Vitor Belfort vs Anderson Silva at UFC 108

The L.A. Times is reporting that UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and former UFC light heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort will square off in the headliner of UFC 108 on January 2. No real surprise, especially considering UFC president Dana White’s enthusiasm for the match-up following Belfort’s knockout win over Rich Franklin at UFC 103 last weekend.

The bout would mark Belfort’s first fight at 185 pounds since returning to the UFC. The Franklin fight was contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Belfort (19-8) is a devastating and explosive striker with serious boxing skills (he has one pro fight under his belt) and he has recently been training in karate under the number two karate fighter in Brazil (UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida is number one). Although his best shot at defeating Neo, er, Silva is probably on the ground. Silva has shown he can be submitted and Belfort is a jiu-jitsu black belt under Carlson Gracie.

Of course, the biggest factor affecting Belfort’s game may be mental. He was too cocksure in his early days, was involved in a steroid scandal and then had to cope with the kidnapping and murder of his sister. But if the Belfort who beat Franklin shows up against Silva then the outcome is not so cut and dried.

BTW, the hot blonde up above is Belfort’s Playboy cover model/wife Joana Prado. Figured she’s a bit more eye-catching than either of the fighters.