Wait, is it actually an injury, or are they just going to let him fight Anderson in light of Chael's failed steroid test?
This is a good replacement fight but damnit Vitor has been a disapointment its already been a year since he smoked Franklin and hes had to pull out off fights about 3 times now.
The replacement fight is still quality though. Again MMA exposes boxing because in an org like the UFC you can lose badly like Nate did but get right back in the mix!
Would not surprise me if the injury was hardly anything and this was just his attempt at getting another chance to fight Anderson.
On Twitter Belfort's coach Shawn Tompkins is saying Vitor is not injured and they will be announcing big news soon. My guess is that they're giving Belfort the January title shot.
Marquardt-Okami is going to be a snoozer. I hope they just pulled Belfort out to fight Silva in January. That is a legit big fight to look forward too as long as Vitor puts it together mentally. If its a real injury then its just another in a long line of disappointments for Vitor in his career. Marquardt or Okami vs Anderson can definitely turn into another crap fest like vs Maia/Leites, but Silva really looked to be on the downside in his last two fights, getting hurt by soft punching grapplers...so I can see either of them winning the title.
Interesting. So, they're giving the guy who hasn't fought since UFC 103 and hasn't fought at Middleweight in the UFC...ever(?) the next shot at the title? Very interesting.
Neither Marquardt or Okami will do anything to Silva. If he isn't fighting Belfort or Sonnen, move him up, the division has no one else to threaten Silva.
I can see what you mean, but the other side of the coin to that is they are giving a man with 14 years experience in MMA who knocked the former UFC MW champ senseless in his last bout a chance to finally live up to his potential in what could potentially be a classic stand up war. Plus, who else is there at MW? Okami & Nate both have losses recently, so they would be the logical next contender after they fight