Victorious Vitor Belfort discusses Anthony Johnson’s weight-cutting fiasco
Vitor Belfort is a former UFC champion and #1 contender, so he knows the kind of commitment it takes to become the best in MMA. Saturday night, Belfort took out Anthony Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes from his native country of Brazil in front of thousands of cheering fans. However, the fight was more about weights than strikes, as “Rumble” came in well over the 185 pound... [Read More...]
The Pressure is on Vitor Belfort
*Author’s Note: This column was written before Anthony Johnson severely missed weight, thus changing just how much pressure Vitor Belfort faces. While a loss would still be damaging to him, it would be marked with an asterisk.* Pressure in sports is a funny thing. Some athletes rise to the occasion, even if they’re not superstars, while some athletes shy away or crack from the pressure, even... [Read More...]
Wanderlei Silva: “This is one fight I really, really want to do before I retire.”
Wanderlei Silva has competed against some of the elite fighters in MMA history. One bout, however, still haunts him to this day; a 44-second knockout loss to Vitor Belfort. Now, thanks to Brazil’s inclusion in the Ultimate Fighter family, Silva will have a chance to meet Belfort again, as the two will square off later in 2012 after coaching on the realty show. “The Axe Murderer” earned... [Read More...]
TUF Brasil finals, Vitor Belfort-Wanderlei Silva headed to summer PPV
While much of the UFC’s focus may be on this weekend’s lineup at UFC 142, the organization is also looking ahead a few months to TUF Brasil where coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort will each lead a team composed of featherweights/middleweights hoping to become Brazil’s first Ultimate Fighter champion. At the end of the season Silva-Belfort will face off as well. However, according to the... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort credits Dolce Diet with helping him prepare for Anthony Johnson
One of the underrated components of what goes in to making a world-class Mixed Martial Artist has to do with diet. While some fighters don’t subscribe to the necessity of eating right, ask most of the sport’s top competitors and they’re likely to tell you how helpful it can be in terms of feeling good, maximizing time in the gym, and ultimately cutting weight to hit the necessary limit. Vitor... [Read More...]
Anthony Johnson: “I’m gonna break Vitor. I’m gonna break him.”
There’s no doubt Anthony Johnson will be entering this weekend’s bout against Vitor Belfort as an underdog. At 10-3, and coming up from welterweight with a lack of experience against world class competition, chances are very few people in general will be giving “Rumble” the benefit of the doubt where pulling out a win is concerned considering Belfort’s past success and championship glory. However,... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort teams up with Georges St. Pierre to prepare for Anthony Johnson
A little more than a month Georges St. Pierre was in the midst of preparing to face Nick Diaz in February while Vitor Belfort had just begun camp for a bout against Anthony Johnson at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. While the always-impressive welterweight champion unfortunately went on to suffer a knee injury that will keep him out for most of 2012, prior to the affliction he linked up with Belfort to spend... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort offers up look at life, training in latest Road to UFC 142 video
Vitor Belfort is on his way to being one of the first coaches for TUF Brasil. First, however, “The Phenom” will step inside the Octagon to face Anthony Johnson. Belfort-Johnson is the co-main event for UFC 142, which takes place January 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the main event, Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title against Chad Mendes. “I’m coming to fight... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort opens up on training camp for Anthony Johnson
Vitor Belfort will be the first coach on TUF Brasil later this year. First, however, “The Phenom” will compete in his native country against Anthony Johnson at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. UFC 142 takes place January 14 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s HSBC Arena. The main event will feature Jose Aldo defending his UFC featherweight title against Chad Mendes. Belfort has decided to allow everyone the... [Read More...]
