Patrick Cote.

BY JAMES BRYDON
sportsnet.ca

MONTREAL -- Just over 18 months ago, Patrick (The Predator) Cote was fighting UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and becoming the first man to take him into the third round of a fight.

Then, in the opening moments of that third frame, his right knee gave way. He fell to the ground, unable to continue, and Silva was awarded an anticlimactic TKO victory.

Two surgeries and a lengthy rehab later, Cote (13-5, 4-5 in the UFC) finally returns to the Octagon Saturday against Alan (The Talent) Belcher on the main card of UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun 2 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

For Cote, it’s about time.

“I was bored as hell,” Cote said of the time spent in recovery. “I was doing a bit of conditioning, but mostly hanging with my friends and gaining weight. People told me I was getting fat. That was pretty funny.”

What else could he do? After the injury occurred during his fight at UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote -- it was actually a re-aggravation of an injury he sustained in training to his knee that he and his trainers thought would hold up in the fight -- the Rimouski, Que., native underwent major ACL surgery. Then, in training for his comeback fight almost a year later, he hurt his knee again. This time he would need surgery on the MCL, which he had last August.

The second injury didn’t require as long a layoff, but Cote admitted to “delaying” his comeback so that his return fight could be in front of his home crowd in Quebec. He has fought multiple times in Montreal for the now-defunct TKO Championship Fighting, but he missed out on the previous two UFC trips here.

“We arranged something (with the UFC) to come back in Montreal,” Cote said. "For sure we wanted another big fight here."

He was certainly not given a soft opponent to ease him back in. Like Cote, Belcher (15-6) possesses some great striking and especially Muay Thai, which could pose a threat if he’s able to land kicks to the knee. Cote isn’t concerned however.

“I don’t care, because my knee is in perfect condition right now,” Cote said. “Anyway this is my back leg, so it’s going to be very hard for him to attack it. He can’t beat me by using that.”

UFC president Dana White believes Belcher is the perfect opponent for him.

“When Cote is pushed and someone gets in Cote’s face, he steps up,” White said. “And Belcher’s that guy. Alan Belcher’s always entertaining. That kid comes to fight.”

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Prior to his loss to Silva, Cote had won four straight UFC fights -- with each opponent presenting a tougher challenge -- which earned him the title shot. Cote believes that if he can get a couple of knockout wins, that will put him right back in that position.

White meanwhile said it’s more about “beating the right guys” than wins, and the 26-year-old Belcher is one of them.

Cote said that he dwelled on the opportunity he lost due to injury against Silva for about a month after the fight, but he doesn’t think about it anymore.

“I just have to try to win and make another run at the championship,” Cote said. “I want to have the belt around my waist. And I think I’m a better fighter than when I fought Silva. I’ve gained a lot of maturity. I’m not nervous at all, I’m in a happy place.”

NOTES: Cote said he had a very good game plan against Silva and while he wasn’t able to demonstrate it to its fullest, he has a handle on what it would take to beat him. “You have to show him you’re not scared of him, you’re in control, not showing him too much respect. That’s the key.” … While Cote didn’t compete at UFC 83 or UFC 97 in Montreal, he was on hand both years to do commentary for French broadcasts of the events. He said he will also be doing so for UFC 115 next month in Vancouver … Cote thinks the fact the Canadiens can’t be eliminated Saturday night thanks to their win Thursday over the Penguins means there shouldn’t be too many problems downtown should they lose in Pittsburgh. He doesn’t even think there will be much damage even if Montreal were to be ousted in the following game. “It wouldn’t be the same thing as losing against Boston.” … Cote might not have much time left for a rematch against Silva. White said Thursday if Silva beats Chael Sonnen, his upcoming opponent, and next Vitor Belfort, he’ll push for Silva to move to 205 pounds, which would also involve him vacating the middleweight title. "At that point, he'll have cleaned out the 185 division," White said.