’ll have a new vehicle to approach in my life and a new way to express myself. But right now, this is how I express myself. And I enjoy it.”

To hear from Evans, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 114, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.