After an injury cost him yet another title shot, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will return to the Octagon to face Phil Davis in the main event of UFC on FOX 2 on January 28th in Chicago, according to ESPN.
The pair were first booked to meet at UFC 133 in August, but Davis had to withdraw from the fight due to a leg injury. Evans went on to face replacement Tito Ortiz, defeating him via TKO in the second round.
During the fight, Evans (16-1-1) injured his hand, forcing him to postpone the opportunity to challenge Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title. Rather than waiting for Evans to heal, Jones decided to sign on to fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, which takes place December 10th.
Prior to the victory at UFC 133, Evans was set to challenge Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the title at UFC 128, but he had to withdraw from the fight due to a knee injury. Jones took his place, going on to defeat Rua for the championship.
Davis (9-0) has not fought since defeating Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in March at UFC Fight Night 24. Prior to this extended layoff, Davis fought five times in the span of thirteen months. The former All-American and NCAA national champion wrestler at Penn State is 5-0 in the UFC, including victories over Nogueira, Tim Boetsch, Alexander Gustafsson, and Brian Stann.
Evans and Davis are expected to be the main event of the UFC’s second event on FOX, after a rumored matchup between middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz fell through. The expected co-main event was also moved, as Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez is now headlining UFC on Fuel TV 1.
UFC on FOX 2 takes place January 28th at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Other matchups set for the event include Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland and Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow.
