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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Vitor Belfort's return will be delayed a bit longer, as MMAWeekly.com reports that the middleweight has pulled out of UFC 122 with an injury.
Belfort was scheduled to headline the event in Germany against Yushin Okami, and Nate Marquardt has now stepped up to face Okami in that slot. Marquardt's making a quick turn around after defeating Rousimar Palhares last week at UFC Fight Night 22.
Marquardt and Okami will headline the event in Oberhausen, Germany on November 13. The fight will likely still hold the distinction of being a #1 contender fight, as Belfort vs. Okami was scheduled to be.
The MMAWeekly report did not have the nature of Belfort's injury, or the length of time that he'll be out of action. He has not fought since his September 2009 knockout victory over Rich Franklin.
UFC 122 will air via tape delay in the U.S. on Spike TV.
Penick's Analysis: This is definitely a blow to the card, which was already one of the weaker cards in recent memory. Marquardt-Okami is absolutely the next best fight for the event, and if Marquardt can defeat Okami he might just get his second shot at Anderson Silva. I don't know if this will have much of an effect on the overall viewership of the card; but with Belfort's last fight being a KO over Franklin on pay-per-view, Marquardt, while a great fighter, may not sell as well as Belfort would have.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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