Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva II could take place at UFC 168

The UFC’s traditional year-end event could very well have a new headliner if UFC President Dana White has his way.

White today told the Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire that he’s targeting UFC 168, which takes place Dec. 28 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, for the rematch of this past weekend’s UFC 162 headliner between Chris Weidman (10-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Anderson Silva (33-5 MMA, 16-1 UFC). MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has since confirmed White’s intentions with a UFC official.

“@danawhite just told me he’s so amped about @SpiderAnderson @ChrisWeidmanUFC rematch, he’s thinking of moving it to Dec. 28,” Pugmire wrote on Twitter. “@danawhite said he’d shift @RondaRousey @MieshaTate bout to Super Bowl weekend, just considering it now.”

Following this past Saturday night’s historic UFC 162 event in Las Vegas, White officially announced UFC 168 would see women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) would face former Strikeforce title holder Miesha Tate (13-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in the evening’s main event. However, he’s since reconsidered his position and it seems will now attempt to book Weidman vs. Silva II for the night’s featured slot.

Weidman has already expressed his desire to face Silva a second time after scoring a second-round knockout over “The Spider” at UFC 162 to become just the sixth middleweight champion in UFC history. The former champ has suggested he’s not interested in the rematch right now, but White believes time will see the Brazilian reconsider his position and seek redemption against the undefeated Weidman.

If Weidman vs. Silva II does take place at UFC 168, the Rousey vs. Tate bout would likely head an as-yet-unnamed UFC event that’s scheduled for Feb. 1 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. However, UFC execs to officially make the switch.

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

(Pictured: Chris Weidman)