As reported by Ariel Helwani Wednesday on UFC Tonight, UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort now says he’s ready to make a return to fighting and intends to face the winner of UFC 175’s main event between middleweight champion Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida.
According to his wife Joana Prado, Belfort’s team has also been informed by the UFC that he is next in line for a shot at the middleweight title. Prado, along with Belfort’s manager Glenn Robinson, has recently taken over the day-to-day tasks overseeing the fighter’s career.
Belfort had previously been booked to face Weidman in the main event at UFC 173 in May, but subsequently withdrew from the bout with the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to ban the use of testosterone replacement therapy.The title fight was moved to UFC 175 and Belfort was replaced by Machida, who faces Weidman Jul.5 in Las Vegas. Belfort then stepped in to replace Wanderlei Silva against Chael Sonnen in a bout slated for the same event, but the fight was scrapped after Sonnen failed a random drug test by proving positive for two banned substances.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
New-ish blood. Negotiations between women’s bantamweight standout Holly Holm and the UFC are progressing, while talks with Gina Carano have stalled.
Dom & Miz. Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is eyeing a potential matchup with Takeya Mizugaki in late August or early September.
F me? Antonio Silva isn’t happy about Josh Barnett’s interview Monday on The MMA Hour and says ‘The Warmaster’ is ducking him. ‘He says he won’t fight me because he doesn’t want to give me name and money with this fight, but the truth is he’s scared.’
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas previews this weekend’s UFC events, recaps GLORY 17 and answers your questions in this week’s live chat.
Odd couple. Georges St-Pierre writes a letter of public support for his jailed ‘drug kingpin’ friend.
MEDIA STEW
Another dude getting tossed by Ronda Rousey for a bit.
Chris Weidman on Anderson Silva talking to him during their fights.
GLORY 17 prelims recap.
Mike Swick’s AKA Thailand vlog.
Old, but you can never really see it enough.
BJ Penn’s new documentary Mana.
Long watches.
“Press Row” with Jordan Breen and Chad Dundas.
TWEETS
Welp.
It’s funny how rumors get started. If you have read that I will be returning to middle weight. Not true, but always a possibility.
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) June 25, 2014
Get well soon.
Good session with @dukeroufus today first time kicking hard since surgery. @hayabusafight #imback… http://t.co/CnUXlbKC3x
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) June 25, 2014
Careful.
I throw inside leg kick on @ufc middleweight champ @ChrisWeidmanUFC ..he checks it. UH-OH..ask @SpiderAnderson pic.twitter.com/dCEAdrVofG
— Stuart Scott (@StuartScott) June 25, 2014
hahah me and @badboygarcia plain who can face plant first pic.twitter.com/Z28xpiroiT
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 25, 2014
Eat up.
Breakfast time here in Japan at the Dojo Dewanoumi Beya. #ufc #ufcjapan #sumo #roynelson http://t.co/VLVXYDjo2h
— Dana White (@danawhite) June 26, 2014
Congrats.
The news is finally out!! It was always a dream to fight in the @ufc ! Now for new goals and dreams!! On a road to the top!!
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) June 25, 2014
17-1 Leo ‘The Lion’ Kuntz will make his UFC debut July 16 at #UFCFightNight in Atlantic City against 9-3 Yosdenis ‘The Pink Panther’ Cedeno.
— UFC News (@UFCNews) June 25, 2014
A new Gracie will be along shortly.
Malhacao com a gravida + bonita e casca-grossa do pedaço: @kyragracie! <3 http://t.co/tnmhbXq0O9
— Paula Sack (@PaulaSack) June 26, 2014
I dig.
For the Tebow fans.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (June 25 2014)
Ning Guangyou vs. Yang Jianping at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le
Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Leo Kuntz at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via heavyfl0w.
The MMA Rundown #2: Bon Voyage Bjorn, Hello “In A Week Or Two”
Well, then. I make my triumphant return to writing last week, thinking that I’m going to thoroughly tackle things I found important on the MMA landscape, and then things went Bizarro World on me. Happy trails, Bjorn Rebney! Hello Japan, Scott Coker! Mike Kogan!! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria! WELL, THEN!
(I’m going to continue to do these bullet point style, and I figure choosing three prominent topics per piece seems appropriate. I’ll try to limit myself.)
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Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.