Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold Will Be Main Event in Brazil

Coming off of his big win over Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7, Vitor Belfort was hoping to score a championship fight. 

On Feb. 4, MMA Junkie reported that Belfort was looking for a rematch with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

“I deserve the [Jones] rematch, so that’s the fight I’m looking for," he explained.

If the stars didn't align for Belfort, he was at least hoping to land a rematch with middleweight deity Anderson Silva. 

"If I'm in the 185 division, I beat the second [ranked] guy, I earned that place," he explained while presenting his case for a title shot.

But as it turns out, according to MMA Junkie, Belfort's next bout will not be for UFC gold. It will, however, come against a champion of sorts, namely Luke Rockhold, the last Strikeforce middleweight titleholder.

While it isn't precisely what Belfort wanted, the pairing does make for a high-profile contest that will have serious title implications. In fact, it's entirely possible that the victor is next in line for a shot at Silva's strap. 

What's more is that the fight will take place in Brazil, Belfort's home country. All in all, a solid consolation for "The Phenom."

For Rockhold, an American, the booking means debuting with the UFC in hostile territory. The former Strikeforce champ will enter the promotion as a consensus top-10 fighter, and one on the shortlist to contest for the middleweight title, but he will have to overcome a tough challenge right off the bat in order to realize that opportunity.

The date and venue of the match are to be determined.