UFC
Vitor Belfort eying UFC 153 return, wants Chris Weidman or Lombard-Boetsch winner
Jul 17, 2012 - 4:45:07 PM Vitor Belfort eying UFC 153 return, wants Chris Weidman or Lombard-Boetsch winner

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Vitor Belfort was supposed to face off against Wanderlei Silva in Brazil last month at the conclusion of "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil," but a broken hand forced him out of the event. Now, he's hoping to get back to action this October when the UFC returns to Brazil with UFC 153.

A number of fighters have been moving themselves into position to make their cases in the title picture, so there are a number of opponent options for Belfort upon his return to the cage, and he's got a few specifically in mind.

"[Chris] Weidman, or the winner of the Cuban (Hector Lombard) vs. [Tim] Boetsch)," Vitor said in an interview with Tatame.com. "I'm waiting for my confirmation on the Rio card, see who's gonna be my opponent. Nobody send me anything yet. I believe I'll get an answer on that next week."

Belfort commented on those options a little further, along with his take on Weidman's win over Mark Munoz last week.

"He's good, an Olympic athlete," Belfort said of Lombard. "He's tough. Let's wait, [I'm] looking forward [to his debut]."

"Munoz has no guard, he's not a Jiu-Jitsu fighter. That's a wrestler vs. wrestler matchup, who got to the top position would win. He was tagged, that's it."

Regardless of who he squares off against, Belfort says the gameplan is the same: he's out to finish the fight.

"I don't care what he's gonna do," Belfort said. "I know what I'm gonna do: go for the knockout or the submission."

Penick's Analysis: Belfort-Weidman would be fantastic fight, and give Weidman the high-profile bout he may need to get the title shot he thinks he deserves. Another option Belfort doesn't mention is Rashad Evans, who could be another big name to face off against if Evans makes his drop to the middleweight division. His injury, along with the fact that he was sidelined with his injury, has kept him out of the conversation in the top end of the division, but a big win in October could move him right back to a prominent spot in the division.