UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will not be returning to the Octagon until sometime in 2010 due to a elbow injury that will require surgery. News of Silva's injury and surgery came from a recent report from ESPN's 'MMA Live.'

According to a report, the elbow surgery will sideline Silva the rest of 2009. There is no word yet on how he suffered the injury or if the injury occurred during his most recent victory.

The time off for Silva may help the middleweight title picture clear up, as Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson both have been promised a shot at Silva following their recent wins. Silva has previously defeated both Henderson and Marquardt, so rematches against either don't interest him.

Silva suggests that Henderson and Marquardt battle it out to determine the true number one contender. Silva last defended his middleweight strap against Thales Leites at UFC 97 in April, where he scored a unanimous decision win over Leites.

When the "Spider" isn't defending his middleweight title, he is taking fights in the light-heavyweight division to further challenge himself and seek out the 'Big' fights. Silva most recently defeated former UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 last month. In his first bout as a light-heavyweight in the UFC, he defeated James Irvin at UFN 14 last July.

Since debuting in the Octagon in June 2006, Silva has put together a undefeated 10-0 record in the UFC - with nine of those wins ending as stoppages. He also garnered notable wins in the organization over Chris Leben, Rich Franklin (2x), Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson, Travis Lutter and Patrick Cote.