• UFC 139

Belfort set for fight with ex-Strikeforce champ

ESPN staff
September 10, 2011
Vitor Belfort is coming off an impressive victory © Getty Images
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Vitor Belfort has claimed that he will be fighting former Strikeforce legend Cung Le in his next bout at UFC 139.

Belfort, who beat Yoshihiro Akiyama inside two minutes in his last appearance at UFC 133 after previously tasting defeat against Anderson Silva in their middleweight title bout, revealed the news on his official website - although the UFC have yet to officially confirm the contest.

"After Belfort's last explosive win in UFC 133 against Yoshihiro Akiyama, UFC is quickly putting him back in the ring and this time against martial arts master Cung Le for UFC 139," Belfort's statement read.

Le, a former Strikeforce middleweight champion and renowned kickboxer, has not fought since July 2010 as he has embarked on a relatively successful acting career. But he has previously confirmed that he would be prepared to step back into the Octagon for the right opportunity - and would move to UFC rather than return to his former organisation.

"I know for a fact that if I do fight again, it's going to be in the UFC. I've never fought in the UFC, but I would love to fight in the UFC," Le told MMAweekly in July.

UFC 139 is set to take place in Le's adopted hometown of San Jose, California on November 19.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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