Fans had looked forward to an explosive showdown between Vitor Belfort and middleweight champ Anderson Silva at UFC 112 for months before a shoulder injury forced Belfort to withdraw from the fight and left the UFC scrambling to find a suitable replacement.

Although a game Demian Maia stepped in to take Belfort's place against "The Spider" just a few short weeks before the event, the results were less than spectacular, and Silva continued his record-breaking streak of title defenses. It was a fight that was hard to watch without wondering "what if...," considering it had originally been scheduled to feature two of the most dynamic strikers in the sport.

Now Belfort (19-8), who is still recovering from surgery to repair his injured shoulder, is hoping to finally give fans the fight that should have happened in March.

"My return to the ring has been defined by (UFC owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta)," Belfort said during an interview on Brazilian MMA program Sensei Sport TV. "He called me and wants me to be ready in October and I'll be ready by then."

"The Phenom" made it clear that he wants to face Anderson Silva whether or not the reigning champ defeats challenger Chael Sonnen in his next title defense at UFC 117 in August.

"What bothered me about Anderson, and also bothered us all, was the lack of respect he had with the athlete and man inside the Octagon, talking dirty words, skipping, then kneeling to ask for forgiveness and then not wanting to apologize," Belfort said of Silva's unanimous decision victory over Demian Maia at UFC 112. "It was a controversy, people tried to tell him, but (his manager) Ed Soares translated incorrectly. What bothers me is that I had great affection for him when I knew him. Now he is not the same as before."

Belfort feels that a fight between himself and his former training partner Silva would be one for the ages, and listening to him, it almost sounds like destiny talking.

"Everybody wants this fight," Belfort stated. "I think it will be the fight of the century. It is a much anticipated fight and has to happen. It didn't happen, but now it has to happen more than ever. Now, I'm more determined. I really want this fight. Before they put this fight on me, but now I want it. Now it's my challenge and it will come."