Vitor Belfort replaces Wanderlei Silva, fights Chael Sonnen at UFC 175

[Dale]

"The Phenom" is back.

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 coaches Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen won’t fight on July 5. The former PRIDE champion missed a meeting with Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and won’t get licensed to fight in Las Vegas, so Vitor Belfort will replace the fellow Brazilian in a light heavyweight bout against Sonnen.

MMAFighting.com confirmed the news with sources close to the situation. Combate first reported the change.

According to the report, Belfort passed all the tests run by NSAC and was licensed to fight Sonnen on July 5.

Belfort (24-10) returns to the Octagon for the first time since pulling out of a title fight with Chris Weidman at UFC 173. Lyoto Machida replaced Belfort, and the fight was moved to July 5 after the champion needed surgery in both knees. He won three straight in 2013.

Sonnen (28-14-1) was originally scheduled to face Silva on May 31 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but the fight was moved to UFC 175 after the Brazilian got injured during a brawl with Sonnen during TUF: Brazil 3. The former UFC middleweight challenger is coming off a first-round loss to Rashad Evans.

UFC 175 takes place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nev. and is headlined by a pair of title fights. Weidman faces Machida in the main event, while bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey puts her title on the line against Alexis Davis.

Fucking Wandy, what an absolute cunt. I reckon he did it on purpose.

 

[Slim]

While I am always excited to see Vitor and glad to see him fighting again. I really did want to see Wandy vs. Sonnen.

Vitor should wreck Sonnen.

 

[Deezy]

So Wandy is using the "No Speakie the Englais" defense.

Seems odd to bring him a contract to sign at his gym, and none of it is in Porteguese.

 

[Slim]

I don't even know what to think about that. Other than a lil disappointed

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Pretty sad news for Wandy, the whole ordeal, the whole TUF stint has really damaged him in the public's eye, but why would you bring a Brazilian who struggles with his English at the best of times a contract in all English to sign?

Its a shame as I was looking forward to this fight, but Vitor-Chael should still be a good fight with an even higher chance of Chael getting absolutely merked.