UFC
Tito Ortiz changes tune, will now fight Rashad Evans at UFC 133 in Philadelphia
Jul 13, 2011 - 9:05:24 PM Tito Ortiz changes tune, will now fight Rashad Evans at UFC 133 in Philadelphia

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Tito Ortiz has changed his mind, and after initially turning down a short notice rematch with Rashad Evans at UFC 133, he will now indeed take that fight.

UFC President Dana White posted on Twitter that Ortiz has stepped up to the plate, and will take on Evans in the UFC 133 main event after Phil Davis was forced out of the event with a knee injury.

Evans and Ortiz squared off at UFC 73 in July of 2007, fighting to a draw on the middle of the card. The fight was Ortiz's first after getting finished by Chuck Liddell at UFC 66 in what was, at the time, the biggest selling pay-per-view event in UFC history; and had it not been for a point deduction that led to the draw, Ortiz would have won split decision in the fight.

After the draw, Ortiz lost his next three fights over a three year span, but snapped his five fight unbeaten streak just 11 days ago with a surprising first round submission of Ryan Bader at UFC 132.

Since their fight four years ago, Evans has captured and lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Title, posting a 5-1 mark in six fights. Coming off a 15 month layoff, Evans would earn a shot at the winner of the UFC 135 main event between Jon Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Lyoto Machida had also been approached for this fight, but White told Mauro Ranallo that Machida asked for "Anderson Silva money" to take the fight, and ultimately turned it down when that wasn't offered.

UFC 133 airs live on pay-per-view from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Penn. on August 6.

Penick's Analysis: Ortiz's initial denial may have just been a negotiating ploy to get more money, and when Machida refused the fight I'm sure it led to him getting what he wanted to take this. This is a smart booking for the UFC, as Ortiz had a great moment just 11 days ago and legitimately came close to beating Evans the first time. For Evans, it's a much friendlier matchup to keep his title shot in line than a fight with Machida would have been, and this actually makes for a much bigger marquee fight than the original matchup against Phil Davis.

[Tito Ortiz art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]