Rashad Evans: I Won’t Fight Any Teammate Again, Including Vitor Belfort

Vitor Belfort turned down a fight with Strikeforce import Tim Kennedy and looks like his boss’ suggestion to fight Rashad Evans isn’t happening either.

However, this time “The Phenom” isn’t the one to blame.

Speaking with ESPN, “Suga” made it quite clear that he isn’t fighting a teammate ever again.

“I won't fight Vitor," Evans said. "I won't fight Thiago Silva. I won't fight Cezar ‘Mutante’ Ferreira. I won't fight anybody who I train with! I made that mistake before, and I won't do that again. I lost a lot of relationships because I did that before."

After Jon Jones won the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 128 in March 2011, Evans decided he was done training alongside the new champ at Greg Jackson’s MMA.

Instead, Evans began training in Florida, at the Jaco Hybrid Training Center in Boca Raton. Since the new camp was founded by Brazilian and African-American fighters, it is more commonly referred to as “The Blackzilians.”

Evans has posted a 3-2 record since switching camps, most recently scoring a solid decision win over former PRIDE and Strikeforce champ Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in June.

UFC President Dana White, during a promotional appearance in New York Wednesday, told Ariel Helwani that if Belfort wasn’t going to fight Kennedy, he’d like to see the Brazilian knockout specialist square off with Evans.

Looks like that won’t be happening either.

Meanwhile, Belfort has been demanding a middleweight title shot for weeks now, ever since Chris Weidman beat Anderson Silva for the strap at UFC 162, but White has been adamant that the former light heavyweight titleholder will have to wait for Weidman-Silva II to play out.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian, that rematch doesn’t take place until UFC 168, scheduled for December 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Tuesday, Belfort suggested a grudge match with Chael Sonnen at a catchweight, also at UFC 168, but White has since shot down that idea too.

What opponent makes the most sense for The Phenom to fight next?