Yesterday, two big injury announcement looked to have destroyed the main card of UFC 153. First, UFC president Dana White announced via Twitter that co-main eventer Quinton Jackson was injured. Jackson reportedly suffered an elbow injury that prevented him from fighting Glover Teixeira. Shortly after that, we found out that Featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s foot had not yet recovered from his recent motorcycle accident. The injury prevented Aldo from an incredibly exciting fight against former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
The UFC rallied hard and brought the UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva in to headline the event. Silva’s opponent will be former TUF 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar. The fight has already been met with heavy criticism for being a lopsided match. However, some are saying Bonnar stands a chance in the three round bout.
Silva was not the only Brazilian to rise to the challenge on short notice. Fabio Maldonado, who was last seen losing a very controversial decision at UFC On Fuel 3, jumped at the chance to face rising star Glover Teixeira. On top of that, MMA Legend Antonio Nogueira and Dave Herman signed up to fight each other too.
MMA Junkie talked to UFC President Dana White for his thoughts on the replacement bouts (Via USA Today):
We’re back on track. Anderson Silva wasn’t scheduled to fight at all. I called him today, and he’s shooting a commercial in Brazil. Anderson Silva steps up, and Stephan Bonnar wants to fight him. The Teixeira vs. Maldonado fight comes together, and then Nogueira was standing right there with Anderson shooting the commercial with him, and he said he wanted to fight, too.
This is old-school UFC. A card is in jeopardy, but guys that are world champions and superstars stepped up and jumped in and saved the card. This is why the fans love this sport and why we went on a 12-year run without canceling an event.
I’m not sure what card Dana could be referring to that was even close to the jeopardy of UFC 153 or 151. But, there’s no doubt he appreciates the fighters’ willingness to help the UFC: