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Demain Maia (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has agreed to replace an ailing Vitor Belfort and will now face UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (25-4 MMA, 10-0 UFC) in the main event of UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.
The UFC officially announced the replacement on Friday, ending a day of speculation by MMA observers and fans alike.
UFC 112 takes place April 10 at Concert Arena at the Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is the first UFC event to be held in the Middle East, and the first event to take place outdoors.
Maia emerged from a crowded pool of UFC contenders on the strength of a UFC 109 win over Dan Miller this past Saturday. Despite a loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 102, UFC brass deemed Maia the best available option.
Chael Sonnen had laid his claim to top-contender status with a dominating victory over Marquardt at UFC 109, but injuries suffered in the bout left him unavailable for a fight with Silva.
"It's always tough when a top fighter like Vitor Belfort has to pull out of a big title fight, but we have found a high quality replacement," UFC president Dana White stated in today's release. "Top contender Chael Sonnen was not available due to injuries sustained in his fight with Nate Marquardt, so top-six middleweight Demian Maia will step in to fight for the title.
"Maia is an Abu Dhabi grappling champion, a five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, and he is 12-1 in MMA and coming off a win over Dan Miller at UFC 109. Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia will be a matchup between MMA's best striker and MMA's best grappler."
Maia is currently under medical suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission until Aug. 6 due to an left vertical upper eyelid laceration. However, Maia was not issued a minimum suspension, and he can be cleared early by an ophthalmologist or ocular-plastics doctor.
Maia wasn't immediately available for comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com), but the UFC obviously feels confident the wound will receive clearance.
While Abu Dhabi does not have an athletic commission in place to regulate the event, the UFC acts as its own governing body and does observe the rules and regulations set forth by most U.S.-based commissions, including the NSAC.
Silva and Maia will fight in UFC 112's main event in a bout the organization is billing as "MMA's best striker vs. MMA's best grappler."
Belfort's return to date from the shoulder surgery that forced him out of the contest has not yet been announced. Belfort's manager, Fabiano Farah, today told MMAjunkie.com he expected his client to miss at least four months of action.
The UFC officially announced the replacement on Friday, ending a day of speculation by MMA observers and fans alike.
UFC 112 takes place April 10 at Concert Arena at the Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is the first UFC event to be held in the Middle East, and the first event to take place outdoors.
Maia emerged from a crowded pool of UFC contenders on the strength of a UFC 109 win over Dan Miller this past Saturday. Despite a loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 102, UFC brass deemed Maia the best available option.
Chael Sonnen had laid his claim to top-contender status with a dominating victory over Marquardt at UFC 109, but injuries suffered in the bout left him unavailable for a fight with Silva.
"It's always tough when a top fighter like Vitor Belfort has to pull out of a big title fight, but we have found a high quality replacement," UFC president Dana White stated in today's release. "Top contender Chael Sonnen was not available due to injuries sustained in his fight with Nate Marquardt, so top-six middleweight Demian Maia will step in to fight for the title.
"Maia is an Abu Dhabi grappling champion, a five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, and he is 12-1 in MMA and coming off a win over Dan Miller at UFC 109. Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia will be a matchup between MMA's best striker and MMA's best grappler."
Maia is currently under medical suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission until Aug. 6 due to an left vertical upper eyelid laceration. However, Maia was not issued a minimum suspension, and he can be cleared early by an ophthalmologist or ocular-plastics doctor.
Maia wasn't immediately available for comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com), but the UFC obviously feels confident the wound will receive clearance.
While Abu Dhabi does not have an athletic commission in place to regulate the event, the UFC acts as its own governing body and does observe the rules and regulations set forth by most U.S.-based commissions, including the NSAC.
Silva and Maia will fight in UFC 112's main event in a bout the organization is billing as "MMA's best striker vs. MMA's best grappler."
Belfort's return to date from the shoulder surgery that forced him out of the contest has not yet been announced. Belfort's manager, Fabiano Farah, today told MMAjunkie.com he expected his client to miss at least four months of action.
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