Anderson Silva's co-Manager: Potential Weidman Fight 'A Joke'

Anderson Silva's camp is apparently not receptive to a title defense against Chris Weidman. In an interview with Brazilian website Tatame, Silva's co-manager, Jorge Guimaraes, called potential fights against Chris Weidman, Alan Belcher and Tim Boetsch a "joke."

Silva's manager, Ed Soares, explained to MMAJunkie.com that he doesn't label any opponent a "joke," but believes the best fights for the Spider are either a third bout with Rich Franklin or a super fight against welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

"At the end of the day, it's difficult to find an opponent that can fight Anderson," Soares told Junkie. "There's not a ton of them out there. I just think that some of his opponents just aren't as attractive.

"When I look at Weidman, I think he's a very talented guy. He's got a bright future. But when I look at it, he's 9-0. Anderson (32-4 MMA, 15-0 UFC) has got double the wins he has in his career in the UFC. So I just don't see the value of being able to fight a guy like this right now. That's my opinion."

Weidman has repeatedly stated he has paid enough dues in the UFC to warrant a title shot. His last two fights, a decision win over Demian Maia on 10 days' notice and a second-round destruction of Mark Munoz, are compelling cases. In addition, the division's other top contenders (Michael Bisping-Brian Stann, Alan Belcher-Vitor Belfort) are booked in elimination contests.

Furthermore, St. Pierre has been inactive since December surgery to repair a torn ACL and must get past Carlos Condit in November. Combined with the fact that Silva is 37 years old (38 next April), the champion may not want to wait too long for a "super fight" at a catchweight. Let him face -- and defeat -- Weidman and St. Pierre do his part, and then we'll have something.

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UFC 153: Alan Belcher to Meet Vitor Belfort

A roadblock to Chris Weidman’s shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva has been removed. Alan Belcher, who has also lobbied for a match with the Spider, has verbally agreed to fight Vitor Belfort on the main card of UFC 153 on October 13, according to various reports.

"The Talent" recorded a spectacular TKO victory over Rousimar Palhares in May for his second consecutive first-rond stoppage since a 16-month inactive period due to a detached retina. "The Phenom" is 7-1 over his last eight bouts, that lone loss coming on Silva’s front-snap kick that kayoed him in February 2011. Belfort had asked for a fight with Weidman and also wants a rematch with Silva.

Belcher-Belfort will go a long way to figuring out the middleweight title picture, but with Michael Bisping and Brian Stann meeting at UFC 152 in September, and Hector Lombard off an unimpressive loss to Tim Boetsch last Saturday at UFC 149, the probability of a Silva-Weidman title fight is increasing.

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Sorting out the UFC Middleweight Title Picture

Due in part to Tim Boetsch's possible broken foot, and his sheer disappointment with the main card of UFC 149, Dana White put off any announcements on his big plans to sort out who fits where in the UFC middleweight title hunt until the "next couple of days." Boetsch's split-decision victory over a lackluster Hector Lombard eliminated the former Bellator middleweight king from immediate contention. (White even went as far to suggest that Lombard may be better off dropping to 170 pounds.)

If any light was shed on who's next for champion Anderson Silva, White told reporters in Calgary that if he had to make a quick decision, unbeaten Long Islander Chris Weidman would get the call. While Boetsch and Lombard failed to impress Saturday night, Weidman looked awesome in destroying Mark Munoz in the main event of UFC on FUEL 4.

It's one thing to win in the UFC. You open eyes wide and mouths in awe, you earn serious points with the UFC president and championship committee.

"An impressive win's going to give somebody a title shot," White said. "I'm looking for a guy who goes out and performs like Weidman. You go in and you're ranked low in the Top 10 and you take out No. 2 or 3 the way you did – that's what I'm excited about."

It's always fun playing matchmaker, yet to mimic Joe Silva or Sean Shelby and stand in their respective shoes are completely different animals. Still, if I was matchmaker, this is how I'd map out the top contenders at 185:

Silva vs. Weidman

Weidman has the wrestling base, tools and mettle to provide the Spider a serious challenge -- similar to what Chael Sonnen did for four-and-a-half rounds of his first title shot and the first round of his rematch. To slow down Silva, you don't defend him, you attack him. It worked for Sonnen and Weidman's camp is supremely confident in their protege's ability to neutralize Silva's vertical base and grind the fight out on the ground. The G.O.A.T. versus the popular native of Baldwin, N.Y., will create major buzz on both a local and national level.

Belcher vs. Vitor Belfort

Two fighters who live up to their respective monikers when at the top of their games. Alan "The Talent" Belcher is peaking since an 18-month layoff due to eye surgery. Victor "The Phenom" Belfort -- when healthy -- is one of the most exciting fighters in the world and is waiting to hopefully fight someone in his native Brazil. Belcher recently decreed he'd step up and take that challenge. These two are perfect for one another at this time.

Boetsch vs. Brian Stann/Michael Bisping

The Barbarian's broken foot will sideline him indefinitely, which leaves time for Stann and Bisping to eliminate the another from contention and then take on this bruiser who in his last two bouts owns victories over Lombard and Yushin Okami.

Lombard vs. Munoz

Lombard's UFC future -- at 185 -- is still very good. One must not dismiss a fighter as accomplished as Lombard after a bad night. Sonnen would be ideal if not for his apparent move up to light-heavyweight. But since Lombard has an axe to grind with Munoz, it makes perfect sense to place both in a position where a dominant performance vaults them right back into title contention.

Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC

Dana White Non-Committal on UFC Middleweight Title Picture

An angry Dana White declined to reveal his plans for the 185-pound division, instead teasing a future announcement of multiple fights to eventually decide Anderson Silva's next challenger. This leaves Chris Weidman's title shot aspirations in limbo for the next couple of days.

UFC 149: High Stakes for Middleweights

Hector Lombard and Tim Boetsch will determine the immediate course of a crowded middleweight division Saturday at UFC 149.