With Kennedy fight dead, UFC's Belfort interested in Sonnen fight

A potential bout with middleweight contender Vitor Belfort is now dead, according to Tim Kennedy. However, one notable is interested in fighting the Brazilian.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, both Kennedy (16-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and UFC President Dana White said the bout was in the works, but through his manager/wife, Belfort (23-10 MMA, 12-6 UFC) turned it down and said the only fight he wants at middleweight is a title shot. Otherwise, he’s open to a catchweight bout.

As Kennedy wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: “The fight against @vitorbelfort never materialized. I want to thank for @danawhite and @lorenzofertitta it was an honor to be considered.”

While new middleweight champ Chris Weidman and former titleholder Anderson Silva prepare for a rematch at UFC 168 on Dec. 28, Belfort, according to Tuesday’s edition of “UFC Tonight” on FUEL TV, wants a fight with Sonnen.

Sonnen (27-13-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC), of course, is scheduled to fight Mauricio Rua (21-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC) in the headliner of UFC Fight Night 26 on Aug. 17.

“Vitor and I can never quite seem to get this right,” Sonnen, who co-hosts “UFC Tonight,” said. “I’ve called him out, and now every time he calls me out, it always coincidentally seems to be whenever I have got my plate full.”

However, Sonnen said he’d be willing to fight Belfort at UFC 168, which takes place in Las Vegas. The catch, though, is that Sonnen wants Belfort’s No. 1 contender’s status if victorious.

That, of course, is for UFC officials to decide, and it’s unlikely to happen. Still, it could build interest in a potential bout that would bolster an already-stacked pay-per-view card.

For the latest on UFC 168, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Vitor Belfort)