Patrick “The Predator” Cote has suffered a knee injury that will keep him off the UFC 83 “Serra vs. St. Pierre 2” card on Saturday, April 19 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Cote’s manager, Stephane Patry, informed The Fight Network on Sunday that results from an MRI exam revealed the rising middleweight contender had sustained a sprained knee after falling on some ice last week.
“We were still talking [to the UFC] about an opponent when Patrick fell on the ice,” Patry said. “He went for the MRI, and the doctor told him it’s sprained and he can’t train for four to six weeks – so he won’t be available to fight [in April].”
Despite published reports that Cote (12-4, 3-4 UFC) would face Alan “The Talent” Belcher (12-4, 3-2 UFC) at the UFC’s inaugural Canadian show, Patry said the fight was never signed. He also indicated he would not have approved the bout even if it had been offered, as a victory over Belcher would have done little to further Cote’s place in the UFC’s middleweight division.
“We were not going to take that fight anyway,” Patry said. “It wouldn’t make sense.” Cote is undefeated in his last three Octagon appearances, with wins over Scott Smith, Kendall Grove and Drew McFedries. Following his most recent win over McFedries at UFC Fight Night 12 in January, “The Predator” told TFN he hoped to face a top five 185-pound fighter next.
Belcher has reeled off consecutive wins since his submission loss to Grove at UFC 69 last April in Houston. The Biloxi, Miss., native last competed in October, when he stopped Canadian Kalib Starnes on a second-round cut at UFC 77.
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