Former UFC champ Vitor Belfort (19-8) has been waiting patiently for a year to get his chance to step into the octagon against Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title, on February 5th he’ll finally get that opportunity and it’s going to be “a lion facing a lion” when both fighters step into the cage.
Belfort talked about his upcoming fight in an interview at UFC.com, we’ve got the transcription here provided by MMAMania.com.
“My plan is to go in there to fight, I’m not gonna be dancing around. Anderson (Silva) is an expert [standing up] with kicks and knees and elbows and I respect that — but I’m not afraid of it. I think every day that I’m gonna win the fight, that I’m gonna push the pace. I have to look for the opening, look for the gap and if it goes to the ground I have to look for the submission. If we’re [on the feet] I have to look in his eyes and know I’m gonna beat him. He’s the champion and I’m the challenger, it’s gonna be a lion facing a lion. It’s gonna be a great, great fight. I’m about to accomplish my journey. In the name of Jesus I’m gonna leave [UFC 126] with a victory.”
Both men will meet in the main event of UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort on Feb. 5th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.