"I have a life and things to take care of. The fight game is about making the right choices of my career. If you knew what I have been going through you all would understand. Peaking for a fight is what makes a fighter unstoppable! Timing is everything in life. This is a rebuild year for me not do or die. The time will come again!"
As you've probably heard by now, Phil Davis is NOT fighting Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 133 on Aug. 6 from the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
And neither is Tito Ortiz.
That's because "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" turned down the opportunity to replace Davis in the promotion's return trip to "The City of Brotherly Love" following a not so "Wonderful" injury to the undefeated rising star.
Ortiz, fresh off a July 2 resuscitation of his mixed martial arts career following a submission win over Ryan Bader, battled Evans to a controversial draw back at UFC 73: "Stacked" just over four years ago.
Having him step in to battle "Suga" for a second time, on paper, seemed like the ideal solution. After all, Ortiz and his personal brand of "Punishment" haven't enjoyed this kind of buzz in years.
So why not strike while the iron is hot?
Well, for starters, Ortiz is in a critical stage of his career. Young, up-and-coming fighters can often get in good with the Zuffa brass by stepping up on short notice to plug a few holes on a leaky fight card.
AMA Fight Club, anyone?
However, we shouldn't forget that a thirty-something Tito is 1-4-1 over his last six fights and had to beg to keep his job prior to the Bader fight at UFC 132. A decisive loss to Evans and it's easy to think he'd be right back in front of the firing squad.
Timing is everything, which means that perhaps we're now bearing witness to a wiser, more mature fighter, who won't get pushed into a fight he's not ready for at this delicate stage of his career.
Or maybe he felt it was just too soon to re-use his "cracked skull" excuse.
Tito Ortiz was offered the chance to fight Rashad Evans at UFC 133 and he said no. You've heard his reasons why, but do you agree with them?
Cast your vote in our poll and let's hear your take in the comments section below.
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