UFC 133 Fight Card: Five Fighters Who Are Fighting for Their Jobs

UFC 133 is just around the corner, and its looking to be a card full of fan favorites; or in the case of Rashad Evans, not so favorites.

The main card features Rashad Evans (15-1-1) risking his place near the top of the division, and taking on upcoming prospect, Phil Davis (9-0).

In the co-main event, Rich Franklin (28-6 [1 NC]) takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5).

Then you've got Vitor Belfort (19-9) taking on Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3 [2 NC]), Jorge Rivera (19-8) finally meets up with Alessio Sakara (15-8 [1 NC]), Rory MacDonald (11-1) takes on Mike Pyle (21-7-1), and all the other fights on the undercard.

Going into this event, you've got a couple fighters who could be on the chopping block.

Is one of your favorite fighters at risk to lose his job?

Read on to find out.

Rafael Natal

Rafael Natal (12-3-1) is currently on a 0-1-1 streak in the UFC.

In his UFC debut, he lost a unanimous decision to TUF 11 vet, Rich Attonito.

In his second fight, he fought to a majority draw with Jesse Bongfeldt, with scores of 28-28, 28-28, and 28-29 (29 in favor of Natal).

I'm not sure if the three strikes and you're out rule counts draws, but Natal should still be fighting as though his job is on the line.

In fact, his opponent's job may be on the line as well...

Costantinos Philippou

Costantinos Philippou (7-2 [1 NC]) MMA, (0-1) UFC, could also have his job on the line.

Philippou made his UFC debut with only a week's notice, when he took on Nick Catone at UFC 128 and lost a unanimous decision.

Now he is set to fight Natal at UFC 133.

Dana White really respects guys who step up and fight anyone anytime, but for a guy who was only brought in as a late replacement, he may not have the luxury of the three-strikes rule.

Mike Brown

Mike Brown (24-8) MMA, (0-2) UFC, is the former WEC featherweight champ, and is currently winless in the UFC.

Brown was a WEC transfer when the lighter weight classes were added to the UFC, and he has looked less than impressive during his tenure.

He has dropped two straight decisions to Diego Nunes (split decision) and Rani Yahya (unanimous decision).

UFC 133 could be his last chance, when he takes on TUF 12 veteran Nam Phan.

Yoshihiro Akiyama

Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3 [2 NC]) MMA, (1-2) UFC is one of the most entertaining fighters on the chopping block.

His entertainment value could be what keeps him his job should he lose.

In his three UFC fights, he's won Fight of the Night for all three.

In his debut, he defeated Alan Belcher by split decision at UFC 100. In his second fight, Chris Leben and him had a war, which ended with Akiyama tapping out to a triangle choke with 20 seconds left in the fight. In his third fight, he lost a unanimous decision to Michael Bisping.

He and Belfort could put on a hell of a fight, but would that be enough to save him if he loses?

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5) MMA, (2-2) UFC is probably on the thinnest ice of anyone on this list.

Rogerio came to the UFC with aspirations of winning the title. He was on a five-fight win streak, with four finishes, and he made his UFC debut against Luiz Cane.

He promptly knocked out Cane in 1:56, and earned Knockout of the Night honors in the process.

His next fight is where things started to get tricky.

He won a highly controversial split decision to Jason Brilz, which earned Fight of the Night.

Then in his next two fights, he dropped unanimous decisions to Ryan Bader and Phil Davis.

Nogueira could arguably already be on a three-fight losing streak, and I'm sure Dana White knows that.

Would a third official loss put a nail in the coffin, though?

We'll find out Aug. 6 in Philadelphia.

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