Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort (19-8) will likely face Japanese fighter Yushin Okami (25-5) for a #1 contender position for the UFC middleweight title. Their bout will fill the main event slot for UFC 122 which takes place on Nov. 13 at the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
Rumors of the bout were first reported by the “Wrestling Observer” and have been tentatively confirmed by MMAjunkie.com.
Belfort had been scheduled to face middleweight champ Anderson Silva for the UFC title, but surgery to the “Spider” and a shoulder injury to Belfort forced the delay of both scheduled dates. “The Phenom” has won his past five fights, only one of which was in the UFC, winning four via (T)KO. His last fight was against Rich Franklin at UFC 103 almost a year ago at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Belfort knocked Franklin out at 3:02 of the first round, something that earned the Brazilian a “Knockout of the Night” honor for the event.
Okami will make his twelfth straight appearance in the UFC having put together a 9-2 record in the middleweight division. He has won his past two fights earning a split decision over Mark Muñoz at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko, and a TKO (doctor stoppage) win over Lucio Linhares at UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi.