The heated rivalry between Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen which occurred during and prior to coaching TUF Brazil 3 will not come to an end at UFC 175.
According to Combate and confirmed by the UFC, Silva did not show up for a hearing to get licensed for the main card bout.
Wanderlei Silva out, Vitor Belfort in vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 175
The UFC issued the following statement:
“Due to issues related to Wanderlei Silva’s licensing in the state of Nevada, the UFC was forced to seek a replacement opponent to face Chael Sonnen at UFC 175 on Saturday, July 5 in Las Vegas. Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort has accepted the fight with Sonnen, subject to Belfort receiving a license to compete from the Nevada Athletic Commission.”
Sonnen said on UFC Tonight that his bout against Belfort would be a number one contenders tilt, “I am now fighting in a No. 1 contenders match. The winner of my bout will take on the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida.”
Sonnen (28-14-1) has been out of action since his UFC 167 TKO loss to Rashad Evans. Prior to that defeat, “The American Gangster” tapped out Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the very first round of their Fight Night main event.
Belfort (24-10) is riding a three-fight winning streak, but also hasn’t fought since November of last year. His three victories come over Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson — all of which coming by (T)KO.
UFC 175 goes down on July 5 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be headlined by Chris Weidman defending his middleweight championship against Lyoto Machida. In the co-main event Ronda Rousey looks to continue on her winning ways against number one contender for her UFC women’s bantamweight title Alexis Davis.
