Vitor Belfort has won 10 out of 13 fights since 2007, and all of his losses were in UFC title fights. Following a first-round TKO loss to middleweight champion Chris Weidman in May, “The Phenom” still aims another shot at the gold.
Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, is ranked at No. 3 in the 185-pound division, and told Sensei Sportv he believes he has what it takes to start another title run.
“When I see this, I see I can be here and fight more,” Belfort said while watching a tape of his first UFC wins in 1997. “I still can do another run for the title.”
According to the MMA veteran, UFC president Dana White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta contacted him following the UFC 187 loss, and asked him about starting another run for the gold.
“I got a phone call from Lorenzo and Dana the next day, asking me how I was,” he said. “My last year and a half were really tough, adapting, a lot of changes. ‘Do you want to do another title run?’ They know my potential. They called me to know how I was and if I want another title run. I know I’m still at the top of the division.”
Belfort’s wife and manager Joana Prado also asked “The Phenom” about his motivations after his third loss in title fights in five years, and Belfort’s title aspiration was the answer.
“Joana asked me an interesting question. ‘Why do you want to continue fighting?’ I won’t lie, won’t fight only to continue fighting. If I’m in, I will want to go there to win the title. If it’s just to (fight), I don’t want it,” he said. “That’s not what I’m made of. God will give me this direction and I trust the people that work with me. Joana and the other partners who run the office will make the right decision with the UFC.”