MMA: Silva's Injury, Belfort-Le, Ortiz-Lil Nog and the Week's Biggest News

Another busy week for the world of MMA has concluded. 

A current UFC champion announced an injury that may keep him out for the remainder of the year, a former UFC champion will welcome a former Strikeforce champion to the promotion, and another former UFC champ will battle a legend of the sport.

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva recently revealed that he suffered a shoulder injury prior to his UFC 134 title defense against Yushin Okami.  Silva defended his belt, but it looks like he may be forced out of action as a result.

Vitor Belfort announced his return to action against former Strikeforce middleweight title holder Cung Le at UFC 139 in November.

Former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will lock horns with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140 in December.

UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva Sidelined Until 2012

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has revealed that he suffered a shoulder injury while training for his UFC 134 title defense against Yushin Okami.

The Brazilian also released the news that he had been forced to take pain medication prior to the fight, but cleared it with the commission.

Even with the injury, Silva managed to finish Okami by second-round TKO to retain his belt.

The injury will not require surgery and can be healed by rest and rehab, according to Silva's manager, Ed Soares.  Silva is expected to return to action in the first quarter of 2012.

Source: MMAFighting

Vitor Belfort Welcomes Cung Le to the UFC in San Jose

Brazilian middleweight Vitor Belfort has announced his next opponent, former Strikeforce champion Cung Le.

Le will be making his UFC debut in his home of San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 19 at UFC 139.  The Sanshou kickboxer has been out of action since June of last year, when he defeated Scott Smith via TKO.

Belfort will look to score his second consecutive win since he dropped a title fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 126 in February.  He bounced back by knocking out Yoshihiro Akiyama in August.

It is possible that the two striking specialists could headline the event.

Source: VitorBelfort.com

Tito Ortiz Battles Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140

The UFC 140 event planned for the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Dec. 10 has added two additional fights.

On the main card, former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will face off with former Pride superstar Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Ortiz revitalized his career by defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 132 in July, but fell victim to current No. 1 contender Rashad Evans at UFC 133.

"Lil Nog" has dropped two straight bouts, most recently to rising contender Phil Davis in March.

Also added to the event is a battle of lightweight grappling stalwarts, as Nik Lentz will take on Canadian Mark Bocek.

Source: UFC

Jon Fitch Returns to Action Against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141

Top welterweight Jon Fitch will make his return from a shoulder injury at UFC 141 to meet Johny Hendricks.

Fitch has lost only once in his last 24 bouts, dropping a UFC 87 title bout to Georges St-Pierre.  In his most recent action, Fitch battled B.J. Penn to a draw at UFC 127 in February.

Hendricks, meanwhile, carries an 11-1 record into the contest.  The former Oklahoma State wrestling star defeated Mike Pierce at UFC 133 in August.

Fitch had expressed a desire to fight in his native San Jose at UFC 139, but instead will compete in Las Vegas on Dec. 30.

Source: UFC

Daniel Robert Injured, TJ Waldburger Will Meet Mike Stumpf at UFN 25

UFC welterweight Daniel "Ninja" Roberts has been forced off the Sept. 17 Ultimate Fight Night 25 card due to injury.

In his place will be promotional newcomer Mike Stumpf, who now locks horns with T.J. Waldburger on the preliminary card.

UFN 25 takes place from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The main card airs on Spike TV.  Waldburger-Stumpf will be streamed live on Facebook.

Source: UFC

Strikeforce Challengers 19 Loses Headliner Zwicker; Larkin to Fight Rossborough

Virgil Zwicker has suffered an injury during training and is out of the Strikeforce Challengers 19 main event.

Stepping in on short notice will be veteran Nick Rossborough, who now meets the undefeated Lorenz Larkin.

The event takes place Sept. 23 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.  The main card airs live on Showtime.

Source: Sherdog

Chris Camozzi Returns to the UFC, Welcomes Francis Carmont to the Promotion

UFC 137 will feature the return of The Ultimate Fighter season 11 alum Chris Camozzi to the promotion.  The veteran middleweight will welcome French striker Francis Carmont to the UFC on Oct. 29 at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The news was first announced by the UFC, and was confirmed to Bleacher Report after speaking directly to the returning fighter.

Camozzi's time on the reality show was cut short by a broken jaw, but he was brought back at the TUF 11 finale, where he defeated James Hammortree.  Despite compiling a 2-1 record inside the Octagon, he was surprisingly cut following a UFC 127 loss to Kyle Noke in February.

Awaiting Camozzi will be Georges St. Pierre’s TriStar training partner, Francis Carmont (16-7), who has largely competed in the light heavyweight division while fighting in Europe.

Source: UFC

 

Aaron Simpson Meets a Returning Eric Schafer at UFC 136

UFC veteran Eric “Red” Schafer will return to the Octagon at UFC 136 on Oct. 8.

Middleweight Nick Catone suffered a torn Achilles and was forced out of his scheduled fight with Aaron Simpson. Schafer replaces the New Jersey-based fighter against Simpson.

Schafer's previous stint in the promotion was in the light heavyweight division, but he has since successfully made the drop to the 185-pound division.

UFC 136 takes place at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Source: UFC

Fabio Maldonado Injured, out of UFC on Versus 6

Brazilian light heavyweight striker Fabio Maldonado has suffered an injury preparing for his UFC on Versus 6 fight against Aaron Rosa.

UFC President Dana White announced the news.  No replacement opponent has been named for Rosa.

The event takes place Oct. 1 from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., and is headlined by a bantamweight title bout between champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Demetrious Johnson.

Source: UFC

Maximo Blanco Drops to Featherweight, Joins UFC

Venezuelan fighter Maximo Blanco will make the drop to featherweight and join the UFC.

The move was announced by Blanco's manager, Brian Butler-Au of SuckerPunch Entertainment, via Twitter.

Blanco’s previous 13 bouts took place in the lightweight division, including his most recent bout, a rear-naked choke submission loss to Pat Healy under the Strikeforce banner on Sept. 10, which ended a six-fight winning streak.

Known as “Maxi,” the 27-year-old recently started training with Jackson’s Submission Fighting in Albuquerque, N.M. 

Source: Twitter