Vitor Belfort Suffers Broken Hand, Pulled From UFC 147 | UFC NEWS
By Jonathan Kirschner
UFC President Dana White confirmed at the UFC 146 post fight press conference that Vitor Belfort has suffered a broken hand and is out of the UFC 147 main event. Originally scheduled to fight Wanderlei Silva, it is unknown exactly how Belfort broke his hand and there is no timetable for a return.
It seems as if UFC 147 is just not meant to be.
The event was originally slated to take place in a soccer stadium in Rio De Janeiro that was going to house 80,000 to 100,000 screaming fans watch Anderson Silva attempt to defend his UFC Middleweight Title against Chael Sonnen. Due to a United Nations meeting being in town the same weekend, it was near impossible for the location to have enough hotel rooms for the UFC talent and UN officials and the rematch between Silva and Sonnen was moved to Las Vegas for UFC 148.
It was at that point where the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil would take the headlining spot. With Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort in the main event, they felt as if they needed more drawing power to make the pay-per-view appealing to those outside of Brazil. That’s when they attempted to move Jose Aldo’s title fight to UFC 147, but those plans got scrapped and his fight stayed on UFC 149.
Now, just over a month removed from the main card shuffle, Vitor Belfort suffered a broken hand and the main event has to change yet again. The top choice for a replacement would have been Alan Belcher, but he suffered a hand injury in his bout against Rousimar Palhares that will put him on the sidelines for a bit.
Vitor Belfort released a statement on his Twitter (including the picture of his hand seen above) stating how he cannot sleep and he keeps thinking about what happened. He went on to say that he’s is very sad but will return stronger than before.
Stay tuned to BJPENN.com for more on this story as it develops.
Read More: Vitor Belfort (NEWS), UFC 147 (NEWS), Broken Hand (NEWS)
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About the Author
His work has appeared on BJPenn.com and Fox Sports. Follow him @mmaKirschner.
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Wtf now both tuf coaches are hurt
BJ VS WANDERLEI!!!!!!
daam
Perfect comeback fight
Yeah, maybe they can have another throwback fight (like 2 good pride fighters)
Wand lives to fight another year.
hahaha it’s true. Honestly I always want to see Vitor fight, but this would’ve been horrible. I really don’t think it’s right for the UFC to exploit wandy like that. And Wandy’s an idiot for taking the fight. He got very lucky. I don’t want to see Wandy die or get seriously hurt, no one does
lucky for wandy but ****ing spewing about this
I think Bisping wants a rematch with Wand
YESSSSS
I hope they match wanderlei with someone he can beat
Wand was gona chin chek Vitor!!!
hahaha you’re such a moron it’s not even funny. Even if Wandy could hit Vitor, Vitor can easily handle it. He’s not Cung Le, and Cung Le survived, that was a BS stoppage and you know it. I love Wandy but his days are done
****, i thought brandao won that fight.
They need to replace Vitor with a big name fighter or they might as well make this card free..
Anyone think Penn would be up for it?
Wandy vs Penn would probably sell quite a few PPV buys
1. Penn is retired.
2. Penn hasn’t fought above 170 in a long time.
Next.
Bring back Patrick Cote, that would be an awesome match of strikers.
Good idea!! But I think Cote, even if he’s coming straight off the couch would beat Wandy. Cote has an INSANE chin and KO power in either hand. Not a good match for Wandy
Or let Kos move up to mw to fight Wand. Better yet, bring back Rumble Johnson, that would be fireworks!
He can’t make weight.
he needs someone with no hand power give him Jake shield he is a M W again
MUTHERFKR…damn Vitor!
God must love Wanderlei
Who needs an opponent now… Okami? Belcher?
Belcher… And wandi…. Theirs a good match up… Strikers…. No layin and prayin…. Werx for me…..
are you two dumb? the article states that belcher has a hand injury from his last fight so he isnt an option.