Tito Ortiz, not Lyoto vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 133

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The stakes have just gotten higher for UFC 133 main eventer Rashad Evans, as the former light heavyweight champion will now face an old rival, Tito Ortiz, on the August 6th card in Philadelphia after his original opponent, Phil Davis, was forced out of the bout due to injury.

The two originally met in July of 2007, battling to a three round draw. Ortiz is coming off a UFC 132 win over Ryan Bader, and now he’s back to battle Evans just one month later.

UFC.com

This is bad news for Tito but I give him a ton of credit for taking this fight on such short notice. That's a move that a "company man" would do, not someone like Tito who is not in Dana's best graces.

Since their last fight Rashad has improved a lot while Tito is still the same fighter. As much as I'd love to see Ortiz pull off another upset I just don't see it happening.

Man, well at least Tito gets to ride high for a month....

And here's why Machida turned down the fight:

Machida Turned Down Fight Due to Professionalism

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Machida’s spouse, Fabyola Machida, informed Sherdog.com on Wednesday that her husband will not take the place of the injured Phil Davis at the Aug. 6 event. However, the former UFC light heavyweight champion’s wife explained, it was not a one-sided decision to turn down the short-notice fight.

“The UFC called him [Tuesday] to offer him the fight,” Mrs. Machida said, “but after a conference, Lyoto, his managers and the UFC representatives decided it wouldn’t be a good decision for him to fight. It would even show a lack of professionalism on Lyoto’s part to take the fight, having such a short period to train.”

After retiring Randy Couture with a stunning front-kick knockout at UFC 129, Machida rejoined the ranks of UFC’s top 205-pounders. According to his wife, a title shot wasn’t guaranteed if he were to beat Evans. Even knowing this, Machida considered accepting the offer from Zuffa, but used the reason to deny it.

“What he told me is that thinking ‘with the heart of a fighter,’ he would take the fight,” Mrs. Machida revealed. “But his professionalism made him turn down the fight. No one is playing anymore [in professional MMA], everyone is very focused and serious, so it would be silliness to accept. To take the chance to not fight as well as he could if he was prepared, would be giving a chance to unluckiness. ‘Be prepared’ is one of his principles.

I hope it's another draw.

Hell yes, then that will set up an epic 3rd fight!

Dont like Tito,Dont like rashad, dont like the card. Belfort and sexy is the only fight that really looks any appealing.

Professionalism? Demanding Anderson Silva money with a record that's nowhere close to Silva's isn't exactly what a professional does. Thanks for KICKING COUTURE IN THE FACE AND RETIRING HIM FOREVER, and I sincerely mean that, but you're not Anderson Silva.

I can see him wanting a bonus for taking the fight on short notice but not "Anderson Silva money". You're 2-2 in your last 4, with one of those wins begin a controversial decision (where he was KO'd in the rematch) and the other a win over Couture. Don't get a big head there Lyoto...