UFC on FX 8 may have been short on stars, but the few that were in the arena on Saturday night made their presence felt with style.
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza put on an absolute clinic, lulling Chris Camozzi into unconsciousness within a matter of seconds after locking in a first-round arm triangle for his UFC debut. And then came Vitor Belfort. An underdog once again, the old lion saved his best trick for last, unleashing a devastating spinning heel kick that toppled Strikeforce’s other middleweight standout, Luke Rockhold, midway through the main event’s opening frame.
It was as spectacular of a knockout as they come, one that may have opened the door for Belfort to seize the UFC middleweight championship rematch that’s eluded him for so long. And all along the way, Belfort’s supporters and critics within the MMA community were there to weigh on the carnage.
Wow! That was unbelievable!! What about that leg speed, spinning? Are you kidding? Freaking awesome!
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) May 19, 2013
OMFG!!!!!! @vitorbelfort is the man
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) May 19, 2013
Victor did look good. Congrats. Bummed for my boy Luke though. He will be back strong.
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) May 19, 2013
Wowser!!!!!!!!! #UFConFX8
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) May 19, 2013
My heart goes out to @lukerockhold awesome fighter & works so hard. Hats off to @vitorbelfort, awesome kick & all around legend #UFConFX8
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) May 19, 2013
Oh you stronger than ever, huh Vitor…yea, we know… #UFConFX
— Jason Highwalker(@KCBanditMMA) May 19, 2013
But TRT or no TRT that shit was mad spectacular. #UFConFX
— Jason Highwalker(@KCBanditMMA) May 19, 2013
Wow!!!!!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) May 19, 2013
That was unexpected. What a kick.
— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) May 19, 2013
Belfort keeps looking better each time out…
— Mark Bocek (@MarkBocek) May 19, 2013
@benfowlkesmma @mmajunkiesteven I disagree. I have trained with guys pre & post testosterone usage & difference is incredible. Speed & power
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 19, 2013
I am not trying to be a jerk & not jealous of other fighter success, I am secure in who I am. (cont) tl.gd/lriei6
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 19, 2013
In a day & age where we discover new long term effects of concussions and how horrible they are, I speak out of concern for my peers
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 19, 2013
@brianstann agree . confidence , energy , swag , cardio everything goes up . It allows you to train harder , etc . Just ridiculous
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 19, 2013
@brianstann don’t justify it to please morons who don’t compete. Plain & simple insecurities somewhere means they need shit
— Tom Kong Watson (@TomKongWatson) May 19, 2013
Holy shit that was brutal #ufconfx8 amazing!
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) May 19, 2013
Wow vitor…
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) May 19, 2013
…… What in the world… Really?…. A spinning wheel kick… From Vitor Belfort… tmblr.co/Z8wavwlImWtj
— Michael McDonald (@MaydayMcDonald) May 19, 2013
Wow!! Just wow!! Vitor is the man!
— Costas Philippou (@Philippou185UFC) May 19, 2013
Keep your head up @lukerockhold all the greats have been put down along their journey. Yours is just beginning!!
— Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) May 19, 2013
Hell yea wow wow wow belfort is my hero
— Melvin Guillard (@Young__Assassin) May 19, 2013
Great KO @vitorbelfort, The things we can do when we get older, we just get better. fb.me/Df4HrKQa
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 19, 2013
Holy shit! #PHENOM
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 19, 2013
can’t wait to hear the all TRT comments about Vitors speech when he says he is stronger than ever!I think he realized it when he said it!
