Alan Belcher injured, says Vitor Belfort moving to Jon Jones bout a "blessing in disguise"

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

It's a good thing Vitor Belfort got a new assignment late Thursday night, because he'd have been out of a fight otherwise. Belfort was originally scheduled to meet Alan Belcher at UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro, but Belcher revealed on Friday that he was going to have to pull out of that fight within the next week.

"Everyone's asking if I am mad at [the UFC, Jon Jones, and Vitor Belfort, and the] answer is no," Belcher wrote in response to Belfort's booking against Jones at UFC 152. "This is a blessing in disguise. I have a spinal fracture."

It's not a massive setback for him, and indeed he said he's hoping to return by November. He has an opponent in mind for that return as well.

"With that being said and with much respect I'd like [Chris Weidman] or another top five [opponent in] my return in November. Thanks for all the support."

Penick's Analysis: Belfort and the UFC lucked out in some respects on that front, as they'd have yet another fight to replace if they hadn't already made that move. The injuries that Belcher has sustained throughout his career have continued to pile up, which is very unfortunate as he's got the talent to move further up the ladder. Hopefully this isn't too much of a setback, and if he returns by November a bout with Weidman would make tons of sense for the UFC to book.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_14226.shtml

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