UFC 140: Rashad Evans ... Just Waitin' and Hatin'

We've all been there. There's that special someone whom you are really into yet the timing just isn't right. Either you're with someone else or they are, but there is always that pulling and nagging feeling that at some point you will both need to meet up. 

In the case of Rashad Evans his special someone is the UFC Light Heavyweight title, and the obstacles which keep him from getting there are the current champion Jon Jones and even more so his unfortunate training injury. 

Twice this year, Evans has had a shot at the title snatched from his grip due to training-related injuries. Now it seems as though he'll have to wait even longer. 

This week the UFC announced that with Evans's busted hand, Jon Jones will face Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on December 10. While the matchup between these two high-level light heavyweights will be nearly impossible for the MMA Media and fans alike to predict a clear-cut winner, one thing is for certain: "Suga" Rashad Evans will be in that cage after the fight awaiting the winner. 

In either instance the winner poses an interesting dilemma for Evans. In Lyoto Machida, you have a man who utterly decimated Rashad in their UFC 98 meeting which resulted in a title loss for The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 winner. However, if the more aggressive version of Rashad that we saw at UFC 133 shows up, then it could be an entirely different type of fight. 

With Jones you have a matchup that everyone's been salivating for since the 24-year-old won the title in March. From a marketing standpoint this would work better for the UFC. These two really can't stand each other, and it's pretty obvious from Evans's appearance during Jones's post-fight victory over Rampage Jackson last month. 

In Jones, he sees a betrayer and someone who is standing in the way of him getting back on top. In addition, you can't help but get the feeling that there is a level of jealousy over Jones skyrocketing to stardom; Jones was immediately accepted and adored by fans during his championship climb while Evans faced a high level of scrutiny and animosity all throughout his career. 

Whatever the outcome may be in December, Rashad will definitely be next in line... just Waitin' and Hatin'.