Mixed martial arts star fears being without a job with another loss.
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans admits his back is up against the wall ahead of his next bout against Dan Henderson on June 15.
Despite being a veteran of 21 fights and one of the most recognisable faces in the sport, Evans believes one more disappointing loss could see him handed his walking papers by UFC president Dana White.
If Evans does not get a stoppage or a decision in his fight against Henderson it will be his third in a row after being beaten comfortably by Jon Jones for the title before losing to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
White said he would not have any problems cutting fighters if their performances are not up to the standard required for the world’s leader mixed martial arts promotion.
“There’s 100 more guys that are gonna go. It’s not over,” White said following the UFC 157 press conference.
“We have 475 guys under contract. We have over 100 guys too many. We have over 100 guys too many on the roster right now. What’s going to happen is, if you lose, the blood has not all been spilled yet. There’s more coming.”
White is not afraid of cutting big names either, with his decision to parts ways with Jon Fitch underlying how serious the cutback is.
However, ahead of his bout with Henderson, Evans believes he has all of the motivation to keep his UFC career going.
“This is the type of fight that keeps you up at night, because you want to do well,” Evans said.
“My back is against the wall, and this is when I perform at my best.
“In the fight business, you’re only as good as your next fight. If you lose two or three then you’re done. My manager Bill Robinson always says, ‘You’re either one fight away from getting a title shot and becoming champion or you’re two losses away from being cut from UFC'”.
Before his last two losses, Evans was on a four fight winning streak which included victories over Phil Davis, Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson and Thiago Silva.
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