Evan Dunham Injured, Rafael dos Anjos Now Faces George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132

by Scott Haber on May 3, 2011 7:27 PM EDT in UFC News

One of the more intriguing lightweight bouts on tap for UFC 132 in July is now in a state of flux, as MMA Junkie reports that Evan Dunham has pulled out of his scheduled bout with George Sotiropoulos, due to injury:

An undisclosed injury has forced lightweight Evan Dunham (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) to withdraw from a fight with George Sotiropoulos (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) at UFC 132.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) confirmed the news with sources close to the event.

Dunham was hoping to rebound from a TKO loss to Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight for the Troops 2 back in January, and re-establish himself as a serious contender at 155 lbs, but those plans will have to be put on hold for the time being.

Meanwhile, it appears that Sotiropoulos will remain on the card as the UFC searches for a replacement opponent. Stay tuned to BloodyElbow.com for updates on the story.

[UPDATE]: The Sydney Herald Sun reports that Dana White has confirmed that Rafael dos Anjos will step in and face Sotiropoulos.

Photo: MMA Weekly

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ben henderson?

by woooburn on May 3, 2011 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

Exactly what I was thinking ^^^

by RoB_ex on May 3, 2011 4:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

… or maybe sherk if he ever resurfaces.

by woooburn on May 3, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Sherk was shown during UFC 129...

cage-side, chatting up Guida and rocking a hideous burgundy, silk shirt.

by Scott Haber on May 3, 2011 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like Sherk.

by Schwizzles on May 3, 2011 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Henderson's the best bet.

Fighting solves everything.

by Two_Words on May 3, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Gleison Tibau?

"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye

by mburtoni on May 3, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

i never liked this fight

dunham’s a good prospect that deserved a gatekeeper, not a beast like G-Sot (disappointing loss to Siver notwithstanding).

Ben Henderson is a good choice. I could live with Mark Bocek too.

by Clifford J on May 3, 2011 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

I never liked the fight either. Not because the fight would suck, but because I am a fan of both, and I don’t think they should be fighting each other at this point. Both are seen as prospects with some upside despite losing, and they are two fighters that I don’t want to see on extended losing streaks.

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by chrisbboy82 on May 3, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Nate Diaz

Would be fun

by phucket on May 3, 2011 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Ben Henderson All The WAY!

Jules: Normally, both your asses would be dead as fucking fried chicken, but you happen to pull this shit while I'm in a transitional period so I don't wanna kill you, I wanna help you. But I can't give you this case, it don't belong to me. Besides, I've already been through too much shit this morning over this case to hand it over to your dumb ass.

by RJshock 305 on May 3, 2011 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely, Henderson looked like a beast Saturday. Loved the angry look and pumping up the foreign crowd in between rounds.

"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free." - Jim Morrison

by LowkickGreed on May 3, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Rafael Dos Anjos has stepped in to face GSot

according to many sources. I like this fight as Dos Anjos is much like Sotiropolous. If he comes in a heavy underdog I may place a wager on Dos Anjos.

Also lol at the dude saying Dunham was being fed to a beast like Sot. Dunham just came off fighting Sherk and Guilalrd while Dunham has spent his Ufc career fighting gatekeepers and journeymen. If anything Dunham was going to eat GSot alive.

by mcpeepants23200 on May 3, 2011 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Dos Anjos fights.

"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles

by SSreporters on May 3, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

hell yes.

I’m still on the Dos Anjos war wagon.

GreenHouse

by Loot on May 3, 2011 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

oh, nice!

good opportunity for him

by woooburn on May 3, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll go with Don Anjos if that’s the fight. I think he’s hugely underrated

"The men who get on best with women are those that get on best without them" Lee Christmas

by StevenGiles on May 3, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that Dos Anjos may have the better standup and wrestling/takedown ability. G-Sot showed that his wrestling needs improvement in the Siver fight, and his hands are good but not great. The ground battle though would be very interesting as both are some of the top Lightweights on the ground.

Check out the C&D Channel on YouTube for MMA reviews, predictions, analysis, and other MMA related content.

by chrisbboy82 on May 3, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on May 3, 2011 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Jim Miller, step right up

by darkotto23 on May 3, 2011 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

^ This!

by Ziggy325 on May 3, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

They could give him another guy coming off a loss instead of a guy coming off seven wins.

Is it possible for an administrator to change my handle? I want it to be "Genki Pseudonym." I just thought of that myself.

by Bolshevik on May 3, 2011 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say Bocek. He wanted this fight and they are both coming off losses perfect timing IMO. he is only suspended for a bit, could work.

Miller deserves more and so does Henderson. They will prob be matched up against eachother.

by bradlabo on May 3, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

wow havent heard from Dos Anjos in awhile

should be a pretty good fight

by rscott94 on May 3, 2011 7:48 PM EDT reply actions

Last I saw him he was getting his jaw busted by Clay Guida.

Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.

by RolloTomasi on May 3, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Well...

