Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz II official for UFC 133 Main Event
Posted on July 13, 2011, 06:47 PM by Joey SantosusNearly 24 hours after Phil Davis was forced out his UFC 133 bout against Rashad Evans, the hunt for a replacement has come to its conclusion.
UFC President Dana White has announced via Twitter that the August 6th main event from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will feature Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz after all.
"The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" had intially refused the fight, citing poor timing as his reason for declining. However, after Lyoto Machida also turned down the match-up, leaving the promotion short on options, it appears the UFC veteran has had a change of heart.
Ortiz (16-8-1) comes into the bout riding high off of his recent career-saving submission victory over top prospect Ryan Bader at UFC 132. The win was the former champ's first in nearly five years, having dropped four out of his previous five outings. The string of defeats were interrupted by only a single draw, which came against Evans in their first meeting back at UFC 73 in 2007.
Evans (15-1-1), meanwhile, will step into the octagon for the first time since defeating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson more than a year ago. The victory was his tenth under the UFC banner, with his lone career loss coming against Lyoto Machida in their 2009 title fight.
The once again complete UFC 133 event is set to take place August 6th from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Evans vs. Ortiz II will headline the stacked card, while Rich Franklin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will go head to head in the co-main event.
Photo: Tito Ortiz enters the arena during UFC 73 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA on July 7, 2007. Photo credit: Francis Specker
Comments
lol - Tito can't make up his mind ... glad he took the fight though, didn't need another main even scrapped.
I think this fight could be pretty marketable too. Tito coming off his 'dominating' win over Bader + the draw these two had a few years back, definitely some unfinished business to resolve.
Good fight....hard fight to pick but mite go with Tito via decision, even tho I think Evans is a better MMA fighter that long lay off will hurt him imo n thats mainly y im gonna go wit Tito
This seriously works in Rashad's favor. Much better for him than fighting Machida after a year and months off. Rashad takes this one, but it should be interesting in terms of Rashad's new way of doing things.
Mannnnn not sure was a good decision body doesn't have time to recoop
and rebuild to peak position by the fight he is older now not sure he can keep up with Rashad with Bader he did have side to side movement
Rashad can bee like a spider monkey sometimes but it has been
awhile since in the ring for Rashad ....we will find out if injuries Tito had
effected him or if needed an excuses
Glad to see someone took this fight, Honestly hope Tito does win
Tito earned $450,000 in his fight with Ryan Bader at UFC 132. With that amount of money, he can just take it and not fight for a long time unlike the lower bracket fighters who need to keep on fighting just to earn a living. He got his money so he's gone until UFC talked him into taking the fight because if they didn't. UFC 133 would have no bankable Main Event which is not good for UFC.
Definitely. Especially with the main event PPV cut.
Atta baby, Tito. Way to step up.
Wonder how much persuasion Dana had to do.
maybe a seven figure persuasion did.
Hopefully this goes the way of Chris Leben for Tito and not Rick Story (though that was the other way around)
I'm glad Tito stepped up for this fight.
looking forward for this fight gotta give tito props for stepping in !!
Tito on momentum at the moment (lets hope it doesnt end up like Rick Story).
Had a Draw against Rashad before, he could of won it if it werent for point deduction. Tito in good fighting shape recently fighting with next to no damage/injury. Rashad hasnt fought since May 2010
Not that I'm a fairweather fan or anything, but Tito won me. He is getting some serious hype right now, and its justified.
Tito manned up!
Machida manned down
I'd man down against a guy I already knocked out already. Especially after turning Rashad into that crazy ass pic of him online.
Get a clue, there is no way Machida could be ready for Evans in time. Tito is fresh off a quick win and should be right near peak in training.
You're not catching rashaud
This is HUGE for Tito in my opinion.
Just coming off a win from a Ryan Bader, who has only really lost to the champ, Jon Jones.
Also, Rashad gonna fight after being out for a year and some change with a knee injury. Personally, I think that is a long time to be sitting out. Especially coming off an injury with no warm up fight. Look what happened to shogun. Also, Im pretty sure Rashad isn't with Greg Jackson's Camp anymore.
So I have Tito winning this fight. It will be tough, Rashad is no joke. But odds are against Evans in my eyes.
Tito had a great win but I feel this is too much too soon. He is just coming off his first win in 4 years and is now facing aruagbly the #2 LHW in the world and a much improved fighter since their last meeting.
