source: www.mmajunkie.com
A middleweight bout between top contenders Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Yushin Okami (25-5 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is expected to headline November's UFC 122 event, which airs on Spike TV.
Multiple sources today tentative confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Wrestling Observer" first reported the likelihood of the fight.
UFC 122 takes Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
The event – though not officially announced – airs via same-day delay on the UFC's longtime cable partner.
As MMAjunkie.com reported back in May, Belfort's camp was under the impression that the Brazilian fighter was next in line for a title shot. In fact, Chael Sonnen only got his recent shot at the belt because Belfort was forced to the sidelines due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
However, Sonnen nearly defeated the champ – he was up four rounds to none before Silva rallied for a late-fight submission victory – and after that UFC 117 headliner, UFC president Dana White said Sonnen deserves an immediate rematch. With that fight now expected to take place later this year or early 2011, Belfort vs. Okami likely will determine a No. 1 contender.
Belfort, of course, hasn't even fought at 185 pounds under the UFC banner. Although riding a five-fight win streak, the only UFC appearance came a year ago and resulted in a first-round knockout of Rich Franklin at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Still, with his recent streak and early UFC success, he remains a marketable contender.
Okami, meanwhile, moved to 5-1 in his past six fights with a recent split-decision win over Mark Munoz. The only loss during the stretch came to Sonnen. Despite his bounty of UFC wins, Okami never has been promised a title shot, and he's even struggled to get featured on some televised main cards.
But afer the Munoz win, even White relented.
"Yushin Okami is one of the best 185-pounders in the world and has been for a while," he said. "This guy's due for a title shot."
A middleweight bout between top contenders Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Yushin Okami (25-5 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is expected to headline November's UFC 122 event, which airs on Spike TV.
Multiple sources today tentative confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Wrestling Observer" first reported the likelihood of the fight.
UFC 122 takes Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
The event – though not officially announced – airs via same-day delay on the UFC's longtime cable partner.
As MMAjunkie.com reported back in May, Belfort's camp was under the impression that the Brazilian fighter was next in line for a title shot. In fact, Chael Sonnen only got his recent shot at the belt because Belfort was forced to the sidelines due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
However, Sonnen nearly defeated the champ – he was up four rounds to none before Silva rallied for a late-fight submission victory – and after that UFC 117 headliner, UFC president Dana White said Sonnen deserves an immediate rematch. With that fight now expected to take place later this year or early 2011, Belfort vs. Okami likely will determine a No. 1 contender.
Belfort, of course, hasn't even fought at 185 pounds under the UFC banner. Although riding a five-fight win streak, the only UFC appearance came a year ago and resulted in a first-round knockout of Rich Franklin at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Still, with his recent streak and early UFC success, he remains a marketable contender.
Okami, meanwhile, moved to 5-1 in his past six fights with a recent split-decision win over Mark Munoz. The only loss during the stretch came to Sonnen. Despite his bounty of UFC wins, Okami never has been promised a title shot, and he's even struggled to get featured on some televised main cards.
But afer the Munoz win, even White relented.
"Yushin Okami is one of the best 185-pounders in the world and has been for a while," he said. "This guy's due for a title shot."