Cormier-Evans fight at UFC 170 called off after Evans suffers knee injury

A bout between Daniel Cormier and Rashad Evans has been pulled from the Ultimate Fighting Championship card on Feb. 22 at Mandalay Bay.

Evans, a former light heavyweight champion, suffered a knee injury and will be unable to compete at UFC 170. According to Yahoo! Sports, he will need four weeks of rehab.

Because of the timing of the injury, Cormier is expected to be removed from the card instead of taking on a replacement opponent.

Evans participated in a conference call promoting the fight Wednesday and did not mention an injury.

The fight was supposed to be unbeaten Olympic wrestler Cormier’s light heavyweight debut after dropping down from the heavyweight division.

Chael Sonnen immediately took to Twitter to offer himself as a replacement opponent, but that is unlikely to happen.

It’s possible the fight between Cormier and Evans could be rescheduled as early as UFC 172 on April 26 in Baltimore.

UFC 170 is headlined by Ronda Rousey defending the women’s bantamweight title against Sara McMann.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.