I think Gsot & Dos Anjos is going to be a sick ground battle, plus hopefully Evan can heal in time for Nate Diaz’s return back to 155. That fight would be tits.

by ssstute89 on May 3, 2011 8:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I liked Dunham vs Sot. I LOVE RDA vs Sot!

Really hope Dos Anjos gets back on track.

by BJJDenver on May 3, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Poor dos Anjos.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
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by James Brady on May 3, 2011 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

Why?

Dos Anjos has better striking, and they’re about even on the ground although RDA has the better credentials in the grappling world.

by Scott Haber on May 3, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Sot showed that he has better striking in his recent fights, and I’m far, far away from saying dos Anjos is about even on the ground. I don’t see it, not in any of his MMA fights, anyway.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
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by James Brady on May 3, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Sot showed that he has better striking in his recent fights,

Which recent fights would those be? The Siver fight? Getting beat up on the feet by Joe Lauzon of all people before desperately and wisely taking it to the ground for the win? The Pellegrino fight where he was rocked and nearly finished in the third?

Perhaps you should watch the Dos Anjos-Emerson fight, where Dos Anjos as a BJJ black belt, decided to keep it standing against a muay thai guy in Emerson, and handily outstruck him, brutalizing him with leg kicks over the course of three rounds.

As far as BJJ, Dos Anjos had Tyson Griffin tied in knots and nearly submitted him although Griffin’s sub defense is quite excellent. He also looked excellent against Etim, who’s quite good on the ground himself, and showed some very smooth BJJ en-route to tapping him.

Sotiropoulos’s record is full of submission victories against guys with no real skill on the ground, other than Lauzon, who’s not exactly a black belt. George has a great ground game, but to say that dos Anjos is weaker than him in that area is just foolish.

by Scott Haber on May 3, 2011 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

The calf slicer

Dos Anjos had on Tyson was the gnarliest sub I think a fighter has ever not been submitted (or technically submitted) by. When I talk about the concept of damage, I generally only include strikes and slams, but have to add a footnote regarding “near submissions” because of Dos Anjos.

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (your welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 3, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The Siver fight, yes. Sot looked good on the feeet. There’s really nothing you can say about dos Anjos’ BJJ to make me believe it’s on Sot’s level, at least as far as MMA is concerned. dos Anjos has better wrestling and takedowns, though.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
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by James Brady on May 3, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m on Scott’s side here. RDA has some nasty MMA BJJ, and George’s standup isn’t all that good.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on May 4, 2011 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions

And Sot’s MMA BJJ is … what exactly?

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
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by James Brady on May 4, 2011 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Obviously fantastic. I doubt he hustles Dos Anjos on the mat, though.

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 4, 2011 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Until I see it happen, I won’t believe it (re: Sotiropoulos not making somebody look silly on the mat.)

And for the record, I’m really not trying to hate on dos Anjos. I like the guy.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on May 4, 2011 4:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Sotiropolous/ Aoki

Georgey boy certainly didn’t make Shinya look silly on the mat.

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 4, 2011 4:31 AM EDT up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGdtEblrMU

In fact, Sot was trying not to get his leg shredded for the whole first round…

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 4, 2011 4:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Seems like there’s quite a bit of Sot hate there :] (“Georgey boy”)

To clarify, I meant since coming to the UFC.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on May 4, 2011 4:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I like Sot.

Georgey boy is my pet name for him! We’re actually great buddies, he came over and I cooked a nice French dinner, and we cuddled up on the couch and watched rom- coms (i’m big spoon, of course). I felt like time stood still there for a while.

He hasn’t called me back yet…

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 4, 2011 4:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Rec’d for truth

If you're having fight problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but a Fitch ain't one.

by Mckeever on May 4, 2011 6:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Gsot stand up alone would smash anjos

by TigerTD on May 3, 2011 8:50 PM EDT reply actions

lol at Sot smashing RDA

with his stand up. When has he smashed anyone with his stand up? Dude has mediocre punching power and only throws punches. He’s got 1 tko in 17 pro fights but somehow he’s going to magically transform himself in to Takanori Gomi before this fight.

Still don’t understand why people feel the need to comment on fights they clearly know nothing about.

by mcpeepants23200 on May 3, 2011 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

Only throws punches?

I take it you didn’t see the Griffin fight.

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (your welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 3, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

You read the comment wrong.

"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles

by SSreporters on May 3, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahh.

I did indeed, my apologies. Yeah, there’s no way Sotiropolous “smashes” Dunham standing.

Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (your welcome).

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates

by ElliotMatheny on May 3, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Dang, but still a great fight. I'm a fan of Dos Anjos. Thought he got a raw deal against Griffin.

by J_Maddux on May 3, 2011 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

that was a fun fight.

GreenHouse

by Loot on May 3, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope Dos Anjos gave his jaw enough time to fully heal. Is 8.5 months enough time? I’m not really sure about the severity of the injury he had though.

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on May 3, 2011 10:50 PM EDT reply actions