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Chris Weidman injured, pulls out of UFC 181 title defense versus Vitor Belfort

Chris Weidman injured, pulls out of UFC 181 title defense versus Vitor Belfort

Two world title fights will still lead UFC 181 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas. It's just that it will be a different title fight at the top of the card than originally planned.

Middleweight champion Chris Weidman pulled out of his title defense against Vitor Belfort that was to headline the show because he broke his left left while punching during a recent training session. The UFC quickly added a welterweight title rematch between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler to replace it at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Weidman has a hairline fracture. It will be casted 4 weeks, cleared in 6. He'll be fighting Vitor in February now.

— Dana White (@danawhite) September 22, 2014

Robbie Lawler will face Johny Hendricks for the title at UFC 181 on Dec. 6. http://t.co/io3IUjchdz

— Dana White (@danawhite) September 22, 2014

The co-main event of UFC 181 will remain a lightweight title fight between champion Anthony "Showtime" Pettis and former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez.

Hendricks, Lawler, Pettis and Melendez will take part in a news conference Friday at 2 p.m. PT in the MGM Grand's Premier ballroom that is free and open to the public.