UFC president Dana White announced late Wednesday that former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will replace the injured Phil Davis and take on Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 133 at Wells Fargo Center.
Ortiz and Evans previously fought to a spirited draw at UFC 73 way back in July 2007 and they’ll look to settle the score in the City of Brotherly Love next month.
Ortiz, who recently upset Ryan Bader in under two minutes, was reportedly White's second choice after Lyoto Machida.
UK based Fighter's Only spoke with Machida's wife/manager Fabyola, who said it was too short of notice for the fight.
"The fight is close and for the sake of professionalism we can not accept it," she said. "We always do our best, but there is only a few weeks [until the fight] and it wouldn't be fair on the fans to put in a bad performance."
Ortiz also originally balked.
"I have a life and things to take care of," Ortiz said on Twitter. "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!"
The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, who commands about $500,000 per fight in base salary, was likely lured by points on the pay-per-view buy rate, making this a likely seven figure payday for him.
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