Valentijn Overeem vs. Antonio Silva targeted for Dec. 4; "Bigfoot" yet to receive offer

Despite reports to the contrary, Brazilian heavyweight Antonio Silva (14-2 MMA, 1-1 SF) has not yet been formally offered a fight with Golden Glory's Valentijn Overeem (28-25 MMA, 0-0 SF).

But he's got an answer prepared if the call does come: Yes.

Silva's manager Alex Davis today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Strikeforce has yet to present a potential fight with Overeem for a Dec. 4 event in Missouri, but if the offer comes, his client is game.

"Antonio isn't in the business of picking opponents," Davis said. "He'll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. Just send the contract, and he's in."

Overeem's brother, Alistair Overeem, posted news of the potential matchup on his official Twitter account on Friday. But Overeem's words made it seem the contest was official.

"My brother Valentijn is fighting Antonio Silva on Dec. 4 for his Strikeforce debut," Alistair stated. "Great news."

But Davis insists Silva has yet to receive word of Strikeforce's plans for the yet-to-be-announced "Henderson vs. Babalu" event.

Silva had been linked to a potential fight with Fedor Emelianenko, but "The Last Emperor" is now on the sidelines until at least January. As such, Davis said Silva would be more than happy to face Overeem.

"If Strikeforce wants us to face Valentijn, then that's who we'll fight," Davis said. "Antonio is anxious to get back in action, and he'll fight regardless of who is on the other side of the cage."

Silva's most recent appearance was a May decision win over Andrei Arlovski. The former EliteXC champion has won seven of his past eight contests overall.

Meanwhile, Overeem is a four-time PRIDE veteran who has been fighting professionally since 1996. "The Python" is currently riding a two-fight win streak in which he's earned two knockout wins in just 47 seconds of total fight time.

For more on "Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu," stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

(Pictured: Antonio Silva)

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Raphael Assuncao vs. L.C. Davis targeted for WEC 52 in November

A featherweight bout between Raphael Assuncao (14-3 MMA, 2-2 WEC) and L.C. Davis (16-3 MMA, 3-1 WEC) is in the works for November's WEC 52 event.

Assuncao Tweeted news of the bout earlier today. A source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) verbal agreements are in place but that bout agreements haven't been signed.

WEC 52 takes place place Nov. 11 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The night's main card, which airs on Versus, is headlined by former featherweight champ Urijah Faber's bantamweight debut, which comes against former title challenger Takeya Mizugaki. It's not known if Assuncao vs. Davis will be part of the televised lineup.

Once among the 145-pound division's top 10, Assuncao now likely is fighting for his life in the organization. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt signed with the WEC in 2009 and posted decision wins over Jameel Massouh and Yves Jabouin to extend his win streak to six. However, he's since tapped out to Urijah Faber at WEC 46 and suffered a split-decision defeat to Diego Nunes in June at WEC 49.

Davis, a former star of the now-defunct IFL, recently saw a three-fight WEC win streak come to a halt with a technical-submission loss to top contender Josh Grispi at WEC 49. Prior to the defeat, the former Affliction and World Victory Road fighter posted a string of decision wins over Javier Vazquez, Nunes and Deividas Taurosevicius under the WEC banner.

For the latest on WEC 52, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

(Pictured: L.C. Davis)

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Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann targeted for UFC 125 New Year's Day event

A middleweight bout between Chris Leben (21-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and former WEC champion Briann Stann (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has been targeted for the Jan. 1 UFC 125 card.

Sources close to the event today alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the tentative plans, though bout agreements have not been signed.

Although not officially announced, UFC 125 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view.

If finalized the fight likely will be part of the televised main card.

Leben, who remarkably makes his 17th consecutive UFC appearance, has never seen his stock higher in the 185-pound division. He's currently riding a three-fight win streak with a decision win over Jay Silva at UFC Fight Night 20, a TKO victory over Aaron Simpson at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale ("Knockout of the Night" bonus), and a submission win over Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116 ("Fight of the Night" honors). The Simpson and Akiyama wins came within 14 days of each other.

Leben recently has been campaigning for a fight with Wanderlei Silva, whom he also wants to coach against on "The Ultimate Fighter 13" in early 2011. Production normally begins in mid-January, so a "TUF" gig theoretically is possible if he beats Stann. (Silva currently is recuperating from recent knee surgery.)

Of course, Stann is on a solid run of his. He's won three of his past four fights (all in the UFC) with decision victories over Steven Cantwell and Rodney Wallace and a recent submission win over Mike Massenzio at UFC on Versus 2 that won him "Fight of the Night" honors. The lone loss came to highly touted NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Phil Davis, who was unable to finish Stann and settled for a decision win.

The Greg Jackson-trained fighter, former Marine, war veteran and Silver Star winner recently released a book about his MMA and military exploits entitled "Heart for the Fight." It earned a positive review from MMAjunkie.com.

For more on UFC 125, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Chris Leben)

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Champ Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort targeted for 2011, possibly UFC 125 (Updated)

As it turns out, Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) isn't injured. And, in fact, he's expected to meet UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva (27-4 MMA, 12-0 UFC) early next year, possibly in the headliner of a UFC 125 event on Jan. 1 in Las Vegas.

Sources close to the event, including Belfort's manager, today confirmed the tentative plans with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Belfort had been scheduled to fight Yushin Okami in the headliner of November's UFC 122 event before a recent card change.

Instead, Okami now fights recent UFC Fight Night 22 winner Nate Marquardt. Although initially believed to be injured, Belfort is, in fact, healthy, according to a recent Twitter post from UFC president Dana White. Belfort now will bypass the No. 1 contender's bout at UFC 122 for an immediate title shot with Silva.

UFC 125 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and the night's main card airs on pay-per-view. The event currently needs a headliner, and Silva vs. Belfort certainly fits the bill.

"We shall immediately sign the contract for the bout once the date is confirmed," Fabiano Farah, Belfort's manager, today stated in an email to MMAjunkie.com.

Belfort, of course, takes a slot initially designated for Chael Sonnen (25-11-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC), who dominated Silva for more than four rounds at UFC 117 before succumbing to a triangle choke in the final two minutes of the fight. Sonnen had been promised an immediate rematch, but he failed his UFC 117 drug test, which he plans to appeal. The process could go well into 2011 before it's resolved.

Belfort had been promised an earlier promised title shot. However, when he was sidelined by a shoulder injury, Demian Maia and then Sonnen got shots at Silva's belt. Nevertheless, Belfort is riding a five-fight win streak, and in his most recent bout at UFC 103, he returned to the UFC for the first time in four years and scored a first-round knockout of Rich Franklin in a 195-pound catchweight bout.

Silva, meanwhile, moved to 12-0 in the organization and made his record seventh straight UFC title defense with the August win over Sonnen. He's now won 13 straight fights and 15 of his past 16 while dominating the elite of the middleweight division. All but two of the wins came via stoppage.

For more on UFC 125, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Vitor Belfort)

(Updated on 9/22/10 at 3:10 p.m. ET with confirmation and a quote from Belfort's manager.)

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