It looks as though UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman and former longtime 185-pound title holder Anderson Silva may have to share the Octagon one final time, as long as certain pieces of the puzzle fall perfectly into place.
During an appearance on this week’s edition of “UFC Tonight” on FOX Sports 1, UFC President Dana White outright stated that if Silva gets past his next opponent, which will be Nick Diaz, whom “The Spider” is scheduled to fight in the main event of UFC 183 on January 31st, that he is indeed next in line for a shot at the 185-pound gold.
Additionally, White noted that if Weidman isn’t the champion when — and if — that time comes, than Silva will still be next in line for the title shot.
Weidman makes the next defense of his UFC 185-pound crown against Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC 184, which takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on February 28th.
This may come as a surprise to both Lyoto Machida and Luke Rockhold, as in the announcement made by the UFC on Thursday, it stated that the winner of the Machida-Rockhold fight, which takes place as the main event of UFC On FOX 15 on April 18th, will likely be next in line for a shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship.
And while Silva himself says he wouldn’t stand in the way of Ronaldo Souza, who challenges Yoel Romero in another upcoming fight with title implications in the near future, he has his sights set on one goal — regaining the UFC Middleweight Championship belt that he held for so many years.
“Look, besides returning well in 2015, my project in the UFC is only one: I won’t stop until I get my title back,” Silva said in an interview with Brazilian outlet Veja. “I want to at least try.”
Meanwhile, the current UFC 185-pound king, Weidman, doesn’t seem too concerned who ends up becoming his next challenger, as long as he gets past Belfort in February. As far as Weidman is concerned, he’s ready — and willing — to fight them all.
“If that’s what the people want to see, then it’ll happen,” Weidman said of a potential third Octagon meeting with Anderson Silva during an interview with MMAJunkie.com. ”
“Easy payday?,” said Weidman. “Yeah, pretty much. With all due respect.”
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