• UFC news

Belfort eyes Bisping, Silva and Jon Jones

Vitor Belfort wants UFC gold © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Bisping: Belcher doesn't have balls to fight me at 152
  
• Profile: Michael Bisping | Jon Jones | Anderson Silva

Vitor Belfort has laid out his plan for the immediate future, and it reads something along the lines of: Michael Bisping, title shot, Jon Jones.

Belfort was deprived of the chance of fighting Wanderlei Silva after he was forced out of the UFC 147 main event by injury. Although disappointed not to settle their rivalry, Belfort does not think he missed a major opportunity to climb the middleweight ladder.

In the Brazilian's eyes, the likes of Bisping are far more important to his hopes of booking another title shot, which he understands to be one win away.

"I only want that my next bout accredits me to dispute the belt," Belfort told Fighters Only. "I don't know, maybe Michael Bisping. I was only defeated once recently, by Anderson Silva, and all my wins were very convincing.

"I think I deserve this chance for my legacy. Some fighters are like: 'Ah, the guy who has the belt is my friend, I don't want him'. Well, I want it.

"I want to make a fight that interests the public. I already am in the end of my career, so I want to do one more fight and go for the belt. Joe Rogan spoke with me that it makes all sense, unless Hector Lombard wins very well over Tim Boetsch. And Lorenzo Fertitta told me that I would dispute the title if I had beat Wanderlei."

Once Belfort is done with middleweight, which he expects to happen within three fights - maximum, he then plans to attack light-heavyweight king Jon Jones.

"I don't know how long I will stay in this division. I wanted to do more two or three fights. If my body will no longer permit this big weight cutting, I will go up [to 205lbs]. I am not afraid of Jon Jones or somebody else."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.