Vitor Belfort confirms he will be fighting at UFC 109, but Anderson Silva may not be his next opponent

by Narcisist on Nov 16, 2009 4:18 PM EST Comment 17 comments

Update: Sources close to MMAJunkie.com have confirmed that the middleweight title fight is in the works for UFC 109. They are also reporting the bout agreements are in place, but as Belfort reported before the bout is contingent on Anderson Silva's recovery.

It looks like Vitor Belfort is on the fence about his middleweight title shot while Anderson Silva recovers from elbow surgery. A few weeks ago Belfort's fight against the middleweight champion at UFC 108 was cancelled, but no make up date for the fight has been confirmed for the fight.

In a interview with Terra Magazine Belfort confirmed that he will in fact fight on February 6, at UFC 109, but Anderson Silva is not guaranteed to be his opponent.

"I signed to fight in February. They have warned me that I fight in February, stressed Belfort. "Only the doctor who is going to say when Anderson will fight," Belfort said. "I do not know if it will be Anderson. The Ultimate is the one thing that we do not know anything, things are happening without us knowing for sure. "

We hope that Anderson can recover in time to face Belfort, because it would be disappointing to see the "Phenom" forced to fight and it's not for a middleweight title fight. UFC 109's main event fight has been just as sketchy as UFC 108 has been over the course of the past few weeks, because no one has a 100% confirmed return date for Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Brock Lesnar.

Right now a fight against Dan Henderson would seem like a good option, but as we all know he is in a contract dispute with the UFC. Nate Marquardt is rumored to be fighting Chael Sonnen at UFC 110 in Australia, which really limits Belfort's options of a challenger in contention.

So who do you think would be a good second option for Belfort at UFC 109 if Anderson can not come back for the event?

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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I think they will wait for Silva but maybe not

Hopefully they can resign Hendo but it looks doubtful.

Silva should sign a new contract and fight the following in no particular order

Dan Henderson
Nate Marquadt
Vitor Belfort
Chael Sonnen
Yushin Okami – Just to avenge that loss and to shut certain fans up.

by bigdmmafan on Nov 16, 2009 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Okami is not relevant at this point. Also mapping out 5 fights is kinda meaningless. Some of these guys will fight each other reordering the challengers. I think Maia could still be an interesting fight, but at the moment I have no clue how he would get Silva to the ground.

by SES 84 on Nov 16, 2009 11:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Okami's not relevant but Maia is?

by bigdmmafan on Nov 17, 2009 4:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He interests me only because his skills on the ground are so fantastic, but as I said he can’t get Silva down. I think both would need some victories to become relevant at this point.

by SES 84 on Nov 17, 2009 8:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dan was interviewed SF weekend by Fanhouse and he said he would be fighting Super Bowl weekend. He also said it was a coincidence that UFC had a fight the same weekend. This could be the headline, since every champion is either hurt (Machida, Silva, GSP), fought recently (Penn at 107) or on their death bed (Lesnar). Gotta be Hendo

by bigern on Nov 16, 2009 4:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hate to play the "he didn't earn the shot" card

But really, what’s wrong with Belfort fighting again? It’s not like he beat a 185 fighter. He fought at catchweight and even as a fan of catchweight fights, they should determine whether or not you get a title fight. I’m not going to complain if Belfort’s next fight is with Siva, but I’m not going to fault Dana if Belfort ends up fighting Nate, who I feel is much more deserving given what he’s done in the UFC for the last couple of years.

by black dragon on Nov 16, 2009 5:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree and Disagree

I agree that right now nate diserves it more but disagree that Vitor dones not diserve one at all. Keep in mind the guy that Belfot beat probably would still be the MW champion or at the very least in the divison at the top looking to get a shot. I agree that nate diserves the shot more would just be interesting to see silva fight someone he hasent before

by Riley_96 on Nov 16, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be surprised to see Marquardt pulled out of the Sonnen fight

and put up against Belfort at 109 for a number-one contender spot, assuming a new Hendo deal doesn’t happen.

They can easily bring someone else in to fight Sonnen at 110, like Nate Quarry perhaps.

by Scott Haber on Nov 16, 2009 5:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

or maybe the sexy one or the ax murderer.

Hello, Japan!

by Mr.Kib on Nov 17, 2009 1:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It should be Hendo

IMO, Dan hasn’t done as much as Marquardt to deserve a rematch, and Vitor hasn’t done enough yet either. Put them up against each other to determine the #1 contender, and in the meantime give Nate the next Title shot. You can also match up guys like Okami and Maia, Bisping and Cote, and give Sonnen someone as well.

Not to mention that looming in the sunset is a GSP/ Anderson, if they both retain their titles.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Nov 16, 2009 6:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dan diserves the shot just as much if not more then Nate. Hendo fought two of the upper elite of the division (granted one was at 205 for a coaching gig) and he beat Bisping who was once considered closest to the title shot until Dan punched his head into the floor. Nate has beaten Maia (legit top of the division just needs to work some stand up), Gouveia (gatekeeper) and Kampman (not even in the division any more and lost his last fight to a one dimensional striker).
Hell i say if hendo resigns a contender math but in no way does nate diserve it any more then Hendo

by Riley_96 on Nov 16, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You argue that Nate's win over Kampmann doesn't count

because he’s "not even in the division anymore", but Franklin was in the exact same position when Dan beat him. Rich had permanently moved to 205 at that point, so Hendo’s win had no bearing on his status as a middleweight contender.

So really, who has Hendo beaten? Palhares and Bisping?

by Scott Haber on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no no not discount the win but matching it up. Kampman inst the same calaber of RIch. Kampman is a great fighter but when you match him up with Rich there is no arguing which fighter carries more weight as a legit win.
SO no i never said it dident count just pointed out a guy who left the division maybe because of his size compared to the other dudes in the division. SO yes the win does count just does not carry as much weight as rich

by Riley_96 on Nov 16, 2009 11:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough, thanks for clearing that up.

by Scott Haber on Nov 17, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do think Dan deserves a title shot

but not as much as Nate. Hendo took a controversial decision over Franklin at a catchweight (still impressive, don’t get me wrong), a lackluster decision over Palhares (not ranked), and an orgasmic over a solid, but still unranked Bisping.

Marquardt, on the other hand, violently demolished a then top 10 MW in Kampmann, stopped the surging Gouveia with one of the coolest ending combos i’ve ever seen, and shit stomped a top 10 (even top 5, on some lists) Demian Maia. The quality and exciting nature of Nate’s wins trump Dan’s, IMO. Also, Nate has been paying his dues for a rematch longer than Dan has- the guillotine over Horn was nasty, and he would’ve beat Leites had he not gotten points deducted from his score.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Nov 17, 2009 12:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I had to change the poster again, it was killing me that Belfort wasn’t centered.

Narcisist aka: Alberto Martinez, owner of URDirt.com.

by Narcisist on Nov 16, 2009 7:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’d watch Belfort fight my next door neighbor. Bring it on.

The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering BROCKLESNAR; to the last I grapple with thee.

by judonerd on Nov 16, 2009 11:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs