Bellator President Scott Coker today confirmed to MMAjunkie the promotion is working on pairing Wanderlei Silva (35-13-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and Quinton Jackson (37-13 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) for a fourth fight.
The matchup was first reported by Brazilian website Gazeta Do Povo, which also reported Silva is working on bringing the event to Arena da Baixada in his home town of Curitiba. Silva also claimed the event would launch him as an event promoter.
Coker said the Viacom-owned promotion has not confirmed the venue or a date for the event. A weight class also has not been confirmed.
Jackson, a former UFC light heavyweight champ, has fought as a heavyweight for his past three bouts, most recently entering the Bellator MMA World Grand Prix. He lost in the eight-man tournament’s quarterfinals, falling short to career middleweight Chael Sonnen (30-15-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) at Bellator 192.
Jackson has said he suffers from a thyroid condition that makes the cut to light heavyweight too difficult. He’s also complained about being paired with wrestlers who hold him down rather than fight. A fight with Silva certainly would satisfy the ex-champ’s demand.
Silva returned from an extended layoff this past June – courtesy of a failed drug test and fight with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the UFC – and was smothered by Sonnen over three rounds on pay-per-view at Bellator NYC at Madison Square Garden.
Silva and Jackson have faced off three times under two different promoters. Silva won the first two in a pair of classic bouts in the now-defunct PRIDE, and Jackson won the third in the UFC.
Under Coker’s management, Bellator has increasingly established itself as an international brand. But a trip to Brazil would be the promotion’s first.
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Bellator: Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson 4 in the works