UFC 133
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Tito Ortiz Will Fight Rashad Evans at UFC 133 After All, According to Dana White
By Ben Fowlkes
MMA Writer
030
It was the fight that Tito Ortiz simply couldn't be talked into...until he was. Less than 24 hours after explaining via Twitter that he had turned down the fight because he had "a life and things to take care of," Ortiz was in against Rashad Evans at UFC 133 according to a tweet from UFC president Dana White.
"Get ready philly for Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz!!! Aug 6th LIVE on PPV at the Wells Fargo Center!!!!!!" White wrote at around 7:30 pm ET.
Ortiz's Twitter response was a more muted one some fifteen minutes before, as he wrote simply, "Only for the UFC!"
The move ended a furious day's worth of speculation about who would fill in for the injured Phil Davis on short notice, with both Ortiz and former UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida reportedly turning down the fight.
Ortiz seemed especially immovable in his initial response, explaining via Twitter:
"I have a life and things to take care of. The fight game is about making the right choices of my career. If you knew what I have been going through you all would understand. Peaking for a fight is what makes a fighter unstoppable! Timing is everything in life. This is a rebuild year for me not do or die. The time will come again! #positive"
Ortiz and Evans first met in the cage at UFC 73 in July of 2007, where they fought to a somewhat controversial draw after Ortiz was docked a point for grabbing the fence to avoid a takedown.
Ortiz would go on to lose three straight before salvaging his UFC career with an upset victory over Ryan Bader at UFC 132 earlier this month. Accepting the fight with Evans means he'll have just five weeks between bouts, and a little over three weeks to prepare, leaving him little time for the "peaking" phase that seemed so vital to him less than a day ago.
As for Evans, the move saves him from having to wait even longer for a fight after sitting out since May of 2010 waiting for his promised title shot, only to have then-teammate Jon Jones take his place after a knee injury sidelined him in the spring.
By Ben Fowlkes
MMA Writer
030
It was the fight that Tito Ortiz simply couldn't be talked into...until he was. Less than 24 hours after explaining via Twitter that he had turned down the fight because he had "a life and things to take care of," Ortiz was in against Rashad Evans at UFC 133 according to a tweet from UFC president Dana White.
"Get ready philly for Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz!!! Aug 6th LIVE on PPV at the Wells Fargo Center!!!!!!" White wrote at around 7:30 pm ET.
Ortiz's Twitter response was a more muted one some fifteen minutes before, as he wrote simply, "Only for the UFC!"
The move ended a furious day's worth of speculation about who would fill in for the injured Phil Davis on short notice, with both Ortiz and former UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida reportedly turning down the fight.
Ortiz seemed especially immovable in his initial response, explaining via Twitter:
"I have a life and things to take care of. The fight game is about making the right choices of my career. If you knew what I have been going through you all would understand. Peaking for a fight is what makes a fighter unstoppable! Timing is everything in life. This is a rebuild year for me not do or die. The time will come again! #positive"
Ortiz and Evans first met in the cage at UFC 73 in July of 2007, where they fought to a somewhat controversial draw after Ortiz was docked a point for grabbing the fence to avoid a takedown.
Ortiz would go on to lose three straight before salvaging his UFC career with an upset victory over Ryan Bader at UFC 132 earlier this month. Accepting the fight with Evans means he'll have just five weeks between bouts, and a little over three weeks to prepare, leaving him little time for the "peaking" phase that seemed so vital to him less than a day ago.
As for Evans, the move saves him from having to wait even longer for a fight after sitting out since May of 2010 waiting for his promised title shot, only to have then-teammate Jon Jones take his place after a knee injury sidelined him in the spring.
Matt Hamill replaces Vladimir Matyushenko, meets Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 133
Matt Hamill (10-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has replaced Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and now meets fellow light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at UFC 133.
Officials today announced the change to the card.
A representative for Matyushenko told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the fighter was forced off the card due to an injury but didn't disclose details.
UFC 133 takes place Aug. 6 at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, though Hamill vs. Gustafsson is slated for a "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV.
Just today UFC president Dana White mentioned Matyushenko as a possible replacement for injured UFC 133 headliner Phil Davis. However, Tito Ortiz ultimately took the spot.
Hamill fights for the first time since a lopsided (and late-notice) decision loss to Quinton Jackson in UFC 130's headliner. Prior to the defeat, the decorated amateur wrestler had earned five straight UFC victories, which included decision victories over Tito Ortiz and Keith Jardine and a head-kick knockout of Mark Munoz. The stretch also included a disqualification win (due to illegal elbow strikes) over now-champ Jon Jones in 2009.
While seven of Gustafsson's first nine career victories came via knockout, the 24-year-old Swedish prospect recently has posted back-to-back submission victories (over Cyrille Diabate and James Te Huna). His lone career loss came to unbeaten contender Phil Davis at UFC 112, which followed a KO win over Jared Hamann in his late-2009 octagon debut. The UFC 133 fight marks Gustafsson's first-ever bout in the U.S.
Matt Hamill (10-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has replaced Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and now meets fellow light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at UFC 133.
Officials today announced the change to the card.
A representative for Matyushenko told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the fighter was forced off the card due to an injury but didn't disclose details.
