Dana White is working on Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort UFC title fight

by MMAmania.com on Jun 20, 2009 12:36 PM EDT

Former UFC light heavyweight champion and 11-fight Octagon veteran, Vitor Belfort, is currently under consideration to make another return to the promotion and challenge middleweight champion Anderson Silva for his 185-pound strap.

Company president Dana White tonight made the surprise announcement during "Inside the Octagon" while The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 Finale was on commercial break.

It's certainly great news for fight fans; however, it's a bit strange because Belfort is currently under contract with another promotion, Affliction MMA. In fact, "The Phenom" is booked to battle Sengoku Middleweight Grand Prix winner Jorge Santiago at Affliction 3: "Trilogy" on Aug.1, 2009.

But White more than likely wouldn't make such a bold statement unless he was very confident that the Brazilian would return to the eight-sided cage for a third tour of duty after he satisfies his commitment to the "tee-shirt guys."

Here's a snip from White:

"While [Anderson Silva] is fighting Forrest [Griffin], I’m working on some other 185 pounders. Vitor Belfort — he is a former heavyweight who moved down to 205. Now he’s at 185 pounds. He’s got great hands, he’s good on the ground, and if his head is right, he can be a very dangerous guy. I think that would be a great match up."

Belfort has indeed looked fantastic since he made the decision to shed 20 more pounds and compete at 185 pounds.

He iced Terry Martin in the second round at Affliction: "Banned" with a nice combination that was set up by a flying knee. He followed up that performance at "Day of Reckoning," pulverizing Matt Lindland with a brutal first round blitzkrieg, landing six of seven strikes en route to a scary-looking knockout.

In short, Belfort would make a fine addition to the UFCs middleweight class and be a serious threat to his fellow countrymen.

Yushin Okami, as well as the winner of the bout between Demian Maia and Nate Marquardt at UFC 102 in Aug., are perhaps among the few who may be disappointed to hear this latest news. Especially if Belfort is indeed granted a title shot sooner rather than later.

White apparently feels "The Phenom" has what it takes to dethrone the seemingly invincible champion. And he may be right, but there is only one way to find out now, isn't there?

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Comments

holy fuck. vitor is my favortie fighter of all time i knew this was going to happen. everyone mark my words vitor new ufc mw champ 2010

by butters on Jun 20, 2009 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah Vitor will be a sick addition… is he signed though… I’m surprised Dana would announce this with Vitor still under contract with Affliction.

by Danza Macabra on Jun 20, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah danza, sick is the best way 2 put it. i hope he doesn’t have many fights left on his affliction deal.

by buttcrack obama bin laden on Jun 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

somebody is definitely gettin’ ktfo in this one. i just hope it happens soon.

by buttcrack obama bin laden on Jun 21, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s gonna be Anderson, I’m callin’ the upset now! Back to the old skool boys!!

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jun 21, 2009 5:19 AM EDT up reply actions

This is the most exciting addition to the division that Dana could have aquired with Mousasi moving up in weight. It’s interesting how the once-maligned MW division now has by far the most depth out of all the UFC divisions in terms of contenders to the title. Look at all the possibilities for Anderson:

- Winner of Bisping/Henderson
- Winner of Marquardt/Maia
- Winner of Cote/Okami (if this fight ends up happenning at 104)
- Wanderlei (if he gets a big win at 185)
- Belfort
- GSP (if he agrees to move up for a superfight with the Spider)

Wow. A lot of great possibilities there. Be interesting to see how it all plays out over the coming months. Anderson only has three fights left on his deal after Forrest, so Joe Silva better choose wisely.

by Jeremyjackson on Jun 21, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Mousasi is under contract with M-1 works the finkman. Signing is as likely as a fedor in the UFC. Am i the only one who thinks Maia has the best shot against Andy? – Only stupid people would stand with him and that list is full of them.

by NameNotRequired on Jun 21, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

belfortfan is gonna be stocked Im pretty stocked my self hope it does happen!!!

by Nor-Cal Mexican (formely phlicutioner) on Jun 20, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

i remember i had this rumor out a while ago and nobody saw any truth to it. it isnt a big surprise for most of the guys that heard about danas mw announcement but BOY AM I EXCITED!

VITOR VS ANDERSON = ANDERSON LAID THE F*CK OUT

by Jared on Jun 21, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

yea, i was pumped to hear this too. It surprised me because he’s under contract to my knowledge. Hope this fight happens.

by Crowls on Jun 21, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

wow, this would be a great fight!!! two of my favorites!

by kevin on Jun 21, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Seeing that he got screwed by Mirko and the “verbal” agreemnet…..Dana must of got Belfort to sign away his family IF he does not sign after August 1.

You know it IS happening if Dana made that announcement, ESPECIALLY when the whole Mirko thing was just a week ago!!!

by fightfan on Jun 21, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

i bet he can i like both but he can

by tz swanger on Jun 20, 2009 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

Anderson will crush him

by RichT on Jun 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I knew this day would come!!!!!!!!!

