UFC news 2017: former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva faces Derek Brunson at UFC 208

Mixed martial arts (MMA) pound-for-pound great Anderson Silva hasn't fought since he came in as a replacement to face Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in a non-title bout at UFC 200 last year. But it's about time for "The Spider" to return to the octagon.

UFC president Dana White has announced that the former UFC middleweight champion is set to face Derek Brunson at UFC 208.

Silva's opponent, Brunson, is looking to rebound from a loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night 101 last year, and the heavy hitter will look to take the fight to one of the most feared strikers in MMA history. The middleweight contender may have a wrestling base, but he definitely has the punching power to knock people out, so Silva has to be careful in this fight.

Silva hasn't won since 2012, but he has remained one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster. In an interview with Combate News (translated by MMA Junkie), Silva said he would love to have a rematch with current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping if his friend, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, doesn't get the title shot that he deserves.

"I'm rooting for (Souza) to get the opportunity to fight for the belt. If it doesn't happen and I get that opportunity, of course I want to fight. Regardless of belt, but of course it'd be better to fight for the belt and beat Bisping," he stated.

However, he made that statement before his fight with Brunson was announced, so he has to win that fight first before he could think about fighting Bisping for the belt. He also said that they have continued to taunt each other on Twitter.

"It's nice, in a level, because it's healthy. We are not attacking each other. Although he sometimes crosses the line, it's healthy," he told Combate News (translated by MMA Junkie).