UFC 147: 3 Possible Replacements for Injured Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva

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After a series of stacked cards in recent months, UFC 147 already had fans frustrated due to the lack of high-profile fights on the card. Now with the news that the main event between Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort has been scrapped due to a broken hand for Belfort, the UFC 147 fight card is officially in shambles.

The fight card scheduled for June 23 at the Estádio Jornalista Felipe Drumond in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is now tentatively headlined with a bout betweein Fabricio Werdum and Mike Russow.

Yeah, ouch.

Rumors indicate that the UFC is actively looking for a replacement opponent for Wanderlei Silva, but with the UFC middleweight division already labeled as one of the most shallow in the promotion, there really aren't many options.

Thankfully, there are still a few fighters who could step in and potentially have an interesting fight against Wanderlei Silva, likely saving the pay-per-view in the process.

Here are three opponents who could replace Vitor Belfort at UFC 147.

Alan Belcher

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Coming off of the biggest victory of his professional career, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Alan Belcher would make for an interesting matchup against Wanderlei Silva, one of the top strikers in the history of the sport.

Belcher recently knocked out Rousimar Palhares at UFC on FOX 3 in impressive fashion, out-grappling the submission expert on the mat in the process. 

Though he isn't a high-profile opponent who would likely sell many pay-per-views at this point, he deserves to be fighting higher up on the card than he has been. He's riding a four-fight win streak and has finished his opponent in each of those contests.

Brian Stann

Brian Stann decimated renowned striker Alessio Sakara and put himself back in the winner's circle after a loss to Chael Sonnen during UFC 136.

Wanderlei Silva was originally scheduled to meet Brian Stann nearly a year ago to this day at UFC 130. Unfortunately, the fight fell apart and Silva was eventually replaced by the debuting Jorge Santiago.

Both fighters have had their ups and downs since that point, but each man is coming off of an impressive victory in his most recent contest. 

Though a Silva-Stann bout wouldn't catapult either fighter immediately into title contention, there's no doubt that these two fan favorites would put on a show and draw in some pay-per-view buys for an event that could otherwise be one of the least-purchased shows of the year.

Chael Sonnen

Because hey, why not?

I know what you're thinking—Chael Sonnen is already set to fight soon, at UFC 148 against Anderson Silva.

You're right. But judging by Chael's comments in numerous interviews, where he rips apart Wanderlei Silva as being a "bum" and questions his ability to continue competing in the sport, perhaps Mr. Sonnen would consider making history by defeating not one, but TWO Silvas, in a matter of two weeks?

If anyone can do it, it's the gangster from West Linn, Oregon.