— Chris Clements(@menaceclements) May 19, 2013
Oooooh my!!!!! Craziest finish I’ve ever seen @vitorbelfort @ufc #ufconfx8
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) May 19, 2013
I’ve always been a Vitor fan but I really thought it was Rockholds time… I’m still blown away.. Congrats to the Phenom.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 19, 2013
It had to have been the haircut! #ufconfx8
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 19, 2013
#wordsofadvice if your debuting in the UFC….stay off the main card! You gotta ease into it
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 19, 2013
Vitor’s spinning kick just tucked Uriah Hall’s spinning kick in bed #UFConFOX8
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 19, 2013
Incredible win for #VitorBelfort #ufconfx8
— Darren Elkins (@Darren_Elkins) May 19, 2013
Wow! Spinning heel kick KO for vitorbelfort ! #evolving #UFConFX8 @ufc @fueltv instagram.com/p/ZeihGuM5K4/
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) May 19, 2013
In my opinion @vitorbelfort has earned a shot at the title after his last two wins. #impressive #sickninjakick
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) May 19, 2013
Vitor looks like an action figure. #Badass
— Duane Ludwig (@DUANEBANGCOM) May 19, 2013
KO of the Night! Another Spinning Wheel Kick added to the @ufc highlight reels! Mad #respect @vitorbelfort
— Jon Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) May 19, 2013
Vitor is still a beast!
— Pat Curran (@PatCurranMMA) May 19, 2013
I’m signing up for karate classes… All these dam windmill kicks n shit!! #smh #muaythai
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) May 19, 2013
.@danawhite @jacaremma vs @vitorbelfort Gonna be a great Fight 🙂
— Thiago Tavares UFC (@TavaresMMA) May 19, 2013
#Flyweights we can’t let these heavyweights out flashy move. As a group we need to step our game up. @ufc #ninjastatus
— John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) May 19, 2013
That was amazing……. Well done Belfort
— Kyle Noke (@KyleNoke) May 19, 2013
Tae Kwon Do still works! Massive congrats to Belfort! #ufconfx8 #blackbelt
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) May 19, 2013
That’s why Vitor Belfort has been n always will be one of my favorite fighters since like 5th grade! #SavageKO
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) May 19, 2013
Tough loss for @lukerockholdkeep your head up my friend.
— Tarec Saffiedine (@tarecfighter) May 19, 2013
OH MY GOSH!!! CONGRATULATIONS @vitorbelfort & THANKS FOR THE MOMENTUM!!! LETS GOOOOOO!!!!
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) May 19, 2013
Holy moly that was a crazy KO @vitorbelfort still looking great. So awesome @jacoclothing @glennauthentic @ufc @ufcbelle.
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) May 19, 2013
What’s making the old vitor the old vitor
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) May 19, 2013
WTF!!!! THAT WAS SSOOOOOO CCCRRRAAAAAAZZZZYYYYYY!!!! @ufc #UFConFX
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) May 19, 2013
Give that man @vitorbelfort the next title shot!!!! @danawhite @ufc #UFConFX
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) May 19, 2013
Freaking beautiful @vitorbelfort with the spinning kick to the head!! @ufc
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) May 19, 2013
HOLY SHIT!!!!!! The Immortal Vitor Belford!!
— MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) May 19, 2013
Vitor needs to layoff that juice
— RyanMartinez (@970King) May 19, 2013
Holy juicyness wtf
— RyanMartinez (@970King) May 19, 2013
Vitor’s win creates an interesting problem – as far as I know Nevada hasn’t licensed him for TRT but he’s on it, & clearly the #1 contender
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) May 19, 2013
THE GATOR SAYS GO TO SLEEP
WOW!! Jacare is NASTY
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 19, 2013
Man, @jacaremma is a BEAST! That’s some top shelf strangulation skills right there
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) May 19, 2013
Maybe the fastest I’ve ever seen anybody put to sleep. Choke prob started 2-3 secs before it actually looked like an arm triangle #UFConFX
— Jason Highwalker(@KCBanditMMA) May 19, 2013
Camozzi is tough but I saw that 1st round submission coming from the day this fight was announced. Just a bad match up for him
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 19, 2013
Dayum
— Michelle Ould (@MichelleOuldMMA) May 19, 2013
Middleweights,Jacare just arrived!!!!!
