UFC 81: Thales Leites Breaks Hand, Out of Bout Against Marquardt
By: Kris Karkoski | Jan 8, 2008
The UFC has announced that Thales Leites suffered a broken right hand during a training session yesterday and has been forced to withdraw from his main card fight against Nate Marquardt. According to the announcement the injury will require surgery which will be completed later this week.
A replacement for the bout has yet to be named.
Enter Chris Leben.
BTW, people are talking about Wanderlai moving down to middleweight. Do you realize how big of a middleweight he is? He would eat Nate Marquardt or Rich Franklin.
Wandy said he wouldn’t want to make the weight cut as it is too much. That was Hendo’s initial reaction too though…
Leben would be good but Okami would match up better; lets save The Crippler for Nate Quarry’s next fight?
I think with all the talk about the middleweight divison being weak we will see some efforts by the UFC to bulk it up. We have already seen them move Dan Henderson down. The Ultimate Fighter will feature middleweights (although many times TUF contestants drop down a weight class following the show). If Anderson Silva beats Dan Henderson, I can see the UFC really trying to get Wanderlai Silva to move down and give Anderson some competiton. Plus the Anderson Silva domination of the divison makes it imperative to sign a guy like Matt Lindand.
At PRIDE’s end Dan Henderson moved up to a lightheavyweight and beat Wanderlai Silva and took his belt. Picture this scenario: Dan Henderson somehow beats Anderson Silva. His first title defense against Wanderlai trying to steal a belt out of his weight class. Kind of a element of revenge.
I was looking forward to that fight. It was fairly even on paper. Hopefully they find a game opponent. I wouldn’t mind seeing Franklin, or Okami. As far as Henderson, he is a stud at any weight. He also, contrary to popular belief, started in the UFC, not Pride. I think Hendo takes Silva (I hope) It’s time for some new competition.
I THINK OKAMI OR MAYBE LUTTER MIGHT STEP IN EVEN THOUGHT LUTTER SUPOSEDLY IS FIGHTING AT 82
I know the UFC have snapped up Evan Tanner again and are more than likely waiting to use him in a more “up and coming event”. But this would make a great showpeice fight and add a bit of flare to the whole event, adding a bit of spice to see if the Texan can mix it with the younger Marquardt. The whole idea may get people on their toes a bit as to think of the return of Tanner. You cannot fault that he was a great fighter in his time in the UFC with his powerful leg kicks and ground work and it may show what sort of fighter Marquardt really is to take him on. As long as he doesnt come back with that braided hair I’d welcome this match up.
Let Lutter fight Nate. both coming off loses to A silva. Could be a good fight to get up in the food chain of MW.
Franklin and Lutter were supposed to fight at 82, but Rich is out with injury. Let Lutter have a go at Nate the Great.
Travis Lutter?
I would prefer Okami rather than Lutter to make this a better fight but I would still cheer for the return of Tanner. As good as Lutters Ju-Jitsu is I dont think he could come close to a win over Marquardt. Okami’s style is more of a better match up and would make it a more exciting fight with heavier blows. Marquardt needs to take on a more well rounded fighter to make this bout anything more than exciting. The last thing we want is a fight to be compared to watching paint dry on a wall and in my opinion thats how a Lutter set up would be. If anything I would like to see Franklin vs Marquardt as they are both coming off loses to Silva (If only Franklin wasn’t injured)
Also wheres Martin Kampmann these days???
jason and thumper,
i thought chris leben had left the ufc?
witch doctor last time i hered bout kampmann he was haveing an operation on his knee but that was back in september his return should be march april time
There was a rumor that Leben was leaving after the fight with Kalib Starnes but I guess the Terry Martin fight answers that question.
Yes, I think a fight with Okami is necessary. If Nate beats Okami then a potential future matchup with Franklin could occur and if Hendo beats A. Silva than we could see a future 1# Title Contender come out of that scenario. I know I am jumping the gun but seriously I still feel like the Hendo Vs. Silva is a great fight, but I don’t know who would be next unless a rematch takes place immediately.
But yes, I think Tanner, Leben, Cote, Lutter, Quarry, Bisping, Macdonald and others are in the mix too
Although, beating Okami is kind of the key towards the title since Franklin is not possible and he is the only one in recent history to beat Okami.
Hey Kris, what happend to the recent comments section on the side. I liked that thing….it let me follow some of the regulars on here.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Belcher switched into this spot. He was pretty ****y in his last fight. This either solidifies him or shuts him up. Bump up Terry Martin to fight Almeida then sign on some hungry upstart or a game vet fighter to bang with Eastman..
i dont know about these fights…
i want to see evan tanner vs matt lindland
Lindland is this week’s Fedor. He’s not fighting in the UFC anytime soon. He has his own thing working for him. The UFC can’t deal with people that have opinions and don’t want to play by all the UFC’s rules, so no Matt for a while.
[...] UFC has announced that Jeremy Horn (79-16-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) will replace an injured Thales Leites and take on Nate Marquardt in a main card middleweight bout at UFC 81: Breaking Point next [...]