UFC
Minotauro Nogueira says Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami coming to UFC Rio in August [UPDATED]
Apr 10, 2011 - 9:30:29 AM Minotauro Nogueira says Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami coming to UFC Rio in August [UPDATED]

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Yushin Okami has awaited a title shot in the UFC's middleweight division with fight after fight and win after win, and now it appears that shot may finally be coming.

Former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira, one of the trainers of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva, says that Silva will face Okami this summer.

According to Nogueira, who revealed the bout in comments made to Tatame.com, Silva and Okami will square off on August 27 when the UFC makes only their second appearance in Silva's native Brazil at UFC Rio.

The title matchup will be a rematch of a fight that took place at a Rumble on the Rock event in 2006 prior to Silva's entrance into the UFC. Okami won the fight by disqualification after being knocked silly by an upkick from Silva while on his knees in Silva's guard. He was unable to continue and was awarded the fight on DQ. That was the last time Silva's record was notched with an "L," and he's won 14 straight fights in the five years since that bout.

Okami has gone 10-2 through 12 appearances in the UFC dating back to 2006. His two losses in the UFC came by decision to former champion Rich Franklin, and former title challenger Chael Sonnen. Since the loss to Sonnen, Okami has won three straight, and earned his title shot with a win over Nate Marquardt at UFC 122 last November.

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Penick's Analysis: This is the right fight to make, and having Silva defend his title on this card is a good move by the UFC. Okami has earned a shot at Silva, and the UFC can sell that Silva will essentially be out to avenge his last "loss." This is a great fight for the fans in Brazil, and even if the UFC still wants to put together GSP vs. Silva, this gives the Welterweight Champ time to bulk up the way he wants to in order to properly make the move to middleweight.

UPDATE: According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, the UFC is still waiting on the result of this month's UFC 129 main event between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields before making any definitive decisions on Silva's next fight.