Dana White Wants to Promote Vitor Belfort vs Anderson Silva for UFC Middleweight Belt

by Kid Nate on Jun 21, 2009 1:00 AM EDT in News Comment 24 comments

In an intriguing announcement during The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, Dana White told TUF 7 winner Amir Sadolla that he would like to re-sign Vitor Belfort to face Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight belt:

"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 vary dangerous guy. I think that would be a great match up."

Belfort is currently signed with Affliction and is set to face Jorge Santiago on August 1st at Affliction: Trilogy. Santiago, who will be ranked #6 in the world in next week's USA Today/SBN Consensus rankings could easily spoil Dana's plans. Belfort will be ranked #9.

Both Belfort and Santiago are former UFC fighters who have gone on torrid hotstreaks since leaving the organization. Belfort is on a four fight win streak since moving down to 185lbs, including impressive KO wins over Terry Martin and perennial contender Matt Lindland.

Since leaving the UFC, Santiago has won both the Strikeforce and the Sengoku middleweight tournaments in impressive fashion. A win over Santiago would definitely position Vitor Belfort as a legitimate contender for Anderson Silva's UFC title. I would expect Santiago to be offered a UFC contract should he beat Belfort, but unfortunately for Jorge, he is not nearly the draw that Vitor Belfort is and would likely have to get in line behind Yushin Okami, the winner of Nate Marquardt vs Demian Maia, and possibly even new acquisition Yoshihiro Akiyama.

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this would be a sweet fight

but seriously Anderson would knock him out. Although he has awful standup Maia is the guy the beat Anderson…..if he can get past Marquardt

by Crookswood on Jun 21, 2009 1:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the fact that

Vitor is a southpaw with deadly power in his left AND his very good but underrated JJ skill makes it a much more interesting fight.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 21, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The question is

Which Vitor will show up at the fight?

by Deo Wade on Jun 21, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the other question is

which fight? Santiago or Anderson?

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 21, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Both

by Deo Wade on Jun 21, 2009 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe dana knows something we dont

by bdw on Jun 21, 2009 1:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was surpised to see him announcing it on a live UFC event like that with Vitor getting ready to fight for a rival promotion.

by who me on Jun 21, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wondered about this as well. It isn’t very often Dana says anything nice about a fighter outside the UFC umbrella. Not only did he mention Vitor he wants to put him in a title fight. My first thought was how could I miss the news of them signing Vitor. Then I remembered he is or was supposed to be fighting on the Affliction card. Something has to be in the works or already done for Dana to mention this on TV in my opinion.

by mattman73 on Jun 21, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

interesting..

They must’ve had a few preliminary talks that went well already for him to even mention that..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 21, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wanderlei-Vitor II?

Sure wouldn’t mind seeing that fight either. The first fight was 98 years ago in MMA years, a completly different era.

by Lewish on Jun 21, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This could be for a title shot if Wanderlei can win a fight at 185 first. Paging Chris Leben…

by subo on Jun 21, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that would be hot

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 21, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Paris.

by banter on Jun 21, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

There’s a fight I’d like to see.

by Captain7 on Jun 21, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and Santiago at 6 is a joke.

by subo on Jun 21, 2009 2:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah I question the level of competition

but still beating Misaki — a long time top 10 middleweight and Nakamura — a long time top 10 light heavy are two pretty nice notches. And Jorge has looked damn good doing it, winning by KO and submission. I’d love to see him back in the UFC or fighting in Strikeforce against Lawler, Shields, Diaz, even Cung Le.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 21, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vitor vs Anderson Silva has to happen soon.....

Because with Anderson’s contract up after a couple more fights and talks of retirement, this fight would have to happen sooner rather than later or else it may not ever happen at all. Besides Maia, Vitor is the only Middleweight that I feel fans would actually find as credible threats to Anderson.

by chrisbboy82 on Jun 21, 2009 4:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs