Michael Bisping (left) and Vitor Belfort (right)

By FCF Staff

Tim Kennedy may be willing to fight Vitor Belfort, and Dana White recently said the promotion is trying to book the bout, but Vitor Belfort apparently isn’t interested unless it’s at light-heavyweight.

Since Belfort knocked out Luke Rockhold in dramatic fashion this past May, the #2 ranked middleweight has been pleading for a title fight. Now that champion Chris Weidman will fight Anderson Silva for a second time on December 28th, however, Belfort is willing to fight in the meantime, just as long as it doesn’t interfere with his title shot plans. The fighter’s wife and manager Joana Prado told Globo.com recently (translation via MMA Junkie.com):

“It doesn’t make sense that Vitor, who is No. 1 in the rankings, should fight against No. 2, No. 6 or No. 10 in his weight class,” Prado said. “His next fight in the middleweight class will be against the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva. If the UFC wishes him to fight in any class above middleweight, we are at their disposal. It can be anyone, Tim Kennedy, even Roy Nelson, but it has to be at 205 pounds or heavyweight – he’ll even fight as a heavyweight. Vitor wants to fight, but in his weight class, only if for the belt.”

So, it remains to be seen if the promotion looks to book Kennedy-Belfort at 205, or starts examining other opponent possibilities. The UFC is rumored to be planning an event in Brazil on October 5th, and since Belfort is a sizeable draw in the South American nation, having him compete on the card could be a productive way to move tickets.

Kennedy is coming off a successful Octagon debut, as the well rounded middleweight outscored Roger Gracie at UFC 162 for the unanimous decision win.