Vitor Belfort is officially a Blackzilian.
Authentic Sports Management announced Friday night that “The Phenom,” who is now scheduled to fight Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 152 on Sept. 22, has officially joined the Blackzilian team in South Florida.
“This is the most important fight of my life, so the time is perfect to join [manager] Glenn Robinson and the Blackzilians and their world class training camp at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Delray Beach,” Belfort stated in a press release. “I will have the best trainers and the top fighters in the sport including Alistair Overeem and Rashad Evans helping me prepare for this title fight. I will run my whole training camp at JACO and will win the belt for my fans, family and the Blackzilians in South Florida.”
According to the release, Evans, who most recently lost to Jones at UFC 145, will serve as Belfort’s head coach for this training camp. He will be assisted by Henri Hooft, Mario Sperry, Jorge Santiago and Marco and Flavius Silva.
“As one of the early champions in the UFC and one of the most popular fighters in the world today, it is an honor to call Vitor Belfort a Blackzilian,” Robinson, the president of ASM, stated. “[On Thursday] it was announced that he will fight for the title at UFC 152. Everyone here at ASM will do whatever it takes to ensure he has the best training camp and exits the Octagon on September 22 as the new UFC light heavyweight champion.”
Belfort (21-9) is coming off a first-round submission win over Anthony Johnson, another Blackzilian member, in January. He was scheduled to fight Wanderlei Silva in June before suffering a broken hand.