Dustin Green went to Philadelphia and caught yesterday's UFC 133 open workouts. Be on the lookout for headliners Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, mid-carder Jorge Rivera and boxing legend Bernard Hopkins.
Evans and Ortiz will meet in the three round headliner for UFC 133. It was originally supposed to feature Evans challenging UFC lightheavyweight champ Jon Jones, but Jones had to sit out with a thumb injury. He'll face Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 135 in Denver in September.
Then Evans was scheduled to face undefeated contender Phil Davis, but Davis was pulled from the fight by the UFC when they learned of a knee injury impeding his training.
Ortiz got the headlining opportunity after his stunning first round submission win over Ryan Bader at UFC 132. He took the fight on short notice after former champ Lyoto Machida made exorbitant salary demands. UFC President Dana White said Machida asked for "Anderson Silva" money.
Middleweight Jorge Rivera was initially to face Alessio Sakara but Sakara tore his ACL and was replaced by Constantinos Phillipou.