Chris Weidman recently said that he wants to defend his title against Vitor Belfort and the reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion could get the fight that he is asking.
UFC President Dana White said in an interview that he will make the Weidman vs Belfort fight happen, saying that the showdown could have happened before if not for the controversy about Belfort's testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) use.
Weidman was supposed to defend his title at UFC 173 before Belfort withdrew from the fight after the Nevada Athletic Commission allegedly banned the use of TRT. However, it was revealed later that Belfort failed a random drug test in Nevada.
"We want to make that fight happen," Belfort said via MMA Fighting. "That's the next fight. That fight should've already happened before the Machida. That's the fight we want to do and that's the fight that Chris Weidman wants. I love this kid calling out Vitor. The champ wants to fight Vitor Belfort, man. I don't blame him, I would too."
Reports indicated that Belfort will apply for a license in Nevada, but White revealed that the possible Weidman-Belfort showdown could be staged in Brazil.
"It doesn't have to take place in Nevada," White said. "That fight would be big in Brazil, too. I would do it Brazil. As long as the commission clears him, yeah. We'd want the okay from Nevada, and if Nevada was cool with it, I'd do it in Brazil."
Weidman, who successfully defended his title against Lyoto Machida in July, recently said in an interview with The MMA Hour that he is strongly interested in facing Belfort in his next fight.
"I do want to fight Vitor Belfort. He's the guy who's been floating around the top for a while now," Weidman said. "He's another legend. I've kind of grown to enjoy fighting legends that I got into the sport watching and admiring."
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