According to his manager, Ed Soares, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva will not be ready to face top challenger Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort at UFC 108. Silva is currently recovering from elbow surgery and will require more time to prepare for his title defence against Belfort next year.
Belfort was awarded the title shot against Silva on the January 2nd card after his quick destruction of former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich “Ace” Franklin in the main event at UFC 103.
While his recovery is said to be going well, Silva (25-4-0) will be unable to return in January. It marks the second time this week that the UFC has lost a key main event bout, after Brock Lesnar was forced to withdraw from his UFC Heavyweight Championship defence against Shane Carwin at UFC 106.
Belfort (19-8-0) has won five straight fights, with four coming via knockout. The bout with Franklin marked Belfort’s first appearance in the UFC since February 2005.
He was announced as the next challenger for Silva’s title in the days after UFC 103, which was a deciding factor in the contractual dispute between the UFC and Dan Henderson, who was also coming off of a knockout victory and felt that he should be next in line.
A replacement date for the Silva-Belfort showdown has not been announced.