Rashad Evans dominated Tito Ortiz at UFC 133
(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Former light heavyweight champion Rashad “Suga” Evans was all business when he walked to the cage at UFC 133 “Evans vs. Ortiz 2” at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Evans (16-1-1, 11-1-1 UFC) entered the cage on all fours, similar to what his former training partner Jon Jones does when he enters. Evans seemed to be truly focused for this fight from the opening bell. His opponent, Tito Ortiz (16-9-1, 15-9-1 UFC), paced back-and-forth, as if he was a caged animal.
Both fighters had good exchanges in the opening round. The first round ended with Ortiz on his back taking several punches from Evans.
In the second round Ortiz had a guillotine choke on Evans, but he escaped. Ortiz looked tired and Evans took advantage of him by raining down elbows while holding Ortiz in a mounted crucifix.Ortiz was able to get up, but was pinned against the fence. Evans kneed Ortiz in the chest and followed with several punches before the referee stopped the bout at 4:48 of the second round. This was the dominant performance Evans needed after a boring fight with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 114.
After the fight Evans let Jones and Jackson know, “I got my first performance in, and I want to get at Jon Jones,” he said. “I want my belt back. Whether he has it or Rampage has it, I’m getting my belt back.”
By taking this non-championship fight, Evans had a lot more to lose than Ortiz. Winning this fight ensures him that he would be taking on the winner of the Jones vs. Jackson fight. But as we have seen, nothing is guaranteed in UFC.
In the co-main event, middleweight Vitor Belfort (20-9, 9-5 UFC) had a devastating knockout of Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-4, 2 NC, 1-3 UFC) at 1:52 of the first round. The former light heavyweight champion, Belfort is now fighting at 185-pounds. He overpowered his Japanese opponent. Akiyama tried to do a front kick similar to Anderson Silva when he knocked out Belfort. The kick fell short and Belfort knocked him to the canvas with several punches and a hammer fist. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bout as Akiyama was on the canvas motionless.
Full undercard results:
Constantinos Philippou won by split decision over Jorge Rivera.
Rory MacDonald won by TKO (punches) over Mike Pyle at 3:54 of the first round.
Alexander Gustafsson won by TKO (Punches & Elbows) over Matt Hamill at 3:41 of the second round.Chad Mendes won by unanimous decision over Rani Yahya.
Ivan Menjivar won by unanimous decision over Nick Pace.
Johny Hendricks won by split decision over Mike Pierce.
Mike Thomas Brown won by unanimous decision over Nam Phan.
Rafael Natal won by unanimous decision over Paul Bradley.
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
bones he is the real deal
Posted by: james coleman | August 7, 2011 10:59 AM
Rashad was just much too fast for Tito. When they were up against the cage throwing at each other, Rashad was getting three punches in to every one from Tito. Recipe for disaster right there. The slam from Rashad really hurt Tito, as Rashad immediately switched to some GnP with no problem. And the knee to the midsection...Wow. Tito could of just tapped right there to save him some extra beating.
However, I feel like Jon Jones will get through Rampage no problem, and then take out Rashad easily as well. Jones is just on a different level and really hurts people.
TH,
I couldn't agree with you more. Jones is in another league.
Posted by: TH | August 7, 2011 1:40 PM
I thought Gustafsson was really impressive. Not many people can do that to Hamill except for Jon Jones.
Posted by: Phi | August 8, 2011 7:43 AM
Somebody needs to tell Tito that shaving his hair down to 1/4-inch and dying it blond makes him look like a total fruit.
Posted by: Bo Hunt | November 9, 2011 6:25 PM