Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva set for UFC 173

[Dale]

UFC 173 will feature a USA vs. Brazil theme.

Hours after ESPN.com broke the news that Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort will headline the May 24th event in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White announced on FOX Sports 1 that Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva will serve as the evening's co-headliner.

Weidman (11-0) will be making his second defense of the UFC middleweight title when he meets Belfort (24-10), the former UFC light heavyweight champion. Weidman, of course, defeated Anderson Silva for the title last summer and won the rematch at UFC 168 on Dec. 28, when Silva suffered a horrific leg break.

"I beat Anderson Silva twice, the greatest of all-time, and now I have the opportunity to really solidify myself as champion by beating a different guy, so I'm pumped for that," Weidman told ESPN.

The controversial Belfort, meanwhile, won three fights via head-kick knockout in 2013 in Brazil while getting exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy. Belfort was suspended for steroid use in Nevada in 2006 following a PRIDE event in Las Vegas, and it remains to be seen if he'll be granted a TRT exemption by the Nevada commission.

Sonnen vs. Silva, meanwhile, will serve as the coaches' fight at the end of "The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3," which will only be available in the United States via the UFC's online Fight Pass platform.

Sonnen (28-14), who is also a noted TRT user, has lost three of his past four fights, most recently a first-round loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 167. Silva (35-12-1, 1 NC), the former longtime PRIDE 205-pound champ, last fought in March, when he defeated Brian Stann via second-round TKO.

Silva and Sonnen made headlines earlier this week, as the duo reportedly got into a fight on the TUF: Brazil set.

Now THAT'S a main and co-main event to look forward to

 

[Slim]

This is AWESOME! I saw the news of the main event being posted on ESPN and made sure to log it in my phone to be sure to request it off when I can.

But that co main-event... gonna be insane. Gonna be awesome. But this fight... Vitor vs. Weidman... gonna be very interesting. Vitor is def gonna be the aggressor and I just wanna see how Weidman is going to be able to deal with that. But also will Vitor be cleared to fight wherever they are if it is in the states?

 

[Dale]

Pretty sure him being cleared to fight isn't a issue however whether or not he's given the TRT exemption is the issue I believe. Either he gets it and uses TRT or he doesn't get it and has to fight without the use of TRT.

Could be wrong though, but that's my understanding.

 

[Slim]

Yeah that's what I was meaning... the TRT exemption. cause in Brazil... its like hey go ahead. but cause of the steroid thing he had before ... the TRT is a bit more tougher on him.

 

[Deezy]

Nevada is toothless and useless.

Don't know why the story has to keep including TRT like it's some magical thing that makes you great.

Wandy shuld be able to use Pride rules so he can soccer kick Chael and send him into retirement.

 

[Slim]

Nevada is toothless and useless.

Don't know why the story has to keep including TRT like it's some magical thing that makes you great.

Wandy shuld be able to use Pride rules so he can soccer kick Chael and send him into retirement.

Its Nevada so for whatever reason they are going to hold TRT to a high regard and ... I dunno. I can't figure them out.

But Wandy soccer kicking Chael would be awesome. Couple foot stomps to the face. Yeah just Pride rules for that one fight.

 

[Dale]

Wouldn't make a difference when Chael wrestlefucks him.

 

[Deezy]

All you need is a doctors scribble on a piece of paper.

 

[Deezy]

Wouldn't make a difference when Chael wrestlefucks him.

Chael gives up after his first couple of takedowns are stuffed.

 

[Slim]

I think Dana wants to find someway to screw Vitor. That's why he doin it like this.

But lookin at a couple articles on ESPN and it looks like there is a push to ban TRT in MMA altogether.

 

[Deezy]

Seems pretty stupid to try ban something that most of the big name fighters are using, especially when you see the MMA landscape this year, you take out the guys who have TRT exemptions and you don't have any money fights.

 

[Slim]

Its just crazy. And Dana seems to be all for the idea. I just don't know anymore. I don't see the issue.

 

[Dale]

I can understand wanting to banning it because from what I understand guys like Vitor were popped for steroids which I think lowers your testosterone levels, so why should a convicted cheater be allowed to use TRT?

 

[Deezy]

Constant overworking of muscles lowers testosterone, cutting mass amounts of weight lowers testosterone.....hitting thirty lowers testosterone. It's not just steroids tht does it, that was a glib Bisping line.

Anyone is going to look for ways to train harder, hell I'm going to use the therapy too if my levels get low.
thats why old people get fat and well obese men grow tits.

 

[Dale]

But those are natural causes given the industry they're in, taking steroids / banned substances isn't.