UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz Preview, Predictions
Cursed, injury plagued, weak are just some of the alternate names fans and media have coined for Saturdays UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz card. Cursed, maybe, injury plagued, hell yes, but weak is a bit much for a card that sports five former UFC/WEC champions.
Third time was the charm for the night main event as it was originally thought to be Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans for the light heavyweight title. After Jones claimed an injury, Phil Davis stepped in to face Evans. Just over three weeks before the fight Davis was forced of the card and the UFC called on Tito Ortiz just 10 days after defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 132. Ortiz originally declined the fight but when the UFC approached him again he accepted the rematch from UFC 73.
Yes Ortiz and Evans first locked horns over four years ago at UFC 73 in Sacramento, California. The fight was closely contested bout that had Ortiz winning the fight, until he grabbed the cage and was thus deducted a point, which caused the 28-28 draw. The two former light heavyweight champions will now get to settle their draw inside the Octagon, while headlining a pay per view.
A middleweight bout between Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Vitor Belfort was quickly promoted to co-main event following an injury to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who was set to face Rich Franklin. The former UFC light heavyweight champion (Belfort) will look to bounce back after being “seagal’d” by Anderson Silva in the first round at UFC 126.
Rounding out the main card will be three bouts that on paper should be action packed and highly entertaining. Welterweights Rory MacDonald takes on Veteran Mike Pyle, while Brian Ebersole and Dennis Hallman square off. The final main card bout is middleweights Costantinos Philippou vs. Jorge Rivera, who had been hinting at retirement leading up to the bout.
UFC 133 features 11 overall bouts that will air on Facebook (2:45pm PT/ 5:45pm ET), SpikeTV (5pm PT/ 8pm ET) and close out on PPV (6pm PT/ 9pm ET).
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz – Rashad Evans
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Vitor Belfort – Yoshihiro Akiyama
Brian Ebersole vs. Dennis Hallman – Dennis Hallman
Constantinos Philippou vs. Jorge Rivera – Jorge Rivera
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle – Rory MacDonald
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Matt Hamill – Alexander Gustafsson
ChadMendes vs. Rani Yahya – Chad Mendes
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Ivan Menjivar vs. Nick Pace – Ivan Menjivar
Johny Hendricks vs. Mike Pierce – Johny Hendricks
Mike Brown vs. NamPhan – Mike Brown
Paul Bradley vs. Rafael “Sapo” Natal – Paul Bradley
Related Posts:
- Welterweights Mike Pyle and Rory MacDonald Added to UFC 133 Fight Card
- UFC 133 Fight Card and Presale Info
- UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz 2 – A look at the Main Card
- Phil Davis out of UFC 133 with Knee Injury
- Johny Hendricks to Meet Mike Pierce at UFC 133
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