Anderson Silva to get title shot if he wins at UFC 183

MANILA, Philippines – Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White revealed that ex-middleweight champion Anderson Silva will likely earn a title shot if he can pull off the victory against Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on January 31 (February 1 in PH).

The organization’s middleweight top prize is currently in the possession of Chris Weidman, who is scheduled to lock horns with perennial contender Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC 184 on February 28 (March 1 in PH).

“Diaz and Anderson Silva are fighting, and obviously if Anderson Silva wins that fight, and whether Vitor or Weidman wins, then you have Anderson Silva versus either one of those guys,” White said in an interview on FOX Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight” program.

Silva (33-6) has been sidelined since he fractured the tibia and fibula bones in his left leg during a technical knockout loss to Weidman at UFC 168 in December 2013.

The 39-year-old Brazilian, who was trying to avenge his initial setback to Weidman at UFC 162 five months earlier, suffered the injury when his opponent checked a leg kick attempt in the second round of their middleweight championship rematch.

Silva immediately underwent an emergency surgery, which involved a titanium rod being inserted into Silva’s left leg, with an estimated recovery timetable between six and nine months.

“The Spider” received the early medical clearance in July of last year, prompting him to accept the bout against Diaz.

Silva was widely considered the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter in the world during his 6-year championship reign and holds the all-time UFC record for consecutive title defenses at ten.

“After the injury that Anderson Silva had, where is he going to be mentally? I think physically he’s a guy that does the right things [and] works hard. He’s been working since the injury happened. He’s definitely going to be in shape,” White pointed out.

On the other hand, Diaz (26-9, 1 NC) recently decided to come out of retirement, signing a three-fight contract extension with the UFC.

Diaz, a former Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion who often had a rocky relationship with the world’s premier MMA promotion, has not fought since dropping a five-round verdict to Georges St-Pierre in a title tilt at UFC 158 in March 2013.

Prior to the aforementioned setback, the 31-year-old native of Stockton, California failed to capture the interim welterweight belt against Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February 2012, but he was still able to vie for the regular world title a year later due to St-Pierre’s callout.

Diaz exclusively competed at 170 pounds during his 13-year prizefighting career, but he made an exception when he faced Scott Smith in a 180-pound catchweight under the Strikeforce banner in June 2009.

The company’s head honcho likewise guarantees that a decisive win over Silva will insert Diaz’s name in the mix for a middleweight title opportunity.

According to BestFightOdds.com, the opening line lists Silva as the -350 favorite, while Diaz acts as the +318 underdog.

In layman’s terms, a bet of $350 on Silva would net an additional $100. On the opposite end, a $100-wager on Diaz would earn $318.

“It’s a very interesting fight,” White quipped. – Rappler.com