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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The reports of an injury to Vitor Belfort are, indeed, false, as UFC President Dana White cleared up the situation on Twitter on Wednesday.
After Belfort's coach Shawn Tompkins posted on Facebook that Vitor was 100% healthy, speculation began that he was pulled from his UFC 122 fight with Yushin Okami to face UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva in the wake of Chael Sonnen's failed steroid test at UFC 117.
That is exactly the case, as White Tweeted, "Vitor is not injured. He is going to fight Anderson for the title and the winner of Marquart and Okami are next."
There is still no word as to exactly when the fight will take place, but with the Sonnen-Silva rematch initially expected on New Year's Day, that's likely when this fight will take place.
Penick's Analysis: Considering Belfort has not one a fight at middleweight in the UFC, it's a situation where he hasn't necessarily "earned" a title shot. It's part of the issues with the sport right now, because from a competition standpoint he shouldn't be able to jump to the front of the line, but with Sonnen forced out with his steroid test failure, this really was the best option from a marketability standpoint. So I understand why the move was made. It's a fight they were going to put together in April before Belfort's injury, so they're going right back to it in a division that has few viable challengers at the moment. It would have been nice to see him beat Okami to earn the shot, but he'll provide a good stylistic matchup and an entertaining fight for Silva.
RELATED STORY: UFC NEWS: Vitor Belfort's coach says he is 100% healthy; says news is coming soon: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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