The UFC 168 card ended 2013 and likely the legendary career of Anderson Silva, as he succumbed to Chris Weidman after breaking his leg in brutal fashion on “The All-American’s” knee. For Weidman, this is his second win over Silva, but the way it ended did not seem to put the exclamation point on his title reign his team was likely hoping for. UFC President Dana White has stated that Weidman’s next challenge will be Vitor Belfort. The 185 lb. division has undergone a very chaotic 2013, with the emergence of Weidman, the end of Silva’s career and the dispatching of Yushin Okami. Despite this, Belfort’s emergence as the number one contender is no fluke, as he defeated Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson this past year. Though Silva may be the best striker on the planet, nothing in his two matches with Anderson can prepare Weidman for the striking of Belfort. Belfort has always been a lethal striker with his hands, but he was a beatable fighter. Top guys were always able to exploit Belfort’s mental game, which at times left him looking weak. Now 36 years old, Belfort has spent the last three years remodeling that reputation. In February of 2011 he was defeated by Anderson Silva, then peeled off two opening round victories. He then challenged Jon Jones, and in lasting into the fourth round, he showed that his mind had perhaps finally matured and he was capable of fighting an extended fight. For Belfort, all the ups and downs in his long career must seem like they have been building up to this title shot. Weidman is formidable and he dethroned Silva, but he is still a guy with less tan a dozen MMA fights. Belfort has to love his chances going in, and a confident Belfort at this stage in his career is as dangerous an opponent as can be. It will be interesting to see where the lines open for this fight.
