Anderson Silva pulled from TUF: 'Brazil 4' coaching duties, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to serve as replacement

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White was adamant that Anderson Silva would remain on as coach for The Ultimate Fighter: "Brazil 4," despite the fact that "The Spider" was popped for steroids for his fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 183.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), however, says otherwise.

Earlier today, UFC released a statement revealing that Silva has been pulled as coach for TUF as requested by the NSAC in light of the recent circumstances. Taking Anderson's place will be none other than his longtime mentor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria.

Check it out:

The UFC announced today that Brazilian legend Rodrigo "Big Nog" Nogueira will join the cast of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4, the organization's signature television reality series, as coach following the departure of UFC middleweight Anderson Silva.The Nevada State Athletic Commission, which regulates The Ultimate Fighter series' exhibition fights filmed in Las Vegas, requested that Silva cease participation in the series as a result of his temporary suspension following the recently announced preliminary results of his January 9 pre-fight drug test for UFC 183. The UFC and Globo, the show's Brazilian broadcaster, respect the Commission's decision, which will allow Silva to focus his attention on the matter before the Commission. Anderson Silva has been an amazing champion and a true ambassador of the sport of mixed martial arts and the UFC will continue to support him as this process unfolds. The series, which began filming in Las Vegas on Monday, Feb. 2, originally featured Silva and former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua as head coaches. Rua will continue on as coach of Team Shogun versus the newly formed Team Nogueira, which will also include Big Nog's twin brother Rogerio "Lil Nog" Nogueira as an assistant coach.

If you ask me, it would've made more sense to have "Lil Nog" step in and then face off against "Shogun" soon thereafter, seeing as how both men have lobbied for a rematch for quite some time now.

Silva's win over Diaz (see it again here) has since been overturned to a "no contest" by the NSAC and he is temporarily suspended. And despite rumblings that Silva's massive six million dollar payday was being withheld by UFC pending further investigation, White says the Brazilian bomber has in fact been paid.

That said, could this be a sign of things to come?