| 22 September 2010
UFC boss Dana White ended the speculation today as to who was challenging Anderson Silva next for the middleweight crown, tweeting that Vitor Belfort would get the shot. This is due to, of course, Chael Sonnen getting busted for steroid use and suspended for a year by the California State Athletic Commission (ironically, Belfort also has a failed drug test and suspension on his resume). Silva-Belfort should go down at UFC 125 on New Years Day. But does Belfort deserve a title shot?
At first glance, the answer would be a resounding 'no'. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has fought exactly once in the UFC this go-around, and that was over a year ago in a catchweight fight versus Rich Franklin. Well it was an impressive win, the fact remains that Belfort hasn't fought in over a year PLUS he's NEVER fought at 185 lbs in the UFC (he fought at the weight twice in Affliction from 2008 to 2009). So your number one contender for your middleweight title has never fought at that weight before in your promotion. You expect things like that to go down in Strikeforce or in Japan or in numerous other small promotions, but not in the UFC who has a much deeper roster of fighters. But when you do some digging, there really aren't too many other candidates at middleweight to pick over Belfort. Sonnen is out for a year. Newly signed Jake Shields has dropped to welterweight. Nate Marquardt and Demian Maia have already had their shot at Silva.
However, one fighter who does have a legitimate beef over Belfort getting the next shot would be the man he was supposed to be fighting at UFC 121, Yushin Okami. Since joining the UFC four years ago, the Japanese fighter has gone an impressive 9-2, with his only losses coming to Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen. Despite his stellar record, he has yet to be given a title shot. While it is true he isn't as big of a name as Belfort, and he isn't he most exciting fighter, only finishing four of his nine victims in the UFC, he does have one big feather in his cap - a win over Silva. The Spider has only lost four times in his lengthy career, with the last defeat coming at the hands of Okami in 2006 at Rumble on the Rock 8. True, it was a disqualification loss due to an illegal kick, but Silva had harsh words for Okami after the match, calling him "cowardly" for not continuing the match after Silva kicked him while he was grounded. So while Belfort is a bigger name that the UFC thinks they can promote as a main event match with Silva (good luck UFC in selling PPVs with Silva as a headliner, regardless of opponent), the angle of Silva trying to avenge his last loss and Okami trying to get back at Silva for calling him a coward would also have been great hype fuel for Silva vs Okami II.
After Okami, though, the cupboard really is bare in the UFC Middleweight division (despite the promotion trying to persuade viewers otherwise before the UFC Fight Night 22 main event between Marquardt and Rousimar Palhares). So Vitor Belfort just happens to be in the right place at the right time. But should Belfort really be counting his blessings? Any fighter will tell you that ring rust is a real thing, and by the time The Phenom steps in the Octagon at UFC 125 he'll be almost 16 months past his last fight. Come New Years Day he could be playing the role of the fly to The Spider.
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