Vitor Belfort vs. Lyoto Machida In The Works For November UFC Event

Reports are circulating that a potential match up between Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort is on the horizon. After a disappointing loss against Phil Davis, The Dragon may get another opportunity at regaining his status as a top contender.

Belfort is 4-1 in his last five, with the one loss coming against the 205lb. champion Jon Jones. This is actually a great fight in my opinion, not only for entertainment, but for the often neglected rankings system.

Belfort gets to stay busy while Silva and Weidman tie up the top of the Middleweight division, and Machida gets a tough, high profile fight to try and rebound from UFC 163.

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The fight, first reported by Globo’s Combate.com, is being negotiated and would likely take place in November from Goiania, Brazil. Machida is currently in the number two spot at LHW, while Belfort holds the same position at Middleweight.

Although he is not in the top 10 at LHW, Belfort is on fire right now, and I think a good win for Machida over The Phenom would put him right back in the frame for a title shot at Jones. Glover Teixeira would probably have something to say about that, especially if he beats Ryan Bader.

Looks like potential fights between Belfort and Mousasi/Sonnen are on the backburner for now, which I’m pretty glad about. I think that Vitor has earned his number two status at 185, and a fight against Sonnen or Mousasi would just be a pointless affair. Even if Belfort loses to Machida at 205lbs., it won’t affect his Middleweight ranking.

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The truth of the matter is Machida is putting in the bigger ante here. A loss to Belfort might signal the end of any potential LHW title match ups, especially in such a crowded top 10. That being said, who have you got between The Phenom and The Dragon?

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