Rashad Evans' Thumb Is 'Completely' Shattered

Following Rashad Evans' destruction of Tito Ortiz at UFC 133, "Suga" downplayed the injury he sustained in the one-sided affair—claiming it a sprained hand that should be fine.

However, yesterday at the breaking news press conference of the UFC and its newly signed seven-year deal with Fox, Evans spoke with reporter Ariel Helwani, sporting a full cast on his right hand.

Reported on BJPenn.com, Evans told Helwani that "I just got three pins into the thumb, the thumb is completely broken, it’s shattered."

The timetable for Evans return to training is still unknown. "Suga" stated, "They put some pins in it to hold it together for a few weeks. I have got like four more weeks of this and then I am good to train again.”

With a decisive victory over Ortiz in Philadelphia, Evans has claimed the No. 1 contender ranking against the victor of the Jon "Bones" Jones matchup with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in September.

Injuries to Evans have effected the former champion in the past. Forced off of the card with the then-UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Evans' teammate at the time, "Bones" Jones, stepped in for the injured "Suga," who was rehabilitating his knee.

With his future once again hampered by an injury, the thumb surgery may further set back the timetable for a future matchup with a former teammate (should Jones be victorious against Jackson).

Stay tuned for breaking news here on Bleacher Report regarding Rashad Evans' return to the Octagon.

I welcome your comments.

"Like" me on Facebook and/or Follow me on Twitter