Fight Booking Alert: Vitor Belfort vs. Tim Kennedy Booked For Brazil UFC


(You know, stories that start with a photo of Mike Bisping getting his come-uppance are just more fun | Photo via Reuters)

Tim Kennedy is getting his second famous Brazilian opponent in as many UFC fights. The former Army Ranger and Strikeforce middleweight contender confirmed Friday on twitter that he would fight Vitor Belfort at a yet unannounced Brazil card.

“I’m going to brazil to fight Vitor!” Kennedy tweeted Friday.

The fight will be Belfort’s fourth fight in Brazil in his last five fights. That’s good for the UFC for two reasons – 1. Belfort has a tendency to test positive for banned substances, takes TRT and likely wouldn’t get a Therapeutic Use Exemption for it in Nevada so in unregulated Brazil, Vitor can go ahead and be Vitor – whatever that may entail. 2. Vitor is really, really popular in Brazil.

We’re not saying that the UFC is reckless and stupid enough to endanger their hard-earned standing in the sports world as a legitimate sports promotion by booking Belfort in places where he can do things he couldn’t do elsewhere, but they are certainly fortunate that they have other marquee locale options other than Vegas to promote a star of his caliber.  In any case, the fight will be a big opportunity for Kennedy to break into the top 5 or so of UFC middleweights.

Belfort is on a tear of late, with three straight knock out wins at middleweight, a submission win over Anthony Johnson at a fatcatchweight. The only guy who has beaten Belfort lately is Jon Jones – and Vitor almost broke that kid’s arm before losing.

What do you think, nation? Does Kennedy have what it takes to beat Belfort and move ahead in the middleweight division or will he get starched quickly like his former Strikeforce stablemate and foe, Luke Rockhold?

– Elias Cepeda


(You know, stories that start with a photo of Mike Bisping getting his come-uppance are just more fun | Photo via Reuters)

Tim Kennedy is getting his second famous Brazilian opponent in as many UFC fights. The former Army Ranger and Strikeforce middleweight contender confirmed Friday on twitter that he would fight Vitor Belfort at a yet unannounced Brazil card.

“I’m going to brazil to fight Vitor!” Kennedy tweeted Friday.

The fight will be Belfort’s fourth fight in Brazil in his last five fights. That’s good for the UFC for two reasons – 1. Belfort has a tendency to test positive for banned substances, takes TRT and likely wouldn’t get a Therapeutic Use Exemption for it in Nevada so in unregulated Brazil, Vitor can go ahead and be Vitor – whatever that may entail. 2. Vitor is really, really popular in Brazil.

We’re not saying that the UFC is reckless and stupid enough to endanger their hard-earned standing in the sports world as a legitimate sports promotion by booking Belfort in places where he can do things he couldn’t do elsewhere, but they are certainly fortunate that they have other marquee locale options other than Vegas to promote a star of his caliber.  In any case, the fight will be a big opportunity for Kennedy to break into the top 5 or so of UFC middleweights.

Belfort is on a tear of late, with three straight knock out wins at middleweight, a submission win over Anthony Johnson at a fatcatchweight. The only guy who has beaten Belfort lately is Jon Jones – and Vitor almost broke that kid’s arm before losing.

What do you think, nation? Does Kennedy have what it takes to beat Belfort and move ahead in the middleweight division or will he get starched quickly like his former Strikeforce stablemate and foe, Luke Rockhold?

– Elias Cepeda