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UFC chief admits Okami might be next for Anderson Silva

ESPN staff
March 15, 2011
Georges St-Pierre has cast doubts over the Anderson Silva superfight © Getty Images
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Dana White has hinted that Anderson Silva's next fight will be Yushin Okami, not Georges St-Pierre.

White had created a buzz in recent months by suggesting UFC middleweight champion Silva would fight welterweight king St-Pierre if both men won their latest fights. Silva beat Vitor Belfort, and St-Pierre is favourite to overcome Jake Shields in April.

That UFC 129 encounter was seen as the last hurdle, but doubts have begun to emerge with GSP recently stating Silva may be too big to handle. Silva appeared to have doused that problem when saying he would take the bout at a catchweight of around 178lbs, but now White has casts more doubts by suggesting Silva will face the last man to beat him - albeit via disqualification - Yushin Okami.

Questioned if there was only one hurdle left, with GSP beating Jake Shields, White told MMA Fighting: "Maybe the Okami fight does happen."

Asked if there is a chance of that bout going ahead, White replied: "Yeah."

The UFC president then seemed to play down the hype over Silva v St-Pierre by labelling it a "fantasy fight".

"Do I think if all the stars line up and everything works out perfect that GSP won't fight Anderson Silva?" White said. "There's no way. Both guys would take that fight. Georges St-Pierre has to beat Jake Shields, that has to happen. If that doesn't happen, it doesn't matter what happens after that.

"Georges St-Pierre has never turned down a fight in all the years I've known him. Neither has Anderson Silva. But it's a fantasy fight. A lot of things have to come together for this fight to happen."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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