While hindsight remains 20/20, it appears the UFC may have been able to salvage the since-cancelled UFC 151 if they?d held off on axing the event for a few more hours. Though light heavyweight champ Jon Jones was unlikely to have agreed to any change in opponent given the short preparation time, a different division?s title-holder was willing to step up in his place as a legitimate headliner if necessary.
According to UFC President Dana White, middleweight king Anderson Silva called him personally to say he would fight on the card at 205 pounds if necessary. Unfortunately, the UFC had already gone past the point of no return where scratching the show was concerned and Silva?s offer, though appreciated, was declined.
Jones Apologizes to Fans, Fighters for UFC 151 Butterfly Effect
MMAFighting was first to report the conversation with White. It is unknown who Silva would have faced had things worked out differently.
With the offer no longer relevant, Silva will go back to sitting on the sidelines for the remainder of 2012 while waiting for either a clear cut 185-pound contender to surface or a super-fight with Georges St-Pierre.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
TweetSource: http://www.fighters.com/08/25/anderson-silva-nearly-stepped-in-to-save-ufc-151
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