UFC President Dana White said today that Vitor Belfort’s desire to fight champ Jon Jones won him a title shot.
The desire of Chael Sonnen, who volunteered to save the ill-fated UFC 151, wasn’t enough. White said the outspoken light-heavyweight didn’t have enough time to prepare for UFC 152, and Belfort got the nod.
“People talk a lot of [expletive], but nobody’s too excited to fight Jones right now,” White said. “When it came time for them to get the title shot, they turned it down. Vitor was calling (UFC executive) Lorenzo (Fertitta) up and said, ‘I want this fight with Jon Jones so bad.'”