Originally the UFC had planned for Wanderlei Silva to fight his TUF: Brazil coaching rival Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC 147, but an injury to ‘The Phenom’ put an end to that, and after Silva’s loss to Rich Franklin last night the chances of that rematch now taking place is now unclear.
To hear UFC president Dana White tell it the chances of the fight taking place are now slim.
“[Vitor’s next fight] definitely won’t be against Wanderlei now, I mean Wanderlei just lost tonight.” White stated emphatically to Karyn Bryant backstage after the event’s conclusion.
However, at the post-fight press conference which White didn’t attend as he was flying back to Las Vegas, the UFC’s Chief of Internation Development Marshall Zelaznik had a completely different take on it when asked if the Silva Vs Belfort fight could take place when the UFC returns to Brazil in october.
“That’s certainly something we’re working towards,” Zelaznik said. “No contracts have been sent or signed, but I think that’s in the plans – to try and make that fight happen.”
