Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today (April 24, 2012) announced Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II as the new headlining bout for the UFC 148 pay-per-view (PPV) event on July 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The announcement and subsequent change in plans were revealed at today's UFC 148 pre-fight press conference. For updates, live blog and real-time video stream of the presser click here.

"The Spider" was expected to defend his 185-pound strap against his arch nemesis in the main event of UFC 147 on June 23 in Brazil; however, extenuating circumstances forced the world's largest fight promotion to shuffle the deck and send its two middleweight stars to "Sin City."

Any changes coming to the UFC 147 line-up, including the 185-pound grudge match between Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, have yet to be revealed, but UFC President Dana White and the usual cast of characters are sure to update the pending fight card during today's pre-fight presser.

Stay tuned.