Top middleweight contender Yushin Okami has suffered another hand injury -- this time in training -- and will more than likely be unable to challenge 185-pound champion Anderson Silva anytime soon, according to MMARated.com.
"Thunder" initially broke his hand against Evan Tanner at UFC 82: "Pride of a Champion" -- a fight the Japanese import won via crushing knockout. There's currently no word on whether or not this is a fresh break or if he re-aggravated the existing damage.
The tentative plan was to pit Okami against Silva as soon as UFC 88: "Breakthrough" on September 6 if the "Spider" escaped his non-title light heavyweight fight tonight with James Irvin injury-free. Patrick Cote would then take on the winner of that match in late 2008.
Now it seems that the "Predator" may have leapfrogged Okami -- the last man to deal Silva a loss (albeit disqualification -- for a chance to next take on the feared Brazilian striker.
Good luck, Patrick.
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