LAS VEGAS - If Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre both win their next bouts, the two champions could square off in a super-fight later this year, according to UFC president Dana White.

First, Silva needs to defeat Vitor Belfort on Saturday at UFC 126 and St-Pierre has to beat Jake Shields at UFC 129 in Toronto on April 30, White cautioned.

"I'd like to do it," White said Wednesday. "If they both win, I think it's time. People have been talking about it forever."

Asked if the two champions wanted to meet, White said: "Why would they not?

A Silva-GSP meeting would decide who is the best pound-for-pound fighter out there.

"As far as their legacies go, it's huge for both guys," he said.

White has no problems with St-Pierre moving to middleweight permanently. The Montrealer has said if he fights Silva at 185 pounds, he will remain there rather than put his body though the ordeal of moving up and down weight classes.

"When a guy has accomplished everything he can accomplish somewhere it's time to move on to the next challenge," White said.

Asked about timing, White said: "It could happen before the end of the year."

The 29-year-old St-Pierre (21-2) would vacate his 170-pound title and meet Silva for the 185-pound crown.

White says such a fight could take place in Canada, Brazil or Las Vegas.

"We'll see how this whole thing plays out," he said. "This is one of those dream fights, super fights. There's so many obstacles in the way before this thing happens.

"So it's something that's cool to talk about right now, but until it becomes a reality, I have no idea what we do or how we do it."

At six foot two, Silva (27-4) has a significant size advantage on the five-foot-11 St-Pierre. The 35-year-old Brazilian has fought -- and won -- as a light-heavyweight at 205 pounds.

White, however, believed St-Pierre could thrive with bigger fish.

"People can say whatever they want but Georges St-Pierre looks impressive," White said. "Josh Koscheck said 'I dare him to stand up with me, he won't do it.'

"He (St-Pierre) went out there and shut his eye after about four or five jabs. I've never seen it happen in mixed martial arts where a guy went out and actually busted up a guy's eye in three or four punches.

"So I wouldn't count Georges St-Pierre out at all. I think it's actually a very good fight."