Should you thought issues with the World Struggle League (GFL) had been a circus after the draft, issues took much more of a activate Jan. 25 because of a declare on social media made by Rashad Evans.
Evans, a former UFC mild heavyweight champion, was introduced by the promotion to have been drafted to the GFL workforce based mostly in Los Angeles as considered one of its two mild heavyweight opponents, with the opposite being Da Woon Jung.
This caught the eye of one other legendary former champion in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson — a longtime rival of Evans’. The 2 have been pegged to reignite their rivalry with a boxing bout in April, with “Suga” confirming these plans in November.
Jackson, through social media, requested the way it was attainable for Evans to be drafted by the promotion because of their booked bout.
Properly, in response to Evans, he by no means agreed to be a part of such a draft.
I’m NOT!! Let me be clear! The one dedication I’ve is to put yo ass out in April!! I used to be added to this with out my consent!! You ain’t off the hook that simple!
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) January 25, 2025
If Evans’ declare is true, that is the newest in a collection of complicated strikes and criticism the promotion is already dealing with earlier than an occasion is even scheduled.
The GFL got here below hearth for a number of causes in regard to its draft, from a stream for such an occasion not being arrange till the day of, to the pacing of the draft broadcast, to the AI-created introduction video and content material.
There’s additionally the truth that the complete groups had been launched in full after the fifth spherical, regardless of the promotion’s declare that this was to be a “reside” draft.
This information additionally brings hypothesis on fighters truly having signed with the promotion into query. Examples of this embody Tony Ferguson signing with the GFL regardless of the UFC having not formally launched him, in addition to the promotion claiming to have signed Kenny Mokhonoana, who then fought on the PFL Champions Sequence card the day after the GFL Draft.
