Anderson Silva hasn't fought in more than a year due to a career-threatening leg injury but if he can defeat Nick Diaz on Jan. 31 at UFC 183, he'll be next in line for a shot to regain the middleweight title.

In an interview on Fox Sports 1's "UFC Tonight" on Wednesday, UFC president Dana White confirmed that a victory over Diaz (26-9) would put Silva (33-6) in a championship matchup against the winner of the bout between champion Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort at UFC 184 on Feb. 28.

"Diaz and Anderson Silva are fighting, and obviously if Anderson Silva wins that fight, and whether Vitor or Weidman win, then you have Anderson Silva versus either one of those guys," White said.

Weidman has defeated Silva twice already, both fighters' last two fights. The first bout in July 2013 at UFC 162 was Silva's first defeat in six years. It was in the second contest in December 2013 where Silva suffered a vicious broken leg, throwing his entire fighting future into question.

White certainly isn't counting Diaz out though – as no one should. After all, a serious injury can change a fighter and White questions if Silva will ever be the same.

"It's a very interesting fight," White said. "After the injury that Anderson Silva had, where is he going to be mentally? I think physically he's a guy that does the right things, works hard. He's been working since the injury happened. He's definitely going to be in shape.

"Will he throw the leg kicks the way that he used to throw them? How's he going to feel when he gets back into competition? Sparring and training is much different than getting in there and fighting."