Looks like three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen could be a modern day Nostradamus.
After months of stating his old rival would never make it to Las Vegas on July 5 for their matchup at UFC 175, Wanderlei Silva was officially removed from the card and replaced by Vitor Belfort on Wednesday.
Brazilian media outlet Combate was the first media outlet to report the news yesterday afternoon and the UFC confirmed the change later in the day.
“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,” the article on UFC.com says.
“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, who doubles as an analyst on UFC Tonight, flat out accused “The Axe Murderer” of refusing to participate in a random drug test administered by the NSAC during Wednesday’s edition of the program.
"That clean record came to a screeching halt on Saturday night. Not only did he [Silva] fail his test, he refused to take the test, and as you know a refusal is equal in the eyes of the commission to a failure,” Sonnen said.
“He ran from the test, Kenny, and I don't mean that figuratively, I mean they came to his gym and he literally ran. He goes out of a side door, they go after him saying his name.”
Various media reports have also indicated that Silva missed a mandatory meeting with the NSAC to obtain his fighter’s license.
Sonnen and Silva have been linked to a grudge match since late last year, with the date and venue changing three times for undisclosed reasons.
Furthermore, MMA Fighting reports that Belfort will undergo a “comprehensive review” at the June 17 meeting of the NSAC, which will likely require drug testing prior to the license review.
Was Silva planning to avoid a matchup inside the Octagon with Silva from day 1 or is there actually a logical explanation for this sudden, tumultuous turn of events?