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‘Axe Murderer’ Steps in for Belfort Against Le at UFC 139

Wanderlei Silva is in for Vitor Belfort against Cung Le at UFC 139. | Photo: Daniel Herbertson



Vitor Belfort will no longer fight Cung Le at UFC 139, UFC President Dana White announced on Wednesday. Instead, Le will square off with former Pride Fighting Championships 205-pound champion Wanderlei Silva.

The reason for Belfort's withdrawal from the event is currently unknown. UFC 139 goes down Nov. 19 from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and will feature a light heavyweight showdown between Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua. Also on tap for the UFC's first San Jose show is a pivotal bantamweight scrap between former WEC titleholders Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles.

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Silva has lost six of his last eight contests. Following a decorated career in Pride, the former champion debuted with UFC in 2007, dropping a decision to Chuck Liddell at UFC 79 in an exciting, back-and-forth affair. “The Axe Murderer” would rebound with a vintage knockout over Keith Jardine the following May before losing back-to-back bouts to Quinton Jackson and Rich, Franklin, respectively.

The Brazilian made his debut at 185-pounds at UFC 110, taking home a unanimous decision over Michael Bisping in February 2010. Returning from knee surgery, the 35-year-old was he knocked out in his most recent outing by Chris Leben, falling to “The Crippler” in just 27 seconds at UFC 132 on July 2.

Le won the Strikeforce middleweight championship in 2008, battering Frank Shamrock with kicks and forcing his opponent to retire due to a broken arm. However, the 39-year-old native of Vietnam would relinquish the title before defending it in order to pursue his acting career.

A sanshou kickboxing stylist, Le's last in-cage appearance came in June 2010. Le avenged the lone loss of his MMA career, knocking out Scott Smith to even the score following a December 2009 knockout loss to “Hands of Steel.”

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