Rashad Evans: 3 Opponents for His Next Fight Before the Title Shot

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans may be the unluckiest fighter in MMA and, once again, he will have to wait for the winner of another LHW championship fight, this time between champion Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.

Instead of making the same mistake again, UFC president Dana White wants Evans to fight again and says he probably will before he takes on the winner of Jones-Machida.

If he chooses to do so, it will be another warm-up bout after his knockout victory over Tito Ortiz in August, and that's all he should be looking for with his shot secured for early 2012.

These are three opponents he could face before he gets his shot.

No. 3: Rafael Cavalcante

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael Cavalcante (11-1) is one of the more exciting light heavyweights fighting, and his 10 knockout victories in 11 wins has a lot of people talking about his potential if he ever signs with the UFC.

Cavalcante is still signed under contract with Strikeforce, but with the promotion being under the Zuffa banner, the Team Black House member could make the move to the UFC and provide some very interesting matchups—like Dan Henderson recently did by re-signing with the UFC to take on Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

No. 2: Rich Franklin

Former UFC middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin (28-6) was recently scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133 before the Brazilian was forced to pull out of the fight, leaving Franklin without an opponent and a fight.

With no opponent announced for Franklin's next fight, Evans can take on the challenge against the former champion and it could definitely be the fight he needs to stay in fight mode before his even bigger challenge versus the winner of Jones vs. Machida.

The light-heavyweight division isn't stacked with many up-and-comers, but it does have its superstars, and Franklin is still one of them that can draw an audience.

Franklin also admitted he is only interested in fighting big-name fighters, so a fight with Evans is one he would have no problem taking.

No. 1: Phil Davis

Phil Davis (9-0) was supposed to face Evans at UFC 133 before the former NCAA Division I wrestler pulled out of the fight due to a knee injury.

When a bout with Machida was talked about for UFC 140, it was learned that the 27-year-old is still recovering from his injury.

Evans could possibly face him as soon as the injury is healed, but it might not come before 2012. With Jones fighting for the fourth time this year, there is a good chance he will want enough time off if he beats Machida to make Evans wait even longer, which will leave plenty of time for this fight to be made.