But hoping and believing are two entirely different things.
That's why, when pressed for a prediction, Rashad Evans chose his former teammate, Jon Jones, to successfully defend his light heavyweight title when he takes on Quinton Jackson at UFC 135 on Sept. 24.
It's not because he wants to pick "Bones," though.
No, it has more to do with "Rampage" and the fact that he's still riding around on the fumes of his old Pride days, back when he was a dominant wrestler with big knockout power as opposed to a flat-footed boxer with no mat skills.
At least, that's the perception, anyway.
Here's how Evans explained it to MMAWeekly.com when giving his prediction for the upcoming 205-pound championship match-up:
"I think it's going to be Jon Jones. I would like to see Rampage catch him with something, but I honestly believe Rampage is not doing what he needs to do, and he's not going to do what he needs to do to win the title. He's just been living off of fumes of his Pride days, and he really needs to go and take things seriously. If he took things seriously, I think he might be able to do something, but he ain't trying to take nothing serious."
Evans has, of course, a heavily vested interest in this fight, considering the fact that if he defeats Tito Ortiz at UFC 133, he will take on the winner.
And while he claims he consistently got the better of Jones in the training rooms down in New Mexico at Greg Jackson's MMA, it's different once the cage door closes and Bruce Buffer is reminding you you are live on pay-per-view.
Plus, he already went toe-to-toe with Jackson and came away no worse for the wear in victory.
Is that why he would like to see "Rampage" defeat "Bones" in Denver? Because he thinks he has a better chance of winning a rematch against the former? Perhaps he's a little bit worried about a prospective bout against the latter?
Or maybe it's just bad blood between brothers bringing beastly bile out of Rashad.
Either way, think his prediction comes true?
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