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Anderson Silva Vitor Belfort UFC 212 126
Silva vs. Belfort - Credit: YouTube/UFC

A rematch between Brazilian superstars Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort is rumoured to be in the works for UFC 212 after the former’s planned fight with Kelvin Gastelum was cancelled due to a failed drug test.

First reported by Brazilian website Agfight, Belfort has entered the frame as Gastelum’s replacement after the American was flagged by USADA for testing positive for marijuana metabolites stemming from an in-competition drugs test carried out before his victory over Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106 in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Brazilian legends to meet once again at UFC 212

Although middleweight contenders Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero have been eager to put their own names in the hat, it is understood that the UFC currently favours a rematch of the main event of UFC 126. In the first fight between Belfort and Silva back in 2011, “The Spider” would enjoy one of the most iconic moments of his career as he would defeat Belfort via a first round TKO when he hit his countryman with a vicious front kick and then finished him off with ground and pound.

Since then Silva and Belfort have both struggled to maintain the success they had earlier in their careers as both have lost more fights than they have won in recent times. Belfort is currently on a three fight losing streak and has not won a fight since a 2015 victory over Dan Henderson.

Meanwhile, Silva recently bounced back from five fights without a win with his first victory since 2012, when he defeated Derek Brunson at UFC 208 in a controversial unanimous decision. Despite the win, many still feel that Silva lost the fight and that Brunson was the victim of injustice with many having the fight scored to the American.

Now that both fighters are on the downslope of their careers, it would be a match-up that would make sense, especially with UFC 212 taking place in their native Brazil, where both men still enjoy a passionate following. With the fight planned for the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it would give both men an oppertunity to take part in a big name fight in the twilight of their careers. This is especially important for “The Phenom” who only has one fight left on his current contract with the UFC.