Phil Davis Replaces Injured Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans

Monday, April 25, 2011

By FCF Staff

Rashad Evans will not face his former teammate and training partner Jon Jones in his next fight after all, as today the UFC has announced that the light-heavyweight champion has been forced to withdraw from UFC 133 due to injury. Instead, Evans will take on another rising star in Phil Davis, who according to the official announcement, has verbally agreed to replace Jones.

UFC 133 is scheduled to take place August 6th in Philadelphia.

The undefeated Davis (9-0) is coming off his most impressive win to date, as the decorated collegiate wrestler scored a unanimous decision over the renowned Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, at Fight Night 24 in March. Davis has won five straight since signing with the UFC last year.

Evans (15-1-1) has not fought since March, 2010 when he worked his way to a unanimous decision win over fellow, former champ, “Rampage” Jackson. Evans has now had two title fights fall through recently, as he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with former champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last month, due to injury.

Some of the other bouts that have been confirmed for UFC 133 include light-heavyweight Rich Franklin vs. the aforementioned Nogueira, middleweight Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and bantamweight Michael McDonald vs. Nick Pace.