...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
After Michael Bisping lost to Vitor Belfort, the UFC's options to fight Anderson Silva became a lot less clear. Now, they've got two fighters in particular in mind: Chris Weidman, and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans.
UFC President Dana White confirmed on Thursday that those two fighters were the names the UFC was considering for the next title shot against Silva, though nothing has been determined either way.
"I would consider Rashad," White responded on Thursday during a media day for UFC 156 (via MMAFighting.com. "If Rashad won on Saturday night and wanted to go to 185, we would consider that."
When asked if Evans was the front runner if he indeed beats Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on Saturday night, White said, "I'm considering it."
Evans said he'd accept the fight if it was offered after Saturday night, but it may depend on what he looks like at UFC 156 and which direction the UFC ultimately wants to go with Silva's next fight.
Penick's Analysis: Though White wouldn't come out and say Evans was the front runner, it seems to be the situation at hand, and it might just come down to whether or not he has a good performance against Nogueira on Saturday, and how quickly he can return. For Weidman, it's a waiting game, and if Evans wins and can return before July, the UFC might be interested in booking that fight by May. Weidman still has a chance in this situation, but I do still believe he's behind Evans at the moment.
[Rashad Evans art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
(Attention MMATorch app users: Make sure to upgrade to the latest edition of the MMATorch app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device!)
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
