Machida Rejects UFC 133 Bout with Rashad Evans

[w9]

Multiple published reports from Brazilian news organizations suggest that UFC 133 headliner Rashad Evans is still without an opponent after Lyoto Machida declined the opportunity to fight at the Aug. 6 event on short notice.

Both Esporte and Clic RBS quoted Machida's wife Fabyola, who said that the former UFC light-heavyweight champion had decided against facing Evans with less than four weeks to prepare.

Unless Machida changes his mind, he'll be the second high-profile fighter to turn down the main event bout. Tito Ortiz also rejected a chance to step in for the injured Phil Davis.

Either fight would have been a rematch of a previous bout.

Ortiz and Evans fought at UFC 73 in July 2007, with the pair fighting to a draw. At the time, it was Evans' first step up to top-level competition. By the time he and Machida fought at UFC 98, he was the newly crowned champion. But Machida ended his reign before a successful title defense, knocking him out in the second round.

Because of his previous win over Machida, it was thought that he would be more likely to accept the fight, but it turns out that time worked against the possibility.

"He decided he would not be able to prepare in just three weeks," his wife Fabyola told Esporte. "It was very short notice and has a number of factors that need to be analyzed. So he decided he will not fight."

With that, the hunt for a replacement continues.



Force Tito to cut weight.

[juggalo]

lol at rashad's luck

[nodogoshi]

http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/07/13/reports-lyoto-machida-rejects-ufc-133-bout-with-rashad-evans/

[surf]

Sort of fucks up the main event although I can see why he doesn't want this fight as it doesn't really do much for him.

[GOODNIGHTIRENE]

[ShogunAboveAllElse]

^^ LOL

bring up Rich Franklin

[BannedFromSherdog]

I felt that Machida/Evans II was better than Davis/Evans.

Bummed.

[Teutones]

Nog Franklin for the main event.

[mr2cam]

Naw it sounds like Tito is in negotiations for a rematch with Rashad.

[ShogunAboveAllElse]

No thanks, it'd be UFC 130 all over again (Solid card, then the main event got ruined, then it became garbage on paper, and garbage on screen)

[mr2cam]

Sounds like Tito just accepted the fight via twitter

titoortiz Tito Ortiz
Only for the UFC!

[blueyedsamurai]

tito will come into this fight with a cracked skull, broken back and acl surgery

[Yari]

@danawhite informs @themmashow that Machida turned down fight with Evans saying he would only do it for "Anderson Silva money".

@danawhite informed @themmashow that he told Machida "accomplish what Anderson Silva has and you will be paid like him"

[Forum Poster]

That sucks. Won't be getting this card now. booo

[Teutones]

@danawhite informs @themmashow that Machida turned down fight with Evans saying he would only do it for "Anderson Silva money".

@danawhite informed @themmashow that he told Machida "accomplish what Anderson Silva has and you will be paid like him"

LOL

[ShogunAboveAllElse]

Tito's fucking rolling in that Anderson Silva money

[brace]

Dana never liked Machida. Dana only likes what his twatter fans like..

[Teutones]

Most fighters would kill for some of that Anderson Silva money. I know I would.

[ShogunAboveAllElse]

Not tito
Tito's ROLLIN' in it

[RussianTopTeam]

how much does Anderson even make per fight? Brazilians are not known to be top earners in the UFC. It's usually Brock, Chuck, Tito, the usual UFC TUF ball lickers etc.