Chris Weidman's upcoming UFC middleweight title defense against Vitor Belfort may not have an official date yet, but it already has the support of a strong grudge match, as TUF Brazil 3 coaches Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva are also expected to collide on the summer card.
UFC President Dana White announced the news on Thursday, adding that the UFC expects the event to take place in Las Vegas in either May, which would likely be held on Memorial Day weekend, or July, which would likely headline UFC 175 on July 5, 2014.
"It's May or July," White said. "I think it's going to be May, which means it will be July now that I said that. I don't know. One of them."
Earlier this month, Sonnen asked his Twitter followers to help "keep [Silva] relevant until I can retire him in July."
A week later, ongoing tension between Sonnen and Silva reportedly bubbled over in the form of an on-set brawl, during which Sonnen allegedly took Silva to the ground before getting punched in the back of the head by one of Silva's coaches.
It was an incident which White called, "without a doubt, the worst thing that's ever happened on The Ultimate Fighter."
"That's never happened," White said. "I mean, if you look at all the guys that we've had in there who've gotten in each others faces and done what they've done, it's never come to a real fight.
"They were getting ready to do the weigh-ins. There was like six cameras in there. We don't have to [air] it, but we'll see what happens when we go to the editing room. It's crazy."
White confirmed that individuals on-set were punished for their role in the melee, although he did not specify who. The Ultimate Fighter 3 is expected to air exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
As for Weidman vs. Belfort, White reiterated his desire for the fight's looming dark cloud -- testosterone replacement therapy, which Belfort uses despite a past positive steroid test -- to be banned. However he expressed confusion as to why Belfort has become the poster boy for the controversial treatment.
"If you allow people to take TRT, why would you not allow Vitor to take TRT?" White asked. "That's my thing. If you allow it, you allow it.
"Right now the commission allows TRT, so we allow TRT. It's what we do. (If it's) gone, (it's) gone. And I want it gone. It'd be great."