WAR VITOR FTMFW!!!!!! Some Spiders have to be crushed eventually….

by Drew C on Jun 21, 2009 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

I like Vitor, but there is no way in hell he will beat Silva.

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jun 21, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

I like Vitor too that I am biased so I want him to win but I definitely see your point. But as the old adage goes, “a fighter always has a puncher’s chance”.

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jun 21, 2009 5:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Strange….they are friends….i don´t think they will agree

by ThiagO on Jun 21, 2009 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

i heard that too it would be cool if victor comes back to the ufc

by bryant on Jun 21, 2009 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

they won’t give him Anderson he will need a tune up fight.

Vitor vs Okomi
Vitor vs Cote

Vitor vs Wand @ 185LBS

by Horse Cock on Jun 21, 2009 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

Okami needs next title shot so Vitor Wand would be the ish!

by NoobSiabot on Jun 21, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

well i was looking more for gsp silva but vitor would be awesome to. man i wish i could be joe silva

by day1er on Jun 21, 2009 1:03 AM EDT reply actions

I would like to see that fight but I think it is pretty much bs that once again Dana White is backing out of his statement that Yushin Okami is next inline for a title shot! Yushin deserves the shot he was next in line once before and got passed up then lost to franklin and came back up and Dana said that he was next in line again then now he is once again trying to pass up Okami!!! What do you guys think?

by NoobSiabot on Jun 21, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions

Okami is an afterthought. A fight with Anderson would only be a waste. All of us should milk Anderson for what he’s worth, considering that he’s at his peak.

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jun 21, 2009 5:23 AM EDT up reply actions

If I am remembering right, Vitor had a 3 fight contract w/Affliction, so his next fight will be his last. So, Dana probly has already contacted him and feels confident that after Aug 1 Vitor will be in the UFC.
Also, Vitor will not need a tune up fight. He already has a big enough name and enough credibility to come straight in and fight for the title.
This is the best news I have heard in a while, Vitor is my favorite fighter and seems like he is back to his old self. I have always thought that Vitor is the best fighter in the world when his mind is right. Silva/Vitor is an absolute dream matchup.

by efisher on Jun 21, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions

By the way, we have already seen Vitor/Wand in the UFC. It lasted about 20 seconds. No need to see that again.

by efisher on Jun 21, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

more like 40-somethin’ seconds…

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jun 21, 2009 5:24 AM EDT up reply actions

No this is the f**k that I’m talkin’ about! C’mon Phenom. I know you still have it in you. Crush the itsy-bitsy spider. Vitor should go into 1 of ‘em berserker barrages to cut Andy off-guard and rain some bombs. Problem is, Anderson’s reflexes are too fast to get caught up in one of ’em flurries[check out his “dodging the tennis ball off-the-wall” training exercise].

In any case, I’m gonna go old skool. Vitor via stoppage, 45 secs into the 1st round[just like what happened to wanderlei back in the day. hehe!]…

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jun 21, 2009 5:17 AM EDT reply actions

If they bring Belfort in and he does well in a warm-up fight against a solid middleweight, then let the hype build. This guy is just another hyped up nobody until then. What was that guy’s name with the beard- street fighter- beat James Thompson barely on CBS and then got stomped? That’s Belfort too until he beats Rich Franklin or Okami.

by Mammas Boy on Jun 21, 2009 5:31 AM EDT reply actions

“hyped up nobody”? u must have just been turned onto the sport of mma recently to make a statement like that. how long u been keepin up with the sport, 2 yrs. that’s cool, newbie’s have opinions too. just so u know though, this old school, got ufc’s 1,2,3, etc.,etc., on vhs, vitor belfort had as big a part of putting mma on the map as anybody. he was the first bjj black belt that could also KO people, and he was just 20 yr. old then, lol. Now he’s 31 and a full grown man! on a side note, comparing him to kimbo is just ridiculous man

by deuce 4 on Jun 21, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I can’t believe someone seriously compared Vitor Belfort to Kimbo Slice, that is pathetic. Vitor is a former UFC LHW champion and HW tournament winner as well as the last Cage Rage LHW champion and since his cut to MW has looked as good as the Vitor of old who destroyed top fighters in the early days of the UFC so to call him a hyped up nobody is an idiotic statement.

Anderson-Vitor is a dream fight for me and I’d love to see it, I’ve been hopeful of this happening since those rumours of the UFC signing a quality MW. I’ve got Anderson winning but Vitor has the best chance out of anyone of KO’g him.

