UFC 153 Gets Make-Over: Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonner, Maldonaldo vs. Teixeira
By: Sensei Phillip Palmejar
Just when we thought things in the UFC could not get any stranger, we were wrong. With both headlining fights for UFC 153 being cancelled due to the injury bug, officials were scrambling to put together some marquee match-ups that could keep the rabid Brazilian fan base happy. A catch weight fight between Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen was recently entertained as a possible replacement headliner but that was quickly laid to rest. What was confirmed by the UFC and reported by BJPenn.com via their official Twitter page is a new light heavyweight 3 round headliner pitting Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva (32-4) against perennial fight of the night entertainer, Stephan Bonnar (15-7).
Coming just weeks after the Jon Jones debacle and cancelation of UFC 151, Anderson Silva steps up on short notice, just as he said he would be willing to do, to help save UFC 153 and gain even more admoration from his home country fans. Colliding with Stephan Bonnar at 205 pounds keeps not only his belt and middleweight reign in tact, but also offers up an exciting pugilistic match up that should not fail to entertain.
Another short notice step up is Fabio Maldonado (18-5). After openly petitioning for this fight after Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-10) made his elbow injury public and pulled out of his fight with Glover Teixeira (18-2), Maldonado will now get co-main event status in his home country. Fighting the rising star in Teixeira is no easy feat, one has to wonder if Maldonado was already training and preparing for this specific timeline despite coming in to this bout on a two fight losing streak in the UFC.
Finally, a special treat for UFC 153 ticket holders, the return of Heavyweight kingpin Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7), who will take on 6’5″ Dave Herman (21-4). In a recent interview, Big Nog revealed that he returned to training much too soon and re-injured his arm, extending his healing timeline. He broke his arm in December after a brutal Kimura arm lock, applied by Frank Mir, broke his bones before he was able to tap out.
Stay tuned to Real Combat Media for all the happenings in MMA, UFC and boxing because with the current martial landscape, there is no telling what could happen next.
UFC 153 takes place in HSBC Arena, Rio De Janeiro on October 13, 2012.
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