Dana White Outlines Post UFC 168 Title Plans

UFC President Dana White is already outlining early 2014’s title picture, as we get ready for the biggest Middleweight fight in the promotion’s history. Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman will battle to decide Vitor Belfort’s opponent in his upcoming title shot, as they go to war in Saturday’s UFC 168 main event.

‘The Baldfather’ spoke during his media scrum recently, detailing the next fighters to get a shot at Middleweight, Women’s Bantamweight and Heavyweight. Check out what he said in regards to number one contender Cat Zingano:

“She’s doing good and hopefully she stays healthy and we can get her back by summer. She’s the number one, she’s numero uno.”

Zingano is undefeated and most recently TKO’d current title contender Miesha Tate in their FOTN scrap at the TUF 17 finals. She was forced to withdraw from her position opposite Ronda Rousey on The Ultimate Fighter 18, and it comes as good news to know that she will get her deserved title shot. As far as Vitor Belfort is concerned, White said the following:

“Vitor Belfort has earned the right to face the winner of Saturday’s main event. He’s next in line. No doubt about it.”

We will know after UFC 168 who Belfort will get his shot against, either a rematch against Silva or a shot at Weidman. Either one comes with it’s own dilemmas for ‘The Phenom; Silva knocked Belfort out once before, and Weidman’s wrestling would likely nullify Belfort’s lethal hand speed.

Next up, White clarifies the UFC’s position on Fabricio Werdum. It was previously thought that ‘Vai Cavalo’ would face Champion Cain Velasquez once healthy from his shoulder surgery, but it appears that the UFC would like for Werdum to face the winner of Josh Barnett vs. Travis Browne; meaning that Werdum will have to risk his title shot in the champ’s absence:

“We met with him a couple weeks ago, I think he understood where we were on that thing and we wanted him to fight.”

The future is bright for the world’s biggest MMA promotion, but things can change in an instant. It’s safe to say that the UFC has made some big plans for 2014, and I’m interested in seeing how it plays out. UFC 168 has huge implications on title pictures, Silva’s future and wrapping 2013 up as the best year for MMA to date.