Fresh off a UFC Fight Night 22 victory over Rousimar Palhares, Nate Marquardt (30-9-2 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has replaced Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and now meets Yushin Okami (25-5 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the headliner of November's UFC 122 event. UFC president Dana White today announced the change via Twitter.
As UFC executives officially announced earlier this week, UFC 122 takes place Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, and airs via same-day delay on Spike TV.
Although initially reported as injured, Belfort, in fact, is healthy, as White confirmed via Twitter. And as MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, Belfort is now slated to get a title shot with middleweight champ Anderson Silva in early 2011, possibly at UFC 125.
Officials announced Belfort vs. Okami would serve as a title eliminator and determine a No. 1 contender. And given Marquardt's standing in the division, the bout is likely to keep that designation.
Marquardt's victory over Palhares, which came after the Brazilian slipped on an attempted leg lock and left himself open to punches, was his fourth win in five fights. It also moved him to 5-2 since he fell short to champ Anderson Silva in his first title shot.
Okami, who long has flirted with title contention, most recently earned a split-decision win over Mark Munoz at UFC on Versus 2. It was his his fifth win in his past six fights, which included additional victories over Lucio Linhares, Dean Lister, Evan Tanner and Jason MacDonald. The lone loss came to Chael Sonnen, who had been promised an immediate rematch but now is dealing with the aftermath of a failed drug test following a loss to Silva at UFC 117.
For more on UFC 122, including the latest rumored fight card, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Nate Marquardt)
(UPDATED on 9/22/10 at 1 p.m. ET with news of the Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort matchup and confirmation Belfort isn't injured.)
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