• UFC 133

Legend Ortiz steps in to face Rashad at UFC 133

ESPN staff
July 14, 2011
Tito Ortiz will hope to pull out his famous celebration once again at UFC 133 against Rashad Evans © Getty Images
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Tito Ortiz has answered the UFC's call to fight Rashad Evans on three weeks' notice at UFC 133, in a move that could earn the Huntington Beach Bad Boy a title shot.

Chaos erupted when Phil Davis was forced out of the main event by a knee injury, leaving the UFC targeting Ortiz or Lyoto Machida as a replacement.

President Dana White first met resistance from Ortiz, but the former light-heavyweight champion has had a change of heart, meaning he will fight Evans just one month and four days after he defeated Ryan Bader at UFC 132.

A statement on the UFC's official website confirmed: "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."

Ortiz v Evans II represents a hugely significant rematch, after they battled to a draw back in 2007. Ortiz has always maintained he should have won that fight, due to a point deduction for holding the fence - delivered by the ref without prior warning.

With reigning champion Jon Jones facing Rampage Jackson later this year, victory for Evans is expected to result in a title shot. Now the same could be said of Ortiz, who was once the dominant force at 205lbs.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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