Snakebitten Swick Exits UFC 134

An undisclosed injury forced Mike Swick to withdraw from UFC 134. | Photo: Dave Mandel

Silva will now face a replacement opponent, who is expected to be revealed shortly. Headlined by a middleweight title scrap between Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami, UFC 134 goes down Aug. 27 from HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Featuring a bevy of Brazilian talent, it marks the UFC’s first trip to the South American nation since 1998.

Swick, 32, last competed in February 2010, when he was handed his second straight loss after notching a four-fight winning streak to begin his career at welterweight. Since his submission defeat to Paulo Thiago at UFC 109, the American Kickboxing Academy standout has been expected to return to the cage on multiple occasions. However, due illness and injury, the former middleweight has been forced to remain on the shelf since his loss to Thiago 18 months ago.

The reigning Jungle Fight welterweight champion, Silva will make his promotional debut at UFC 134. The 27-year-old rides a nine-fight winning streak heading into the event, most recently capturing his aforementioned championship in October by submitting Francisco Ayon with an arm-triangle choke. The once-beaten Brazilian has competed exclusively in his homeland since turning professional in 2005, finishing seven of his 12 career victims by submission.