• UFC 133

Machida defiant over Evans demands

ESPN staff
August 21, 2011
Rashad Evans got the better of Tito Ortiz at UFC 133 © Getty Images
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Lyoto Machida claims he does not regret asking for big money to fight Rashad Evans at UFC 133 following the withdrawal of Evans' initial opponent Phil Davis.

Tito Ortiz was UFC president Dana White's first choice to replace Davis but, when he declined, White turned his attention to Brazil's Machida.

However, Machida reportedly asked for more cash than White was willing to offer - a request that prompted White to go back to Ortiz who, second time round, accepted.

Machida, who is expected to fight Davis next in his first bout since beating Randy Couture, remains unapologetic for his actions.

"I ask forgiveness for the misunderstanding, but not for what I've done, because I was not wrong," Machida told Terra Esportes. "I never accepted the fight. I was coming back from injury and I had only been training for two weeks. In fact this training routine was only to keep in shape, and not for fighting.

"To patch a pothole, the price is different. It's my career on the line. As I've said, I was coming back from injury and was only training for a small amount of time. I only asked for the type of money that would guarantee me tranquility for a certain time, because if I were to lose it would put me on the back of the line of candidates for the title. Aside from also being potentially injured, Rashad is not just any type of fighter."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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