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Anderson to defend belt three times before facing GSP

ESPN staff
January 1, 2013
Anderson Silva is coming off a win over Stephan Bonnar © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has mapped out a new plan for Anderson Silva, revealing the middleweight champion will defend his belt three times before returning his focus to a superfight with Georges St-Pierre.

White had promised prior to UFC 154 that Silva would face St-Pierre if the Canadian beat Carlos Condit in November. However, those plans have not materialised despite GSP's memorable victory.

Now it seems the superfight has been put on the backburner once again, with St-Pierre's next fight set to take place against Nick Diaz at UFC 158. Silva, meanwhile, will take on Michael Bisping if the Brit beats Vitor Belfort in January.

White predicts that Silva will fight three more rivals before GSP, a timeplan most likely based on the welterweight champ, who has Johny Hendricks heading a queue of contenders for his championship.

"There's probably three fights out there for [Silva] at 85," White said after UFC 155.

"Then Georges will have a few more fights under his belt because the guy's been out such a long time. Before he blew his knee out, he was ready to roll."

Silva's options at middleweight include Bisping and Chris Weidman, while there is always the potential for one of the light-heavyweights to drop into the 185lb ocean. President White also predicted Silva could fight Jon Jones after St-Pierre.

"It makes sense if you think about it. It would be almost a year-and-a-half," White said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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