<-<- UFC Fight For The Troops 2 --- UFC 127 ->->
UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 5, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Official fight card
Main card
* Middleweight Championship bout: Brazil Anderson Silva (c) vs. Brazil Vitor Belfort
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Forrest Griffin vs. United States Rich Franklin
* Welterweight bout: United States Jake Ellenberger vs. Brazil Carlos Eduardo Rocha
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Jon Jones vs. United States Ryan Bader
* Bantamweight bout: United States Miguel Torres vs. United States Antonio Banuelos
Preliminary card (Spike TV)
* Lightweight bout: United States Donald Cerrone vs. England Paul Kelly
* Featherweight bout: United States Chad Mendes vs. Japan Michihiro Omigawa
Preliminary card
* Lightweight bout: England Paul Taylor vs. United States Gabe Ruediger
* Bantamweight bout: Japan Norifumi Yamamoto vs. United States Demetrious Johnson
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Kyle Kingsbury vs. United States Ricardo Romero
* Welterweight bout: United States Mike Pierce vs. United States Kenny Robertson
Background
Former Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort was scheduled to fight Yushin Okami at UFC 122. However, UFC President Dana White tweeted Belfort would instead challenge Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva for the belt.
A bout between Kenny Florian and Evan Dunham was expected for this event. The fight was moved to UFC: Fight For The Troops 2. However, Florian pulled out due to injury on December 6. Melvin Guillard is now facing Dunham.
A bout between Jon Fitch and Jake Ellenberger was expected for this event. However Fitch was pulled from the bout and will now fight B.J. Penn at UFC 127. Jake Ellenberger will remain on the card and will now fight Carlos Eduardo Rocha.
Sam Stout has withdrawn from his bout with Paul Kelly due to injury and will be replaced by Donald Cerrone.
UFC 126 will feature two preliminary fights live on Spike TV.