When a torn MCL and strained ACL forced Forrest Griffin out of UFC 155’s co-main event opposite Phil Davis, promotion officials were left with only three weeks to find a replacement.
At some point the vacant spot was offered to TUF 8 runner-up and recent UFC re-signee Vinny Magalhaes, who ultimately turned down the short-notice fight due to a lack of preparation time. Yet that hasn’t stopped Magalhaes from lobbing shots at Davis via Twitter while publicly campaigning for the bout to rebooked for sometime in early 2013. And Friday night was no exception.
“I heard you’re not planning on fighting until April. That’s fine. I don’t mind waiting,” Magalhaes wrote, tagging the official Twitter accounts of Phil Davis, the UFC, and UFC President Dana White at the end of his post, so all three parties could see the offer.
After ignoring public jabs for days, Magalhaes’ challenge seemed to be the tipping point to coax a response out of Davis, which quickly ignited a back-and-forth between the two fighters that stretched well into the night.
Davis: you don’t mind waiting … But you mind stepping up. What a loser
Magalhaes: so basically you don’t want to give me a full camp, like you had, so your chances increase. Seems fair.
Davis: hahaha ur such a bum lol you can train for a year and still get beat
Magalaes: I train for 3 weeks I will beat you in 2 rounds. With a full camp, you’d fake an injury in the locker room.
Davis: hahaha your seriously delusional lol this made my day. So why didn’t you step up if your so tough vinny???
Magalaes: I’m not that tough actually, exactly why I’m picking a fight with you.
Davis: your a bum! Get off my timeline
Magalaes: @PhilMrWonderful do you see this? RT “@DGuaresimo: @VinnyMMA i want 2 see u fight phill davis so u can submit him and shut his ass up
Davis: Ur wasting my time, u didn’t want to fight on one of the biggest fight cards of the year co main, but I’m the one ducking you?
Magalaes: so does that mean that you’ll stop ducking me and you will take the fight on February 23rd #ufc157?
Davis: now you’re a liar and a bum. They offered you the fight and you ran like girl in a scary movie.
Magalhaes: I will take the fight on #ufc155. If we do at HW. Are you down?
At that point Davis decided enough was enough, writing simply, “I’m signing off for the night people …it’s been real…..at least on my end.”
Neither White nor the UFC commented on the exchange. Though if Magalaes’ goal was to drum up enthusiasm for the potential match-up, it seems as though he achieved it.