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Belfort promotion does not alter Bisping's title path

Michael Bisping had been expected to face either Vitor Belfort or Nate Marquardt in the near future © UFC

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Vitor Belfort's promotion to a UFC middleweight title shot makes little difference to the future of Michael Bisping, according to UK president Marshall Zelaznik.

Bisping is set to headline UFC 120 in London against Yoshihiro Akiyama, in a bout that can propel the Briton right into the title mix. However, the expected path for the winner has been severely altered in recent times after Belfort replaced Chael Sonnen as the division's No. 1 contender.

Up until the Brazilian's promotion, it was reported that the winner of Bisping v Akiyama would meet either Belfort or Nate Marquardt. But with Belfort expected to fight Anderson Silva in February and Marquardt guaranteed the next title shot if he beats Yushin Okami at UFC 122, it would appear Bisping's next opponent will come from elsewhere.

Zelaznik sees it differently though, insisting the UFC never lays out regimented plans for any fighter, and he revealed the recent chain of events has had little impact on Bisping's road to a title shot.

"It is absolutely correct [that Marquardt or Okami will get the next title shot)," Zelaznik told ESPN. "Dana [White] has set it out, that's definitely the case.

"I don't think it changes one way or another what Dana and Joe [Silva] are dealing with. There's no track that fighters are on. Decisions are made on the basis of fights and you see how the pieces line up.

"The thinking process is very fluid, it's organic when it comes to finding match-ups. I see plenty of potential fight cards, but Joe doesn't emotionally commit to them early on because they're always in flux.

"We're lucky that we have truly talented fighters who are willing to take fights on short notice."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.