• UFC on Fox 2

Bisping v Silva would be targeted for Brazil - White

ESPN staff
January 21, 2012
Michael Bisping is one win from a UFC title shot © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has almost completely ruled out the possibility of holding a potential Anderson Silva v Michael Bisping title showdown in the UK.

Bisping heads into a middleweight title eliminator in a week's time against Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2. The winner is guaranteed to get the next shot at champion Silva.

As the figurehead of UK mixed martial arts, Bisping's potential involvement in a title shot would be the biggest moment in UFC history from a British standpoint. As a result, it is only natural to ask the question as to whether White would allow Bisping to challenge for glory in front of his home fans.

The UFC would undoubtedly lose out from a pay-per-view perspective by doing the fight in the UK, but Bisping's popularity is such that revenue could be generated from holding the fight in a football stadium.

However, White admits the lure of Brazil, where a football stadium would also be used, is simply too great - so both Sonnen and Bisping now know they will have to take the belt from Silva in his own backyard later this year.

"The answer, hands down, is Brazil," White said on UFC on Fuel when asked if the UK or Brazil would be the ideal destination. "You could do an 80,000-seater soccer stadium down there.

"50 million people will watch live on television... remember all the stuff I used to say about Canada? Brazil wins. Brazil is the new Mecca of martial arts."

White also confirmed that Silva would accept a rematch with Sonnen if the American beats Bisping. Sonnen had predicted on Friday that Silva would still duck him even if he confirms his status as No. 1 contender.

"I 100 per cent guarantee you, if Chael Sonnen wins this fight, Anderson Silva will fight Sonnen this summer," White stated.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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