Phil Davis Injured And Out Of Bout With Rashad Evans, UFC Having Trouble Finding A Replacement

Two fighters have already been contacted for a 3 week notice to fight for the possible number one contender spot for the next lightheavy weight belt opportunity.

Ortiz is coming off his first win in nearly five years, defeating Ryan Bader via first-round guillotine choke at UFC 132 on July 2.

An Ortiz-Evans fight would have been a rematch of their September 2007 fight, which ended in a controversial draw. Ortiz has previously said he hoped to have a chance to face Evans again, but with less than four weeks to prepare, he declined the opportunity.

Late Tuesday, Ortiz explained via Twitter why he turned down the fight against Evans.

"I have a life and things to take care of," he wrote. "The fight game is about making the right choices [in] my career. If you knew what I have been going through you all would understand. Peaking for a fight is what makes a fighter unstoppable! Timing is everything in life. This is a rebuild year for me, not do or die. The time will come again! #positive."

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The UFC was hoping the former champion would step in against his US counterpart following the withdrawal of Phil Davis, but with only a few weeks to go the Machida camp does not like the fight.

Machida was also apparently not offered a title shot in the case of beating Evans.

Fighters Only Brasil writer Eduardo Cruz had the following conversation with Fabyola:

So Lyoto won't definitely take the fight versus Rashad Evans at UFC 133?

Fabiola Machida: No, he won't accept the fight at all. There are only three weeks for the preparation, Eduardo, and it just isn’t possible in the career of an athlete... three weeks of preparation.

He has only been maintaining his conditioning and that doesn't prepare you for a fight at all. So, he didn't accept for a professional matter - to accept would be to kick (damage) his professionalism.”

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