On a pure selfish basis I’d rather see Anderson-Bisping as that fight would main event a Manchester card so I’d be able to go and see two of my favourites and I’m still hoping that Maia gets a shot at Ando but this would still be a quality fight.

by David W-S on Jun 21, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

you comparing kimbo to vitor= FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Drew C on Jun 21, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

F**K YEAH – although I also like Vitor v Marquardt :)

by DownUnder on Jun 21, 2009 6:54 AM EDT reply actions

that would be an awesome fight.

vitor is the man. i cant believe someone just called him a nobody. just because they arent in the ufc doesnt mean they dont rank up there with ufc fighters.

by chris on Jun 21, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Vitor is def one of my favorite fighters and I’m very impressed with his past couple of fights, but the one thing in question about the Vitor of old is the allegations that he was all juiced up. Now that juice is not an option, Silva might be too much of a challenge. But there’s only one way to find out…i hope it happens.

by Slam City on Jun 21, 2009 8:44 AM EDT reply actions

Im not sure why everyone has lost there heads over this!? Even if it does happen, what evidence is there to suggest hes any danger to Silva? TKO’s over Martin and Lindland? Hardly UFC standard these days. I honeslty cant see Belfort beating Marquardt, Maia, Wandy, Bisping, nevermind Silva.

I could see the fight happening in the future as a spotlight fight, like this Silva Griffin fight. But seriously, I dont see him posing any significant threat to Silva other than a punches chance, any more than anyone else.

by UK_Chris on Jun 21, 2009 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

Marquardt, Maia, and Bisping r nowhere near vitor’s caliber. he’d run through those guys. marquardt and bisping would get absolutely schooled in the standup. nobody has hands like vitor, he’s got pro-boxing caliber hands. and Maia, lol, vitor had his bjj blackbelt when maia was still in middleschool with his white belt

by deuce 4 on Jun 21, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Brilliant. The ‘evidence’ hes ready for those guys is based completely on conjecture. Great to see sound logic at use again.

Pro boxing hands and BJJ better than Maia huh? That why he was released in 05. In which since hes 6-3, 4 of those wins against complete cans, two against the aforementioned UFC cast offs, and, incidently the 3 losses are against Overeem and Hendo! Brilliant.

Reason and logic says: he can hang at MW no doubt, but his days of challenging and beating the best are OVER (outside of good ’ol standard punches chance putting him no better than any of the worlds top 20 or 30).

by UK_Chris on Jun 21, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah…and no-one is going to beat Silva any time soon. He finds it so easy, hes bored! And theres plenty of events to suggest that.

by UK_Chris on Jun 21, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

huh? ur the one who is being delirious here UK_chris ur just like your uk fighters who are just hyped up and spooned with cans…ei..bisping and your overhyped hitman…lol, your punches are soft as cotton candy and ur so full of yourselves…brilliant!!!! first ur boy hitman got schooled and exposed by pac…next will be your bisping…are u even serious about comparing phenom to maia,marquardt and okami? this statement just makes you a scientist…

by gaara on Jun 22, 2009 5:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah good one gaara, lets turn it into a UK vs US debate, retard! What’s Ricky Hatton got to do with all this??

Chris is completely correct, Belfort doesn’t have “pro boxing hands” and to compare his BJJ to Maia’s is laughable!!!

Don’t let a win over a washed up Lindland fool you, Belfort will not walk over the likes of Marquadt, Maia and Okami and certainly not Silva!

by attakdog on Jun 22, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

If Anderson have inspiration, he will eat alive Belfort, no doubt about it. Belfort is very dangerous but Anderson still 2 steps upon him.

by DJgeel on Jun 21, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Belfort has always been one of my favorite fighters…but to think he could come to the UFC and press Anderson is crazy talk. Belfort is not that great on the ground, Advantage Silva.
Standing Belfort has great hands, alright knees and weak kicks. Advantage Silva.
Like I said I’m a huge Vitor fan, but he’d get beatdown by Anderson Silva. JMO

by Couchchamp on Jun 21, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Dont forget that Vitor has no heart man,this fight is over before it starts!!!! Unless Dana puts up enough money Vitor will not fight Anderson!!!!!

by the spyder on Jun 21, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I would bet my life that Vitor wants nothing to do with the Spider. Dana is going to have to give so much money that he cant refuse, to make this one happen.

by the spyder on Jun 21, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

He said he is working on 185-pounders, meaning more than one. Who else is a possible addition?

by RyderDie on Jun 21, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

oh well DANA just wants guys who are fast with K.O power..with boxing hands(vitor was amateur boxer in brazil)..because chuck is retired(and he is the ppv record king)…no jujitsu or wrestling specialist can top ppv appeal of a good striker..people pretty much just want a K.O…look how mma fans cheered the rey mercer k.o of tim silvia(aside from sylvia personality)..mma in the future would just evolve into boxing(without boxing politics and mismatches—and smaller gloves)…just like in the pankration days they deleted the ground and wrestling game and just retained the striking

by yokohama on Jun 22, 2009 12:34 AM EDT reply actions

That’s not entirely true they invented another aspect of fighting which was like mostly boxing and stand up work with very little to no grappling/wrestling/groundfighting basicaly like a rough and fighting version of boxing with no real rules don’t excatly remember the name. They had boxing which was called something else in ancient Greek, wrestling and Pankration which was anythig goes with very little rules and full contact. Pankration actually means “all force”.

by G-Man on Jun 27, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions