Machida prices himself out of UFC 133 matchup

One former champion's demands created an opportunity for another to complete an extraordinary turnaround.

That's the bottom line of machinations that led a matchup between ex-champion Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans in a light heavyweight main event of UFC 133 on Aug. 6 in Philadelphia.

When the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced last week that injured Phil Davis had been pulled from the bout against Evans, Ortiz initially turned down the chance to replace Davis. Lyoto Machida agreed to step in to fight Evans on about three weeks' notice.

What happened next, UFC president Dana White said, was stunning. He said when he contacted Machida's team to confirm the details, he was told Machida wanted the same type of money commanded by Anderson Silva, his friend and training partner and one of the top draws in mixed martial arts.

"It's not even like their camp came back and said, 'We want this and extra this or that.' They came straight out and said they want Anderson Silva money," White said. "Anderson Silva has been undefeated in the UFC since 2006. He's broken every record there is in the UFC. He moved up a weight class and beat two guys at 205 easily. (He's) dominated and cleaned out an entire 185-pound division -- and you want his money?"

"I don't even know how to put a word on that."

Fortunately for the UFC, Ortiz had a change of heart and said he would take the fight.

The agreement came a few weeks after White adamantly said Ortiz would be finished in the UFC if he lost to Ryan Bader on July 2 at the MGM Grand. Ortiz submitted Bader in the first round for his first win since 2006. Now he's in a main event and is poised to return to the top of the light heavyweight division he dominated in the early 2000s.

"If he beats Rashad, Tito is back," White said.

Two other light heavyweight matchups on the UFC 133 card have been altered by injuries.

Vladimir Matyushenko, the third choice to replace Davis, also suffered an injury and had to pull out of his fight with Alexander Gustaffson. Matyushenko will be replaced by Matt Hamill.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been scrapped from his fight with Rich Franklin, leaving Franklin without an opponent and off the card.

■ STACKED OCTOBER EVENTS -- While UFC 133 has been rapidly disintegrating, two future cards are loaded.

UFC 136, scheduled Oct. 8 in Houston, will have two title fights. As expected, the third fight between Las Vegan Gray Maynard and lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will headline the event, while featherweight champion Jose Aldo will meet Kenny Florian.

Lightweight contender bouts between Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon, and Anthony Pettis and Jeremy Stephens also are expected.

The UFC 137 card in Las Vegas on Oct. 29 is also shaping up around a main event welterweight title bout between Georges St. Pierre and Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz.

Las Vegan Roy Nelson will take on Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in a heavyweight bout and welterweights BJ Penn and Carlos Condit are expected to fight in a bout conceived between the two on Twitter.

Also, heavyweights Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione will meet on the card at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

■ STRIKEFORCE IN LAS VEGAS -- Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers card at the Palms marks the organization's first event in Nevada.

Strikeforce plans to make the Palms the permanent home of the Challengers series, which showcases the organization's up-and-coming fighters.

Tickets for the card, which features a welterweight main event between Roger Bowling and Bobby Voelker, are available at the Pearl box office and Ticketmaster, starting at $50.

Bowling and Voelker have met twice, with each owning one victory.

The card also features a 135-pound women's bout between Liz Carmouche and former champion Sarah Kaufman, as well as a heavyweight fight pitting Devin Cole against Lavar Johnson.

Thursday's weigh-ins are free to the public in the Key West Ballroom at the Palms. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and fighters hit the scales at 4.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.