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Rampage faces Machida, and Silva could be next

Rampage Jackson could provide a future opponent for Anderson Silva © UFC

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Quinton Rampage Jackson appears to be heading for a light-heavyweight showdown with Lyoto Machida this November, and if he gets past the Brazilian his reward could be a meeting with Machida's friend and training partner, Anderson Silva.

Jackson's MMA career is understood to be winding down as he completes the outstanding fights on his contract, and Machida is next on the agenda after "The Dragon" confirmed the bout on Twitter. Rampage also wants to avenge defeats to Mauricio Shogun Rua, Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin before he hangs up the gloves.

However, Anderson Silva is eyeing up another 205lb challenge after he faces Chael Sonnen at UFC 117, with UFC president Dana White a known advocate of the middleweight champion stepping up a weight - rather than down a division to face Georges St-Pierre. Having destroyed Griffin in his last light-heavyweight venture, Silva will be targeting a major name as his next opponent, and UK president Marshall Zelaznik is a big supporter of a Silva/Jackson encounter.

"I'd love to see something like that happen," Zelaznik told ESPN.co.uk. "Anderson, when he fights at light-heavyweight, nobody comes away complaining from his fights.

"He can obviously fight at either weight, but it's almost as if the anticipation surrounding Anderson Silva only brings out the man we all imagine him to be when he takes these light-heavyweight challenges.

"There's such a size thing surrounding the GSP v Anderson situation. If you hang out with Anderson, he's such a big guy. The difference between him and GSP is significant.

"Obviously that is a factor in this sport, can skill overcome size? But in this situation Anderson has the frame of a light-heavyweight."

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