Rashad Evans moving to middleweight

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is moving down a weight class.

The 36-year-old announced his decision to drop down to middleweight on Monday when appearing on "The MMA Hour," and also cleared up reports that he would be fighting Tim Kennedy at UFC 205.

"I can tell you I'm working towards that in making my cut down to middleweight," Evans told host Ariel Helwani, according to MMA Fighting's Danny Segura. "As far as the opponent, nothing has been set in stone. There has been talks about a fight with Tim Kennedy, but other fights too as well, but nothing has been signed yet. I had Ali (Evans' manager) with Joe Silva trying to set something up but nothing has been finalized yet."

Evans (24-5-1) will take on the difficult task of dropping 20 pounds after losing his last two fights. The New York native has suffered four of his five career losses through his last six matches and believes its time for a new challenge if he's to continue his fighting career.

"The thing about it is the fact that it is a tough cut but at some point I feel like I need just to kind of start over again, kind of get something fresh," said Evans. "And 185 is weight class that I've always thought about going but really never put the time and the discipline to make it happen and, you know, coming off two fights losing, I just want to find the way to bring some life back to wanting to compete again I feel like dropping to 185 is the best choice."

With UFC 205 taking place in his home state in November, Evans says the event would be an "absolutely perfect" opportunity to make a debut in his new weight class.