UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (25-4 MMA, 10-0 UFC) will likely make his next title defense on Jan. 2 when he meets Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC 108.
The Los Angeles Times first reported the matchup and cited UFC president Dana White as confirming the news.
A source close to one of the fighters told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that fight has been discussed but, as the report states, has not been signed.
UFC 108 takes place Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Due to the holiday schedule, the pay-per-view event is technically considered the UFC's traditional year-end blockbuster show.
Although Dan Henderson had been promised a title shot following his dismantling of Michael Bisping at UFC 100 in July, the veteran fighter is still negotiating a new deal with the UFC. It appears Belfort, thanks to his UFC 103 victory over Rich Franklin, jumped to the head of the line.
Silva, undefeated with a record 10-fight win streak in the UFC, most recently topped Forrest Griffin in a lopsided UFC 101 co-main-event fight. Silva battered the former light-heavyweight champion in a non-title fight and has now posted stoppage victories in 12 of his past 13 wins.
Although Silva claimed he was healthy, wanted to fight before year's end and shrugged off rumors of an elbow surgery, White said earlier this month that Silva would, in fact, go under the knife.
"Contrary to whatever the hell [Silva] is saying, he's not 200 percent healthy," White said. "He's having some bone spurs removed from his elbow, which is a simple little procedure that happens, but you've got to have recovery time."
Belfort, meanwhile, has won five consecutive fights, which included a couple wins in the now-defunct Affliction Entertainment and the U.K.-based Cage Rage. His victory over Franklin, which came via first-round TKO, took place at a catch-weight of 195 pounds. The former UFC light heavyweight champion left the UFC in 2005 but has won six of his past seven to earn his way back.
The Los Angeles Times first reported the matchup and cited UFC president Dana White as confirming the news.
A source close to one of the fighters told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that fight has been discussed but, as the report states, has not been signed.
UFC 108 takes place Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Due to the holiday schedule, the pay-per-view event is technically considered the UFC's traditional year-end blockbuster show.
Although Dan Henderson had been promised a title shot following his dismantling of Michael Bisping at UFC 100 in July, the veteran fighter is still negotiating a new deal with the UFC. It appears Belfort, thanks to his UFC 103 victory over Rich Franklin, jumped to the head of the line.
Silva, undefeated with a record 10-fight win streak in the UFC, most recently topped Forrest Griffin in a lopsided UFC 101 co-main-event fight. Silva battered the former light-heavyweight champion in a non-title fight and has now posted stoppage victories in 12 of his past 13 wins.
Although Silva claimed he was healthy, wanted to fight before year's end and shrugged off rumors of an elbow surgery, White said earlier this month that Silva would, in fact, go under the knife.
"Contrary to whatever the hell [Silva] is saying, he's not 200 percent healthy," White said. "He's having some bone spurs removed from his elbow, which is a simple little procedure that happens, but you've got to have recovery time."
Belfort, meanwhile, has won five consecutive fights, which included a couple wins in the now-defunct Affliction Entertainment and the U.K.-based Cage Rage. His victory over Franklin, which came via first-round TKO, took place at a catch-weight of 195 pounds. The former UFC light heavyweight champion left the UFC in 2005 but has won six of his past seven to earn his way back.
