Alan “The Talent” Belcher asked fellow middleweight contender Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort for “the biggest fight of his career” and the Brazilian has accepted.
Both fighters have also agreed to fight at UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so the fight simply awaits confirmation from the world’s premiere fight organization.
“He is the best fighter in the division and most dangerous”, Belcher told Tatame. “My ranking, I feel I am the best. I will fight to prove it. If I lose, then I’m wrong”.
Belcher was not the first choice for Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight champion: he wanted undefeated rising star “The All-American” Chris Weidman.
Belfort called out Weidman on Twitter, who’s fresh off of a vicious knockout of Mark Munoz earlier this month, but the Serra-Longo Fight Team product respectfully declined via the social media.
Prior to UFC 149, UFC president Dana White talked about his excitement level for his plan for the 185 pound division, but Hector Lombard losing to Tim Boetsch on that card clearly led to a change of plans.
The fact that “The Barbarian” suffered a broken foot in the bout couldn’t have helped matters, either.
Being that Belcher has been campaigning for this fight, it should come as no surprise he is confident he will win and go on to face reigning middleweight kingpin, Anderson Silva.
“I believe I will beat him when I get an opportunity,” Belcher told Tatame regarding “the Spider.”
“There is no other fighter that possesses my skills in the division. Size, power, speed, black belt BJJ, well rounded striking, heart and drive,” Belcher said.
Since losing his title bid against Silva at UFC 126, Belfort has bounced back with finishes over Yoshihiro Akiyama and Anthony Johnson.
Meanwhile, Belcher has won four in a row, including a career-defining technical knockout of Rousimar Palhares in May.
Coincidentally, Belcher’s last loss was a controversial split decision against Akiyama back at UFC 100.
Should the winner of Belcher-Belfort get the next shot at Silva, or has Weidman already proved his right to fight for the gold?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com