UFC 133 takes place Aug. 6 at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, though Hamill vs. Gustafsson is slated for a "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV.
Just today UFC president Dana White mentioned Matyushenko as a possible replacement for injured UFC 133 headliner Phil Davis. However, Tito Ortiz ultimately took the spot.
Hamill fights for the first time since a lopsided (and late-notice) decision loss to Quinton Jackson in UFC 130's headliner. Prior to the defeat, the decorated amateur wrestler had earned five straight UFC victories, which included decision victories over Tito Ortiz and Keith Jardine and a head-kick knockout of Mark Munoz. The stretch also included a disqualification win (due to illegal elbow strikes) over now-champ Jon Jones in 2009.
While seven of Gustafsson's first nine career victories came via knockout, the 24-year-old Swedish prospect recently has posted back-to-back submission victories (over Cyrille Diabate and James Te Huna). His lone career loss came to unbeaten contender Phil Davis at UFC 112, which followed a KO win over Jared Hamann in his late-2009 octagon debut. The UFC 133 fight marks Gustafsson's first-ever bout in the U.S.
Nogueira forced out at UFC 133; promotion seeking replacement to face Franklin
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva must be experiencing a horrible case of déjà vu.
UFC 133 has experienced another high-profile loss in the light heavyweight division as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has been forced to withdraw from a planned matchup with Rich Franklin (28-6 MMA, 13-5 UFC).
The UFC is currently seeking a replacement opponent for "Ace."
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed the withdrawal, which was first reported by Tatame.com, with UFC president Dana White.
A shoulder injury suffered in training is reportedly the culprit. A timetable for Nogueira's return was not immediately evident.
Featuring a recently announced main-event rematch between former light heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, UFC 133 takes place Aug. 6 at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center.
Silva and UFC brass have gone through similar headaches trying to keep the evening's main event booked after Jon Jones was unable to accept a planned bout with Evans, and replacement opponent Phil Davis was also forced to withdraw from the bout. Ortiz recently stepped in to save the event after initially declining to take part.
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva must be experiencing a horrible case of déjà vu.
UFC 133 has experienced another high-profile loss in the light heavyweight division as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has been forced to withdraw from a planned matchup with Rich Franklin (28-6 MMA, 13-5 UFC).
The UFC is currently seeking a replacement opponent for "Ace."
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed the withdrawal, which was first reported by Tatame.com, with UFC president Dana White.
A shoulder injury suffered in training is reportedly the culprit. A timetable for Nogueira's return was not immediately evident.
Featuring a recently announced main-event rematch between former light heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, UFC 133 takes place Aug. 6 at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center.
Silva and UFC brass have gone through similar headaches trying to keep the evening's main event booked after Jon Jones was unable to accept a planned bout with Evans, and replacement opponent Phil Davis was also forced to withdraw from the bout. Ortiz recently stepped in to save the event after initially declining to take part.
With Nogueira out, Franklin also scratched from August's UFC 133 event
It looks like the UFC finally ran out of options.
After a hectic pace of shuffling in light heavyweights to key UFC 133 matchups, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was finally forced to admit defeat.
UFC officials today announced that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira's withdrawal from the Aug. 6 event has forced the cancellation of a planned co-feature contest with Rich Franklin.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported Nogueira's withdrawal late Saturday night.
A shoulder injury suffered in training is reportedly the culprit. A timetable for Nogueira's return was not immediately evident.
Featuring a recently announced main-event rematch between former light-heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, UFC 133 takes place Aug. 6 at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, and Franklin vs. Nogueira was slated as the broadcast's co-headliner.
With the change, Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama has been promoted to co-main event status, and preliminary card matchup between Brian Ebersole and Dennis Hallman has been bumped up to the evening's main card.
With the change, the UFC 133 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Vitor Belfort
Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle
Brian Ebersole vs. Dennis Hallman
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Matt Hamill
Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Ivan Menjivar vs. Nick Pace
Johny Hendricks vs. Mike Pierce
Mike Brown vs. Nam Phan
Rafael "Sapo" Natal vs. Costantinos Phillippou
It looks like the UFC finally ran out of options.
After a hectic pace of shuffling in light heavyweights to key UFC 133 matchups, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was finally forced to admit defeat.
UFC officials today announced that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira's withdrawal from the Aug. 6 event has forced the cancellation of a planned co-feature contest with Rich Franklin.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported Nogueira's withdrawal late Saturday night.
A shoulder injury suffered in training is reportedly the culprit. A timetable for Nogueira's return was not immediately evident.
Featuring a recently announced main-event rematch between former light-heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, UFC 133 takes place Aug. 6 at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, and Franklin vs. Nogueira was slated as the broadcast's co-headliner.
With the change, Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama has been promoted to co-main event status, and preliminary card matchup between Brian Ebersole and Dennis Hallman has been bumped up to the evening's main card.
With the change, the UFC 133 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Vitor Belfort
Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle
Brian Ebersole vs. Dennis Hallman
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Matt Hamill
Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Ivan Menjivar vs. Nick Pace
Johny Hendricks vs. Mike Pierce
Mike Brown vs. Nam Phan
Rafael "Sapo" Natal vs. Costantinos Phillippou