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) May 19, 2013
Wow camozzi went out fast! Jacare super impressive as always!! I’m a huge fan #ufconfox
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) May 19, 2013
Jeez Jacare looks solid. @ufc
— Bristol Marunde (@BristolMarunde) May 19, 2013
Slickness at its finest! @jacaremma
— Jon Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) May 19, 2013
Thank you @danawhite @lorenzofertitta and @reedharrisufc . I knew it was a tough fight on short notice but I thought I had it. I’ll be back
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) May 19, 2013
DOS ANJOS, DUNHAM AND CONTROVERSY
Action packed fight by DosAnjos n Dunham, that’s dem #LightweightsBestWeight in the @ufc!!! #UFConFX8…
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) May 19, 2013
Dunham got ROBBED!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 19, 2013
Wow gr8 fight! Thought @evandunham155 had it though! One of my fav fighters.
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) May 19, 2013
I thought @evandunham155 won all three rounds, can see the judges giving Him a 29-28 though.
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) May 19, 2013
R.O.B.B.E.R.Y much?
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) May 19, 2013
Close and good fight but @evandunham155 got robbed!
— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) May 19, 2013
Bullshit
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) May 19, 2013
That a boy @evandunham155 FOTN .got him winning all 3 rounds! I hope the judges see it that way. They’ll probably score 29-28 Dunham.
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) May 19, 2013
Holy freaking BULLSHIT right there!!! @evandunham155 won that fight hands down! Horrible decision!
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) May 19, 2013
I’ve seen bad decisions in my day but these idiots obviously score off crowd reaction then the fight itself.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 19, 2013
Great fight!
— Costas Philippou (@Philippou185UFC) May 19, 2013
That was BS, @evandunham155 won that fight #UFConFX
— Martin Kampmann (@MartinKampmann) May 19, 2013
Wow the was the worst decision in Mma history! UFC should NOT go back to Brazil after a decision like that. What corruption and prejudice!
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) May 19, 2013
Dunham got robbed
— Mitch Gagnon (@MitchGagnonUFC) May 19, 2013
I feel very bad for Dunham who put his heart in the cage, won and got roooobbed! #ufconfx8
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) May 19, 2013
Wow don’t know how ever @evandunham155 lost that one! Shocking judges decision there! #ufconfx8 #UFConFX
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) May 19, 2013
Wow!!!@evandunham155 won that fight!Robbed!@ufc
— Bristol Marunde (@BristolMarunde) May 19, 2013
Dunham got screwed. I sometimes wonder what the judges are watching
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) May 19, 2013
Not the way I scored it but who am I? #UFConFX
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) May 19, 2013
Hey @evandunham155, I thought you won that fight and so did everyone else on here. Sucky decision but you’re still the man! Proud of you bro
— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) May 19, 2013
Brazilians would boo Jesus if he was going up against another Brazilian #UFConFX8
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 19, 2013
Tough fight don’t agree with the decision like usual. Thanks everyone for the love.
— Evan Dunham (@evandunham155) May 19, 2013
NATAL EDGES ZEFERINO
Congrats @rafaelsaponatal way to push the pace!
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) May 19, 2013
Took the fight on short notice in a higher weight class true warrior @zeferinomma you’ll be back!!!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) May 19, 2013
Big congrats to @rafaelsaponatalon his UFC win tonight!!! Great job vs a game opponent!
— Matt Serra (@MattSerraUFC) May 19, 2013
Nice ground and pound from @rafaelsaponatal!
— Phillipe Nover (@PhillipeNover) May 19, 2013
I wanna see some 50/50 guard on the main card #shitnoonesays
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 19, 2013
Congrats to Rafael “Sucko” Natal, if he woulda known the counter to 50/50 guard was being a man then maybe he would of finished him.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 19, 2013
There’s @ufc on?!?!?! Who gots a link for me??? Wait, who’s fighting???
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) May 19, 2013