UFC 133 Fight Card Breakdown: Rashad Evans Vs. Tito Ortiz

UFC 133 is Saturday, August 6th. Two former light heavyweight champions, Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, will meet in what may be, but probably isn't, a title eliminator fight. Evans had hoped to fight champion Jon Jones in his first title defense, but a minor injury to Jones caused him to pull out of the fight. He'll face Evans' bitter rival Quinton "Rampage" Jackson instead at UFC 135 in Denver in September.

Ortiz, who hadn't had a win in the UFC since beating Ken Shamrock twice in 2006, is back after a shocking first round submission win over Ryan Bader. Ortiz stunned the younger Bader, dropped him with a punch and then quickly slapped on a guillotine choke. 

Evans hasn't fought since UFC 114 way back in May 2010. He held out most of last year waiting for a title shot he never got and now he's fighting Tito, a man he snuck past with a draw at UFC 73 in 2007. Evans looked small and physically weaker than Ortiz in the early part of that fight. Eventually his speed, conditioning and clever cage-manship came into play and Evans was able to pull out the draw thanks to a point taken away from Tito in the second round for fence grabbing. 

Tito Ortiz, hasn't headlined a card since losing to Chuck Liddell back in December of 2006. And that's largely because he hasn't been the old ground and pound king in ages. A long string of injuries slowed him down and diminished him. He says he's healthy now and after the Bader fight I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. 

I know I'm supposed to not be excited about this card, but I can't help but get a little bumped about Tito's come back, and Rashad's return, and a rematch of a very frustrating draw. This should be a fun one, although both men are prone to going to decisions.

I'm looking for Evans to be a little bit rusty and Ortiz to continue his hot streak. Tito might hurt him early like he did Bader. The longer the fight goes though, and it will go the distance, the more Evan's speed and savvy will come into play.