I think if Rashad took care of Rampage he shouldn't have any troubles taking otu Tito, unless cage rust plays a HUGE factor. This is a step down in wrestling but step up in striking from his orignal opponent.
Ethier way the fight goes, MASSIVE props to Tito for steppign up and helping the UFC out in a difficult moment and hopefully he doesn't get cut if he is beaten.
Evans by fairly competetive Dec.
Crazy world - Tito one fight away from a title shot - you tell me that 3 weeks ago I call you bananas!
you and me both, but great opportunity for Tito
I think it'll be a great fight. We might get to see Rashad throw a combo!
great Job Tito
At first I might have said bad move. Too fight back 2 back like that can drain a fighter, just see RICK STORY. But the difference is Story's fight with Alves went the distance and was a grueling match, whereas Tito ended his with Bader pretty quickly. The key I think is Rashad's ring rust. Tito is fresher and I think hungrier and will WIN!!
This could be really bad for Rashad should he lose. After Tito's performance against Bader, and the fact that Rashad has been out of commission for so long, its not unlikely that Tito could win.
karma works in funny ways Tito postponed his release from the UFC for a month. Honestly he should have just stayed with his original answer, the fans would be pissed but for Tito himself it would have been the best move
I am pretty sure he knows, and he made it that one of the agreement (If Tito is smart) is to make sure Tito don't get cut if he loses since he is doing them a HUGE favor.
This isn't a very good move for Tito but I can see why he is taking the fight. Rashad is a lot better then Bader and Rashad has shown before that rust doesn't effect him at all.
Cmon Tito! "Make it a win!"
maybe he was promised a title shot if he won
I'm not a big Tito fan but i would like to see him win this fight, just because it would make the comeback of Ortiz more legit. I think the two big questions are is Tito going to have enough time to train and get a good gameplan, and is Rashad's time away going to play a part in the fight.
Tito can pull off a "Leben" in 2011 and his right back in the mix,although I don't care,you are still a douche Tito! =D
yes! so happy someone stepped up cuz this will be my first UFC experience and i didn't want to see the main event scrapped !!!
thanks for nothing machida! he prolly couldn't get steven segal in time to prepare for the fight
I HAVE OFFICIAL 133 predictions on my YouTube account..Check it out Ya DiGG?!
MikeyBizzle4Shizzle
It is funny how from just a month period a lot of people went from hating on Tito to supporting him. As much of a pain in the ass he is, you have got to give him props for the determination this man has.
good move tito for making fans, first time i'll be rooting for him!
but its a combo of respecting tito and disliking evans :)
Way to go Tito, I knew if I gave you enough sh*t you would man up!
Chuck Liddell must be pissed watching Tito's recent success.
I was losing hope for him and maybe he got a bit lucky in the Bader fight, but good for him.
I've always respected Tito for standing up for the other UFC fighters years ago, to help them get paid decently.
..
And I think he can take it again. Especially cus he's coming of a good win off bader and rashad has the hole cage rust thing and his win over rampage was blaaahh.
Never thought I'd be saying this but here goes: Go Tito! Not sure If I agree with his taking this fight, Rashad is no slouch. But Tito is showing that he has some serious stones to take this one on.
tito gets my respect for this one. i hope he makes it to the fight. he drew last time cause he held the fence, but rashad was really starting to find his game. i thought rashad won the first fight and i think he'll win this one. but if tito win, he's right back in the middle of it. nobody sells a fight better than tito even if the fight doesn't live up to the hype.
Not worth being a headline fight (IMO).
Look at Tito's stance when he fights .. he has to be the most prone fighter to lead leg kicks i have ever seen. He has so much weight on that leg that he couldn't check kicks if he wanted to.
Rashad will make short work of Tito ..
His win against Bader was a fluke. If they fought 10 times Bader would probably beat him 9.
Rashad is the better all rounder and is definately the better striker imo but i would give Ortiz better odds than most seem to be giving him, on his experience alone for one, i'm hoping he has found a new zest for the sport and is going in to win and not just for the fat paycheck. In his prime Tito could beat most of the guys he's lost to, i just really hope he has that hunger again. I actually think Rashad will win, especially if Tito doesn't go in with the right mindset but i'm hoping he will get the 'W' and shock everyone again.......