  We have studied the $\gamma p\to \eta \phi p$ reaction within the effective
Lagrangian approach, by considering the contribution of the intermediate state
$\phi(2170)$ production, and the background contributions of $t$-channel
$\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons exchanges with the intermediate states $N$ and
$N(1535)$. Our calculations show that there may be a peak, at least a bump
structure around 2180 MeV associated to the resonance $\phi(2170)$ in the
$\eta\phi$ mass distribution. We suggest to search for the resonance
$\phi(2170)$ in this reaction, which would be helpful to shed light on its
nature.
