With Frank Mir pulled from a planned UFC 146 bout with Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in favor of a main-event contest with UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos, Antonio Silva (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has now also drawn a new opponent.
Originally expected to face Roy Nelson at the event, "Bigfoot" Silva now takes Mir's original slot against Velasquez.
After refusing to disclose the matchup at Saturday night's UFC 145 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White today announced the plans via Twitter.
Nelson is expected to remain on the card, but UFC execs have yet to reveal his new opponent.
Dos Santos, of course, was slated to face former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, a recent pre-fight drug test that flagged Overeem for elevated levels of testosterone left his licensing status in doubt, and UFC officials elected to pull him from the bout rather than risk the findings of a Tuesday hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
A former EliteXC champion and Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix semifinalist, Silva makes his UFC debut. The Brazilian looks to rebound from a surprising loss to Daniel Cormier this past September under the Strikeforce banner.
He meets Velasquez, who also looks to rebound from a loss, the first of his career. The former heavyweight champ ceded his belt to Dos Santos this past November and now looks to earn a shot at regaining his belt.
Source: UFC 146 shakeup continues: With Mir moved to main event, Velasquez draws 'Bigfoot'