Silva’s Manager Says Anderson’s Ribs Still Aren’t Healed; Belfort Fight Might Not Happen Until February 5

(Video courtesy MMAWeekly)
When UFC president Dana White confirmed that Vitor Belfort would be stepping in to face Anderson Silva next while Chael Sonnen tries to talk himself out of a one-year suspension for testing positive for steroids, one piece of…


(Video courtesy MMAWeekly)

When UFC president Dana White confirmed that Vitor Belfort would be stepping in to face Anderson Silva next while Chael Sonnen tries to talk himself out of a one-year suspension for testing positive for steroids, one piece of info that he left out was when we can expect the fight to go down.

Silva’s manager, Ed Soares revealed in an interview with MMAWeekly yesterday that Anderson is still experiencing pain in the rib he injured in his four-and-a-half round war with Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 and he may not be ready in time for UFC 125 on January 1 so the fight may have to wait until February 5.

"His rib is stil very tender. They’re very sore. That’s what I’m talking to him about. It’s still a bit sore, but it’s healing up. It’s still not 100 percent. He needs to be training at least 10 weeks with his ribs not being hurt. It’s still tender and it really hurts [him] to throw knees and stuff like that," Soares explained. "I think at this point, we don’t know what date it’s going to be. It’s definitely going to be some time next year. We just don’t know if it’s going to be January first or SuperBowl weekend."

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Dana White Confirms Our Hunch; Belfort vs. Silva is Official

UFC president Dana White today proved our sneaking suspicion that Vitor Belfort being dropped from his UFC 122 bout with Yushin Okami had little to do with him being injured, as was originally incorrectly reported by MMAWeekly, and a lot to do with Cha…

UFC president Dana White today proved our sneaking suspicion that Vitor Belfort being dropped from his UFC 122 bout with Yushin Okami had little to do with him being injured, as was originally incorrectly reported by MMAWeekly, and a lot to do with Chael Sonnen being unable to face Anderson Silva at the UFC’s planned NYE show.

Although White didn’t tweet a date for the eventual showdown, the CP magic 8-ball points to the January 1 UFC 125 card that Sonnen was scheduled to face Silva on.

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Vitor Belfort vs. Anderson Silva Soon, Marquardt-Okami Winner Next

Filed under: UFCChael Sonnen’s positive steroid test has created a domino effect in the UFC’s middleweight division, and the biggest beneficiary is Vitor Belfort, who will be the next challenger to Anderson Silva’s middleweight title.

UFC President Da…

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Chael Sonnen‘s positive steroid test has created a domino effect in the UFC’s middleweight division, and the biggest beneficiary is Vitor Belfort, who will be the next challenger to Anderson Silva‘s middleweight title.

UFC President Dana White announced on Twitter that Belfort will fight Silva for the belt. Contrary to reports that an injury forced Belfort out of his previously scheduled bout with Yushin Okami, White said Belfort is healthy and has simply been moved to the top of the list of title contenders.

Vitor Belfort-Yushin Okami Winner to Earn Middleweight Title Shot

Filed under: UFC, NewsThe winner of the November 13 matchup pitting Vitor Belfort against Yushin Okami has been promised an opportunity to fight for the UFC middleweight championship.

The development came quietly in a Monday press release officially a…

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The winner of the November 13 matchup pitting Vitor Belfort against Yushin Okami has been promised an opportunity to fight for the UFC middleweight championship.

The development came quietly in a Monday press release officially announcing UFC 122 in Oberhausen, Germany.

Chael Sonnen Could Use the Credibility He Gave Away Right About Now

Filed under: UFCMost fighters who test positive for a performance-enhancing substance have two options: 1) they can deny it all the way to the grave, hoping that a fervent and lengthy appeal will bolster the case for their innocence, or 2) they can own…

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Most fighters who test positive for a performance-enhancing substance have two options: 1) they can deny it all the way to the grave, hoping that a fervent and lengthy appeal will bolster the case for their innocence, or 2) they can own up to it, do the mea culpa dance, and spend the next year laying low.

Chael Sonnen isn’t most fighters. He likes to keep us guessing. When an apology or at least an explanation seems like the most rational course of action – remember when he claimed that Lance Armstrong gave himself cancer? – he instead opts for the completely implausible denial. When you think he’s going to be as virulently obstinate as ever, such as after his loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117, he throws you a curveball and acts like a dignified gentleman, declaring that the better man always wins.

So now that he’s been branded a cheater by the California State Athletic Commission and the MMA world awaits his reaction, what path will he choose? Will he blame supplements or over-the-counter medication? Will he explain that he needed help pushing through an injury? Will he say he did it and he’s not at all sorry? Will he blame some guy with a Hispanic accent?

We have yet to find out, but it’s worth noting that in times like these it sure would be nice to have a reputation for something other than being the guy who’s willing to say absolutely anything.

Chael Sonnen PED Update #1: ‘Natural Steroids’, Dana White’s Response + More

(Chael’s growing bacne problem: the smoking gun? Or were the mats just not washed after Lindland used them? Image courtesy of CageWriter.)
A few notable points that have emerged since yesterday’s bombshell that Chael Sonnen tested posi…

Chael Sonnen bacne steroids back acne UFC Silva Marquardt Okami
(Chael’s growing bacne problem: the smoking gun? Or were the mats just not washed after Lindland used them? Image courtesy of CageWriter.)

A few notable points that have emerged since yesterday’s bombshell that Chael Sonnen tested positive for performance enhancing drugs following UFC 117

– According to the L.A. Times’ Lance Pugmire, Sonnen tested positive for a "natural steroid" before his fight with Anderson Silva. Natural steroids, such as androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone, aren’t chemically altered like synthetic steroids, and can be sold over-the-counter as supplements at health food stores.

– Sonnen is facing a year-long suspension and a $2,500 fine, which he has 30 days to appeal. According to California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer George Dodd, Sonnen’s positive test emerged from a urine sample he gave before the fight that was processed through the UCLA Olympic drug-testing lab.

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