Belfort-Anderson Silva in Works for Jan. 2

Los Angeles Times writer Lance Pugmire with the early-weekend bombshell: Dana White told Pugmire that he’s gotten verbal commitments from both Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva for the two to face off in honor of Silva’s middleweight title in Las Vegas on Jan. 2.

It’s a big fight for a big holiday weekend, and Belfort may be the most compelling style match for the champion in the UFC to date -- but it comes at the expense of both Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson, who have both been toiling in pursuit of another shot at Silva. Marquardt told Real Fighter magazine this week it would be ”messed up” if Belfort leapfrogged over him, “but whatever. I’ll probably end up fighting all three of those guys one day anyway. … I’ll be happy if they give me Henderson.”

Belfort may not be the rightful crusader here (though he did finish Rich Franklin when Henderson couldn’t), but if he’s on his game and swollen with the kind of humility/quiet confidence cocktail that’s gotten him past Matt Lindland and very nearly into a fight with Fedor Emelianenko, he might make something out of it.