Hamill Replaces Matyushenko, Meets Gustafsson at UFC 133

UFC President Dana White revealed during a Thursday media conference call that Matyushenko had been considered as a possible replacement for injured UFC 133 main-eventer Phil Davis.

Now headlined by a 205-pound rematch between Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, UFC 133 will take place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Also featured on the main card will be a light heavyweight confrontation between Rich Franklin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, as well as a middleweight scrap pitting Vitor Belfort against Yoshihiro Akiyama.

Hamill, 34, had a five-fight winning streak snapped by Quinton Jackson in the main event of May’s UFC 130. Known as “The Hammer,” Hamill owns notable victories over Mark Munoz, Keith Jardine and Ortiz. A competitor on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3, Hamill holds six of his 10 career victories by knockout.

Ten years younger than his new opponent, Gustafsson has lost only once as a professional, falling by anaconda choke to Davis at UFC 112 in April 2010. The Swede rebounded from the loss by posting back-to-back victories, choking out Cyrille Diabate in October and most recently besting James Te-Huna in February. “The Mauler” owns a 3-1 Octagon record and has finished 10 of his 11 fallen foes by either knockout or submission.