By Ray Hui
- Editor
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Once the rematch between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and challenger Chael Sonnen
is sorted out, the 185-pounder next in line will most likely be the winner of
Vitor Belfort vs.
Yushin Okami.
Belfort confirmed Wednesday on Twitter
that he will face Okami on Nov. 13, which is the date of
UFC 122 in Oberhausen, Germany.
Dave Meltzer of
The Wrestling Observer was first to report of the matchup.
Belfort (19-8) is returning from a shoulder injury that forced him out of a title shot against Silva at UFC 112 in April. While Belfort holds recent knockout wins as a middleweight over Terry Martin and Matt Lindland, he hasn't actually fought at that weight yet in the UFC. Belfort's last fight was a knockout against former champ Rich Franklin one year ago at UFC 103 in a bout contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds.
For the past several years Okami (25-5) has been steps away from a title shot but injuries and inconvenient losses have kept him away from a title fight. Okami lost in a No. 1 contender bout against Franklin by decision in June 2007 and a loss to Sonnen at UFC 104 last October essentially solidified Sonnen's path towards the title. Outside of those two losses, Okami has won a total of nine fights in the UFC. Okami will enter the Belfort fight coming off wins against Lucio Linhares and Mark Munoz.
UFC 122 will air on same-day, tape-delay on Spike TV.
Read More: ufc 122, ufc122, news, Vitor Belfort (MMA), Yushin Okami (MMA)
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