UFC 116 gets a downgrade without Wanderlei Silva
The highly anticipated between fight between light heavyweight veterans Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1, 1NC) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2NC) will have to wait. According to MMAFighting.com Silva has been forced to withdraw due to injury and MMAWeekly.com is reporting that Chris Leben (20-6) will step in to fight against Akiyama.
The Wanderlei Silva versus Yoshihiro Akiyama fight was originally going to happen in February at UFC 110 but when it didn’t materialize Silva was signed to face ultimate fighter season three winner Michael Bisping. Silva emerged victorious over Bisping by unanimous decision finally setting up the matchup with Akiyama at UFC 116.
Their fight was to be the night’s co-main event behind the mega heavyweight title unification bout between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Unfortunately Silva hurt his ribs during training and fans will again be forced to wait to see The Axe Murderer versus Sexyama.
Stepping in is Chris Leben only 11 days before the fight and amazingly just 3 days removed from fighting. Leben just fought Aaron Simpson as part of the TUF 11 season final main card, winning by 2nd round TKO. The MMA community knew Leben loved to fight but two top level fights in 14 days is very rare and well pretty darn crazy, you are the man Chris Leben!
Akiyama is a decorated judoka and former K-1 HERO’S Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner. He made his UFC debut at UFC 100 against Alan Belcher, winning a very close split decisions that earned the both fight of the night honors. Akiyama has won 12 fights in a row and hasn’t lost in his last 14 fights dating back almost five years.
Losing Silva hurts the fight card that was anchored by the two main events end then though Leben is a fan favorite, there is a drop off. The fight will stay as the co-main event though and do not sleep on Leben, he will be a game opponent and is always dangerous. How his body will handle fighting again just two weeks removed will be a big key issue in the fight and something to watch.
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