Various media outlets are reporting that middleweight contenders Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami will square off in the main event of UFC 122, the organization’s return to Germany. Belfort had been due to face champion Anderson Silva for the World Middleweight Title, but first injuries and now the rise of Chael Sonnen has denied him his title shot. Okami has won nine of his eleven fights in the UFC, having lost to only Rich Franklin and Sonnen. He is also the last man to defeat Anderson Silva, albeit by disqualification.
To me, the choice of Belfort-Okami as UFC 122’s headliner raises an eyebrow for two reason. One Belfort made it publically known that he didn’t want to fight in Germany, if he has acquiesced it underlines Zuffa’s ability to insist fighters to do things that they do not want to do. Secondly one has to doubt its ability to draw a significant crowd in the tough German market or on Spike TV in America. Its for this second reason that one has to doubt that the UFC is satisified with this as a main event, with rumors that the organization is keen for Randy Couture (who served as a soldier in Germany during the eighties) to headline against either Rashad Evans or Mirko Cro Cop.
Hat Tip: Wrestling Observer
