Silva: UFC 205-lb. belt belongs to Machida

No matter what the outcome is for Anderson Silva's light-heavyweight debut, don't count on Silva to have his eyes set on the division's title anytime soon.

"I don't intend to dispute the light-heavyweight belt," Silva said in an interview with TATAME magazine. "This is Lyoto [Machida]'s belt and he already proved that."

Machida currently sits on the list of possible opponents for UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin along with Chuck Liddell and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Silva and Machida, who both train together and consider each other good friends, have each publicly said they wouldn't want to fight each other.

Silva (21-4), who considers himself a company man, said he accepted the fight with James Irvin (14-4) at UFC Fight Night on July 19 for the challenge and because UFC President Dana White offered the fight to him.

Silva already has two middleweights lined up against him before it makes sense for him to strike again at light-heavyweight. After the Irvin fight, Silva will defend his UFC middleweight belt in a rematch against Yushin Okami (22-4), whom Silva lost to via disqualification at a Rumble on the Rock event in January 2006. If Silva successfully defends the belt, Patrick Cote, who earned a title shot with a win at UFC 86, is next.

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