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UFC 153: Silva to Square Off Against Bonnar

  • Frank Doyle's Author profile. Frank Doyle

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 UFC 153 Shuffles Fight Card

Yet another UFC card has undergone a major facelift thanks to the injury bug. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo and veteran Quinton “Rampage” Jackson bowed out of their respective matches earlier this week due to injury. Aldo, who was scheduled to fight Frankie Edgar, hurt his foot in a motorcycle accident last weekend. Jackson’s elbow injury will keep him from facing off against Glover Teixeira in what was rumored to be Jackson’s last UFC fight. UFC 153 is expected to be a six-bout event.

Anderson Silva Sticks at Light-Heavyweight 

Despite the injuries UFC president Dana White was adamant that the Oct. 13 event in Rio de Janeiro would go on after last month’s UFC 151 in Las Vegas was cancelled. In the new main event, UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva will take on Stephan Bonnar in a light-heavyweight bout. Silva is already 2-0 at light-heavyweight, which requires him to add about 20 pounds to his frame. Bonnar, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since last November and many figured that he had retired.

Brazilians Meet in Rio de Janeiro Dust-Up

With Jackson out of the picture, the UFC quickly tapped Brazilian Fabio Maldonado to step in against countryman Glover Teixeira. Both Maldonado and Teixeira are newcomers to the UFC. Maldonado is 1-2 in the UFC and pushed hard for this matchup against Teixeira. “Glover and I were supposed to fight in Brazil back before either of us was in the UFC,” Maldonado told MMAjunkie.com before the bout was announced. “I think now would be the perfect time. I hope the UFC will make this fight. If they give me the chance, I will knock Glover out.” Teixeira impressed in his UFC debut at UFC 146, knocking out Kyle Kingsbury.

Nogueira vs. Herman May Earn Co-Main Event Status

While the Silva vs. Bonnar fight is getting all the early press, the matchup between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Dave Herman could be just as exciting. Nogueira has been out of action for the last 10 months rehabbing a broken left arm that he suffered in UFC 140 against Frank Mir. He’s 33-7 in the UFC and this will be only his second time fighting in his home country of Brazil. Herman is also looking to make a big impression in this one. He has lost two straight matches, falling to Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson. Another loss here for Herman could cost him his job, while Nogueira might consider retirement if he doesn’t have his hand raised.