UFC 133

UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Background

Multiple fighters that were expected to fight at this event suffered injuries. This led to multiple fights, including championship bouts being called off as a result.

This event was expected to feature Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones' first title defense against former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans. But a pre-existing injury in his right hand, which was expected to keep him sidelined until late 2011 delayed the fight. Not willing to wait, Evans accepted a fight against Phil Davis. However, Jones later found out that he would no longer require surgery and now is expected to make his first title defense against Quinton Jackson on September 24, 2011 at UFC 135.

On July 12, Phil Davis pulled out of his main event bout with Rashad Evans due to a knee injury suffered during training.[6] Tito Ortiz was offered to step in as Davis' replacement but initially declined. Evans was rumored to face Lyoto Machida, in a rematch of their bout at UFC 98. Machida's camp verbally accepted the fight. However, when UFC President Dana White called Machida's camp again to confirm the fight, the camp said Machida would fight only if he received higher pay, which White declined. In the meanwhile, Tito Ortiz reconsidered the offer and will now replace Davis.

Nick Pace was originally slated to take on Michael McDonald at this event, before McDonald was pulled to replace Norifumi Yamamoto for a UFC 130 bout with Chris Cariaso. Ivan Menjivar would later step in to face Pace at this event.

A bout between Featherweight Champion José Aldo and Chad Mendes was previously rumored to take place at this event. However, Aldo is expected to be out until October recovering from injuries and Mendes will remain on the card and face Rani Yahya.

Riki Fukuda was scheduled to take on Rafael Natal, but was forced out of the bout due to an injury suffered to his left knee in a car accident and was replaced by Costantinos Philippou.

Vladimir Matyushenko was originally scheduled to face Alexander Gustafsson. Matyushenko, however, pulled out of the bout on July 13, 2011 due to an injury and was replaced by Matt Hamill.

Antônio Rogério Nogueira was expected to face Rich Franklin, but Nogueira pulled out of the bout on July 16, 2011, citing a shoulder injury. Franklin was then pulled from the card as well.

Jorge Rivera was originally scheduled to face Alessio Sakara. However, on July 25, Rivera announced that Sakara was no longer in the fight due to a torn ACL. The UFC quickly announced that Costantinos Philippou will be pulled from his bout with Rafael Natal on the same card and he instead faced Rivera. Natal will now face Strikeforce and The Ultimate Fighter veteran, Paul Bradley.

UFC 133 featured two preliminary fights live on Spike TV.

On August 5th at the official weigh ins, Ivan Menjivar could not make the 136 pound weight allowance cut off. His opponent, Nick Pace, subsequently agreed to fight Menjivar in a 138 pound catchweight bout.

 

  1. Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz
    Rashad Evans
    20-1-1 Record 17-8-1
    5' 11" Height 6' 3"
    205lbs (93kg) Weight 205lbs (93kg)
    75 Reach
    Tito Ortiz
    • Light Heavyweight bout: Evans defeated Ortiz via TKO (strikes) at 4:48 of round 2.
  2. Vitor Belfort vs Yoshihiro Akiyama
    Vitor Belfort
    19-9-0 Record 13-3-0, 2NC
    6' 0" Height 5' 10"
    185lbs (84kg) Weight 185lbs (84kg)
    74 Reach 75
    Yoshihiro Akiyama
    • Middleweight bout: Belfort defeated Akiyama via KO (punches) at 1:54 of round 1.
  3. Dennis Hallman vs Brian Ebersole
    Dennis Hallman
    65-13-2, 1NC Record 47-14-1, 1NC
    5' 9" Height 6' 0"
    170lbs (77kg) Weight 170lbs (77kg)
    Reach
    Brian Ebersole
    • Welterweight bout: Ebersole defeated Hallman via TKO (strikes) at 4:28 of round 1.
  4. Jorge Rivera vs Constantinos Philippou
    Jorge Rivera
    18-8-0 Record 7-2-0, 1NC
    6' 1" Height 5' 11"
    185lbs (84kg) Weight 185lbs (84kg)
    Reach
    Constantinos Philippou
    • Middleweight bout: Philippou defeated Rivera via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28).
  5. Rory MacDonald vs Mike Pyle
    Rory MacDonald
    11-1-0 Record 21-7-1
    6' 0" Height 6' 1"
    170lbs (77kg) Weight 170lbs (77kg)
    Reach
    Mike Pyle
    • Welterweight bout: MacDonald defeated Pyle via TKO (strikes) at 3:54 of round 1.
  6. Matt Hamill vs Alexander Gustafsson
    Matt Hamill
    11-3-0 Record 11-1-0
    6' 1" Height 6' 5"
    205lbs (93kg) Weight 205lbs (93kg)
    Reach
    Alexander Gustafsson
    • Light Heavyweight bout: Gustafsson defeated Hamill via TKO (strikes) at 3:34 of round 2.
  7. Chad Mendes vs Rani Yahya
    Chad Mendes
    10-0-0 Record 16-6-0
    5' 6" Height 5' 6"
    145lbs (65kg) Weight 145lbs (65kg)
    Reach
    Rani Yahya
    • Featherweight bout: Mendes defeated Yahya via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
  8. Ivan Menjivar vs Nick Pace
    Ivan Menjivar
    22-8-0 Record 6-1-0
    5' 6" Height 5' 6"
    135lbs (61kg) Weight 135lbs (61kg)
    Reach
    Nick Pace
    • Catchweight (138lb) bout: Menjivar defeated Pace via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Evans vs. Ortiz fight.
  9. Johny Hendricks vs Mike Pierce
    Johny Hendricks
    10-1-0 Record 12-3-0
    5' 9" Height 5' 8"
    170lbs (77kg) Weight 170lbs (77kg)
    Reach
    Mike Pierce
    • Welterweight bout: Hendricks defeated Pierce via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28). This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Evans vs. Ortiz fight.
  10. Mike Brown vs Nam Phan
    Mike Brown
    24-8-0 Record 16-9-0
    5' 6" Height 5' 6"
    145lbs (65kg) Weight 145lbs (65kg)
    Reach
    Nam Phan
    • Featherweight bout: Brown defeated Phan via unanimous decision (29–27, 29–28, 29–28).
  11. Rafael Natal vs Paul Bradley
    Rafael Natal
    12-3-1 Record 18-2-0, 1NC
    6' 0" Height 5' 9"
    185lbs (84kg) Weight 185lbs (84kg)
    Reach
    Paul Bradley
    • Middleweight bout: Natal defeated Bradley via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).
  • Fight of the Night: Rashad Evans vs.Tito Ortiz
  • Knockout of the Night: Vitor Belfort
  • Submission of the Night: None awarded

Brian Ebersole was awarded a bonus by Dana White for defeating Dennis Hallman and "getting those horrible shorts off of TV

 

EVENTS