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Now this will validate the top contender, even though I think it was Nate's spot anyway.
Vitor Belfort has been told that Anderson Silva will not be recovered from his elbow surgery in time for a February and has been offered a contenders elimination bout with Nate Marquardt, a source close to the Brazilian tells Fighters Only.
Belfort - and fans - have been expecting a fight with Anderson next and Belfort has been making training camp preparations as such, but now it looks like his next opponent will be Greg Jackson’s fighter Marquardt.
The fight makes all sense since the Brazilian has fought just once since his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, facing off Rich Franklin in a catchweight bout at 195lbs. Vitor won by knockout and since then has been called the next middleweight contender.
Dan Henderson thought he was next in line for a fight with the reigning champion Anderson Silva and did not react well to news that Belfort was leapfrogging him. It is apparently one of the sticking points in negotiations with him and the UFC.
Anderson’s manager Ed Soares also did not appreciate the news that Belfort was to be the next challenger, stating the opinion that he had not earned the right to face The Spider. He should now be happy with the news that Belfort-Marquardt is being made.
Belfort - and fans - have been expecting a fight with Anderson next and Belfort has been making training camp preparations as such, but now it looks like his next opponent will be Greg Jackson’s fighter Marquardt.
The fight makes all sense since the Brazilian has fought just once since his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, facing off Rich Franklin in a catchweight bout at 195lbs. Vitor won by knockout and since then has been called the next middleweight contender.
Dan Henderson thought he was next in line for a fight with the reigning champion Anderson Silva and did not react well to news that Belfort was leapfrogging him. It is apparently one of the sticking points in negotiations with him and the UFC.
Anderson’s manager Ed Soares also did not appreciate the news that Belfort was to be the next challenger, stating the opinion that he had not earned the right to face The Spider. He should now be happy with the news that Belfort-Marquardt is being made.