• UFC 122

Belfort not pulled from UFC 122 due to injury

ESPN staff
September 22, 2010
Vitor Belfort could be in line for an accelerated title shot © Getty Images
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Vitor Belfort has been pulled from his UFC 122 headline bout with Yushin Okami, and one of his coaches has revealed the withdrawal is not due to injury, sparking suggestions he could be promoted to a title fight.

Belfort had been set to square off with Okami to determine the next challenger for the UFC middleweight title, after Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen rematched in the new year.

However, according to MMA Weekly Belfort has been pulled from the UFC 122 card, with Nate Marquardt stepping in as a replacement. Marquardt recently beat Rousimar Palhares at UFN 22 and is keen to force his way back into title contention.

Early reports had suggested Belfort had picked up an injury, but coach Shawn Tompkins revealed on Facebook that the Brazilian has pulled out for a different reason.

"You will receive Vitor Belfort news very soon," said Tompkins. "All I can tell you as his coach is that he is 100% healthy."

Reports are now suggesting that, in light of Chael Sonnen's failed drug test, Belfort has been pulled from UFC 122 in order to step into Sonnen's boots as the No. 1 contender for Anderson Silva's middleweight title.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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