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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
With the official announcement of Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in Montreal this March, the UFC Welterweight Champion will not be the next opponent for UFC Middleweight Champion. However, the UFC does have a front runner to face Silva for that title next year: Michael Bisping.
UFC President Dana White told reporters after Saturday's Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale in Las Vegas that Bisping will "probably" get the shot against Silva if he gets past Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7 next month.
Bisping, likely the most well-known UFC middleweight to have never fought for a title, moved himself closer to contention with a close fight against Chael Sonnen and a win over Brian Stann, and adding a victory over Belfort will make him the most attractive option for the UFC and for Silva as well.
Penick's Analysis: Though Chris Weidman has an argument for being the No. 1 contender, he's got two serious things working against him. 1) he's hurt, and 2) his last fight was on Fuel TV. He's simply not as well known as Bisping, and with the injury sidelining him for the time being, the UFC will want to see him take a fight before giving him a shot. Bisping's got the clear line to that fight now; he just needs to get past Belfort to get it. That's not an easy task, but he's clearly in the lead in the conversation.
[Michael Bisping art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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