Wanderlei Silva has ended beef with Vitor Belfort
Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort will make history in 2012 when they coach opposite each other on the first international season of The Ultimate Fighter. The two coaches will meet after the season in a rematch, as Belfort won the first meeting by knockout. Silva is coming off a convincing victory over Cung Le in his last Octagon debut, while Belfort will face Anthony Johnson in the co-main event of... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort documents his training for Anthony Johnson
Vitor Belfort is excited to be returning to compete in his native country of Brazil. Belfort, who will meet Anthony Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, is planning on giving fight fans an in-depth look at his training camps in the weeks leading up to the January 14 fight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “The Phenom” has not fought in Brazil since 1998, when he defeated Wanderlei... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva to face off as coaches on TUF: Brasil
After speculation on names, not nationalities, UFC President Dana White announced the coaches for the UFC’s upcoming season of TUF in Brazil during a press conference related to UFC 142, naming fan-favorites Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva to the position. Also revealed was the UFC’s plan to have Belfort and Silva, who met at UFC 17.5 several years ago, square off this summer at the conclusion... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson set for January 14 in Brazil
After years of speculation on when he would make the move, oversized welterweight Anthony Johnson has decided to forgo the grueling cut to 170 pounds for a dip in the middleweight pool. However, while his body may be better suited for 185 pounds, the increased ease in hitting the mark certainly doesn’t carry over in terms of beating the opponent he’s drawn for his divisional debut. According to... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort interested in December dance against winner of Sonnen/Stann
Explosive UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort may be less than a week removed from withdrawing from a bout at UFC 139 due to injury but he’s already got a date and opponent in mind for his eventual return to the ring. With his medical issue only expected to push his readiness back a month, Belfort recently expressed his desire to fight at UFC 141 on December 30 against the winner of Chael Sonnen’s scrap... [Read More...]
Wanderlei Silva takes spot of injured Vitor Belfort at UFC 139
When the UFC recently announced Cung Le would make his Octagon debut on November 19 at UFC 139 against Vitor Belfort, the salivary glands of most fans immediately started working overtime at the thought of how things would unfold given their arsenal of stand-up weaponry. Unfortunately, according to Belfort as well as his bosses at Zuffa, “The Phenom” has been forced to withdraw from the bout due... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort ready to welcome Cung Le to the UFC in San Jose
It looks like Cung Le might be headed to the octagon and ready to welcome him is explosive striker Vitor Belfort. It appears that Le and the UFC are close to reaching a deal that would bring the Vietnamese American over from under the Strikeforce banner. Cung will find himself in familiar territory though, as he’s scheduled to make his UFC debut at UFC 139, which takes place in his hometown of... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort draws Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133
VITOR BELFORT IS BACK! “The Phenom” will return to action at UFC 133, taking on the very tough Yoshihiro Akiyama in a middleweight showdown that is sure to bring fireworks to the City of Brotherly Love. The story was first reported by ESPN UK. Belfort was last seen in the Octagon at UFC 126, failing to capture the UFC Middleweight Title from current champion Anderson Silva. Prior to the... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort hints at May match-up with Michael Bisping
The unsportsmanlike actions of Michael Bisping at UFC 127 during/after his bout with Jorge Rivera resonated strongly with a number of people both in attendance and watching at home. It appears one of those individuals happened to be a former promotional champ known for his knockout power among other things. Vitor Belfort took to his Twitter account Sunday night and expressed his interest in acting... [Read More...]
Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort and more confirmed for Super Bowl Weekend
Few Saturdays are as synonymous with the UFC putting on a major event as the card offered annually on Super Bowl weekend. With past years providing action featuring Randy Couture, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Frank Edgar, and a number of the sport’s biggest stars, 2011 will be no exception as the UFC has officially announced a trio of main card bouts with a current champion, three former title-holders,... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort: “If you have a mouth you can say whatever you want, and Wanderlei has a big mouth.”
By the time Vitor Belfort steps into the Octagon to face UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva at UFC 126 it will have been nearly a year-and-a-half since his last outing. However, the challenge created by the layoff doesn’t appear to concern Belfort, perhaps due an appreciation of life’s lows and highs brought on by the personal triumphs and tragedies he’s endured. A previous UFC light heavyweight... [Read More...]
