TIM SYLVIA KNOCKED OUT OF AFFLICTION BOUT

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TIM SYLVIA KNOCKED OUT OF AFFLICTION BOUT
Monday, June 15, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com

Following a nine-second knockout loss at Adrenaline 3 Saturday night, Tim Sylvia has been removed from Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1. The former UFC heavyweight champ was scheduled to take on former UFC contender Paul Buentello.

The news was first reported by AOL Fanhouse and subsequently confirmed by MMAWeekly.com.

Affliction vice president Tom Atencio said the decision was made out of concern for Sylvia’s health.

“I just think it’s too soon, and Monte (Cox, Sylvia’s manager) thinks it is too,” said Atencio. “We all agree that it should be 90 days off and I just don’t want to be that promoter that takes a chance. Tim’s a friend of mine, and even if he wasn’t a friend, it’s just too dangerous.”

Atencio said Buentello would likely face the winner of Gilbert Yvel vs. Pedro Rizzo, the co-main event of June 27’s “Ultimate Chaos” in Biloxi, Miss. Atencio will face Randy Hedderick on the event’s undercard.

“But it depends on how beat up they are, obviously,” he qualified. “I don’t want to bring one of those guys in if they’re all beat to hell, too.”

Sylvia recently signed a new contract with Affliction and may return at the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2010, Atencio noted.