With the recent withdrawal of UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera, a rematch with Brazilian fighter Thiago Silva (14-2, 1NC) was put on the shelf for the upcoming UFC on FX 3 card in Fairfax, Virginia.
As expected, UFC officials have found a replacement for Vera who withdrew due to an unresolved injury, and is now being replaced by Croatian fighter ‘The Duke’ Igor Pokrajac (24-8).
UFC officials confirmed the matchup on Twitter (@ufc) on Wednesday.
– Confirmed: Igor Pokrajac will replace the injured Brandon Vera against Thiago Silva May 15 in Fairfax, VA at UFC on FUELTV
UFC on FX 3 is expected to take place on May 15, 2012 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax with the bout between Pokrajac vs. Silva almost certainly taking place on the main card.
Pokrajac has won two straight and is coming off a 35-second knockout finish of Krzysztof Soszynski in December at UFC 140. The two had been expected to meet in June of last year at UFC 131, but injuries to both fighters caused them to withdraw from the event. It was ‘The Duke’s’ second straight win and puts him at 3-1 in his last four matches. The Croatian competed just one other time in 2011, earning a first round TKO win over Todd Brown at the UFC on Versus 3 show in March.
Silva is coming off a year long suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission after falsifying his urine for a drug test following a win over Brandon Vera at UFC 125. Silva admitted his wrongdoing saying he had injured his back just over a month out to the bout and had taken an injection which contained prohibited substances. The bout was changed to a “No Contest” with Silva receiving a one-year suspension and a 25% forfeit of his fight purse. Before that bout, Silva had lost a unanimous decision to Rashad Evans at UFC 108.