Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis Headlines UFC 133; Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Likely Delayed

Rashad Evans and Phil Davis

The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently posted a UFC 133 event page on its website touting Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis as the main attraction. That immediately raised flags about a proposed featherweight title defense between current champion Jose Aldo and challenger Chad Mendes.

When there is a title fight on a UFC card, or if there are multiple title fights, a championship bout fills the headliner role.

There’s good reason that Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes has not been announced as the UFC 133 headliner, however, and that’s because it may not take place on Aug. 6 in Philadelphia after all.

Although details are scarce, sources indicated to MMAWeekly.com that the bout is still likely to happen, but it is looking less and less likely for UFC 133. With the event just a few weeks away, the UFC has to get down to the business of promoting the pay-per-view event, so they are forging ahead with Evans and Davis as the current marquee fight.

Aldo vs. Mendes has long been targeted for the promotion’s return to the City of Brotherly Love, but it has never been officially announced. The plan was for it to accompany a title bout between light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and Evans, but that was before Jones withdrew due to an injury.

The only other bouts officially announced for the UFC 133 fight card are Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara, Dennis Hallman vs. Brian Ebersole, and Riki Fukuda vs. Rafael Natal.

There are several other bouts expected for Philadelphia; most notably, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Rich Franklin and Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama.

(Additional reporting by Damon Martin)

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Ken Pishna is the managing editor of MMAWeekly.com.
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