Phil Davis Replaces Chael Sonnen, Meets Forrest Griffin In UFC 155 Co-Main Event

A marquee light heavyweight contest will be featured on the UFC’s year-end show as “The Utlimate Fighter” season one winner Forrest Griffin takes on Phil Davis at UFC 155.

The 205-pound affair will be featured as the co-main event of the night on Dec. 29 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC officials confirmed the match up on Friday afternoon.

Griffin (19-7) last competed against Tito Ortiz at UFC 148 on July 7, the same event where Sonnen fought and was defeated by Silva. Griffin defeated Ortiz by unanimous decision to win the trilogy between the two fighters and send Ortiz into retirement. The former light heavyweight champion is 3-1 in his last four bouts with the lone defeat coming at the hands of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Griffin was originally scheduled to meet Chael Sonnen at UFC 155, but Sonnen was pulled from the bout to coach “The Ultimate Fighter” with Jon Jones. UFC president Dana White recently stated that he would like to see the 33-year-old retire from mixed martial arts, but Griffin is not done yet.

Davis (10-1, 1 NC) is fresh off a second-round submission win over Wagner Prado at UFC 155 in Rio de Janeiro. The victory ended Davis’ two-fight winless streak and put him back on track in the UFC light heavyweight division. “Mr. Wonderful” fights a former UFC light heavyweight champion for the second time in his career when he takes on Griffin, and after losing a one-sided bout with Rashad Evans in January, will look to get his first victory over a former UFC title-holder.

UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II goes down Dec. 29 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The main event of the evening will see Junior Dos Santos attempt to make his second heavyweight title defense against former champion Cain Velasquez.

For the latest on the UFC 155 fight card, click here. For up-to-date versions of all upcoming fight cards, head over to the rumors section.

Mike Bohn, founder and lead writer of FightCove.com, wrote this article. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @FightCoveMike. Also, follow @FightCove on Twitter and “Like” Fight Cove on Facebook.