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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Brazilian stars Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort met for the first and only time over 12 years ago at the UFC first and so far only event in Brazil. Now, with the UFC preparing to make a return to the country this August, Silva wants a rematch.
Speaking to Tatame.com, Silva called out Belfort following his loss to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 126 last weekend.
"And now, where are you running to?" asked Wanderlei. "I'd give him the number one (on the line to fight me) easily, I'm challenging him... I want him."
Both Belfort and Silva entered that first fight in October of 1998 with identical 5-1 records in MMA. Belfort had already appeared several times in the UFC, while Silva was making his organizational debut. Neither fighter had left the first round into that bout, and it took less than a minute for the fight to be over. Silva rushed Belfort, but Belfort immediately got Silva moving straight back with punches; Silva took a ton of damage before hitting the ground, and just like that the fight was over.
Each fighter has since gone on to lengthy and legendary careers in the sport, and should they meet in Brazil it could be one massive fight for the UFC in the middleweight division.
Penick's Analysis: Regardless of how Silva performs in his bout with Brian Stann at UFC 130 in May, if he doesn't suffer any serious injury this is a fight the UFC needs to make. It would be an absolutely massive fight for the Brazilian fans, and would be a huge rematch from one of the more famous fights from the early history of the UFC. It would be nostalgic, relevant still today and highly entertaining. Hopefully we can see it.
[Wanderlei Silva art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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