UFC fighter Anderson Silva has confirmed that he has pulled out of the upcoming UFC212 card.
That fight night is due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 3rd with a featherweight bout between Silva's compatriot Jose Aldo and Max Holloway as the main event.
Silva, 42, was due to fight US middleweight fighter Kelvin Gastelum.
However, Gastelum was provisionally suspended for 90 days after testing positive for marijuana metabolites.
"I really wanted to fight in Brazil, my country, but it’s not going to happen. I want to apologize for this. I really wanted to fight here, but it didn’t happen. I think I was hurt in this, but that’s it," Silva said according to MMAJunkie.
However, they do add that there is no official confirmation from the UFC that his slot on the fight card has been removed.
Gastelum had accepted his suspension, which expires on June 9th but claimed that he will not fight in Brazil again, tweeting, "Suspension accepted but I will NEVER fight in Brazil again."
I plan on fighting in July so fingers crossed!! 🤞No matter what I will not be denied my opportunity to fight for the title eventually!
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) May 8, 2017
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