Silva suspended just 30 days, free for potential UFC 115 bout with Akiyama

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While the New South Wales Combat Sports Authority (the commission in charge of regulating this past weekend's UFC 110 event) has yet to release an official list of medical suspensions from the UFC's first trip to Australia, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed the status of one high-profile competitor.

According to Marc Ratner, the UFC's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, newly minted middleweight Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1 MMA, 3-5 UFC) will be free to return to action after a mere 30-day suspension.

The news clears the way for a recently reported potential fight between "The Axe Murderer" and Japanese middleweight star Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 115 in June.

Though not yet officially announced, UFC 115 is expected to take place June 12 at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Akiyama had been slated to face Silva at the UFC 110 card before the promotion elected to pull him in favor of Bisping. Akiyama told MMAjunkie.com prior to the Australian event that he was expecting to face the winner.

At the UFC 110 post-event press conference, UFC president alluded to the potential matchup.

"Akiyama wants to fight Wanderlei very bad," White said. "It's a big fight that he wants. We offered him another fight, and he said he wants Wanderlei."

At the time, White wasn't sure if Silva would be healed in time for the matchup.

"Wanderlei is sitting here with stitches in his chin and a black eye and everything else," White said. "He's going to go home, relax, heal, and then we'll talk to Wanderlei and see when he's ready again. But yeah, Akiyama wants that fight really bad."

If Silva isn't ready to go, it won't be due to medical suspension.

The 30-day ruling also carries with it a 21-day order to refrain from contact in training. However, Silva would still have nearly three full months to prepare for a proposed UFC 115 bout with Akiyama.

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