UFC president Dana White said there's a potential he may grant two title shots following Saturday's UFC on FOX 3 event, but he might not grant any.
While main-card bouts of Nate Diaz (15-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. Jim Miller (21-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) and Johny Hendricks (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) vs. Josh Koscheck (17-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) have been discussed as de facto No. 1 contender fights, White today said that's not exactly true.
Similar to the UFC on FOX 2 meeting between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, White said Saturday's two headlining fights each have title implications – just not necessarily for the fighters on both sides of the octagon.
"We're in one of those situations we were in before with Davis and Evans." White told Sergio Non of "USA Today." "Should Diaz win, Diaz is definitely getting the title shot. Should Miller win, Miller's probably going to be a fight or two away."
White confirmed the co-feature contestants find themselves in a similar situation with Hendricks bidding for a shot at the belt but onetime title challenger Koscheck not quite yet in the championship picture.
UFC on FOX 3 takes place Saturday at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The evening's main card airs on FOX.
Diaz enters the bout after back-to-back career bests, flashing moments of absolute domination in wins over Donald Cerrone and Takanori Gomi. The 26-year-old is just 4-2 in his past six fights, but with five "Fight of the Night" bonuses under his belt, he's a must-watch competitor and may very well work his way into title contention with a win.
Meanwhile, Miller looks to build on the strength of his impressive submission win over Melvin Guillard at January's UFC on FX 1 event. Miller was decisioned by Benson Henderson in a bid for a shot at the lightweight title, but he's still 9-1 in his past 10 fights and extremely relevant in the 155-pound title picture.
While UFC officials have yet to make an official announcement, the lightweight title is expected to next be contested on Aug. 11 at UFC 150, with champ Henderson rematching Frankie Edgar.
Koscheck returns after narrowly edging Mike Pierce at UFC 143 via split decision. Koscheck, who recently split from his longtime home at American Kickboxing Academy, admitted he didn't take the fight as serious as past encounters but will now compete in a contest that has real title implications, even if a title shot wouldn't fall in his immediate future.
Meanwhile, Hendricks fights for the first time since earning a stunning 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch at December's UFC 141 event. The once-beaten former collegiate wrestling stud now boasts a three-fight win streak and is 7-1 in eight octagon contests.
The UFC's welterweight division currently boasts two champions with interim titleholder earning a belt with division kingpin Georges St-Pierre sidelined due to injury. Those two are expected to unify the belts in late 2012.
Source: UFC boss says title shots on line for Diaz, Hendricks, perhaps not for Miller, Koscheck