Vitor Belfort Issues Apology for Suggesting That John Morgan Should Be Beaten for Asking Him About TRT


(John Morgan is an award-winning MMA journalist with a rack of those trophies on his mantle. Everything else is virtually identical.)

As we all know, Testosterone Replacement Therapy — or “legalized steroids,” if you want to be an asshole about it — is a private matter that’s best kept between you and Jesus. But for some reason, MMA media members can’t stop wondering about the ethics of Vitor Belfort‘s hormone treatments, and how much TRT should be credited for the Brazilian slugger’s recent career-resurgence.

So, during the UFC on FX 8 post-fight press conference on Saturday night, just moments after Belfort spinning heel-kicked Luke Rockhold into Bolivian, MMAJunkie’s John Morgan asked Belfort the following question: “How frustrating is it that every time you do something good people just want to ask you about testosterone, and how much that’s playing in your life and can you just address that?” (Let’s give a brief round of applause for the brilliantly underhanded nature of that question. Instead of asking Belfort “what’s up with the testosterone, bro?” Morgan asks how frustrating it is that people — like John Morgan, for example — keep asking about it. Kudos, sir.)

Belfort’s response was quick and to the point: “Can somebody beat him up for me please? Can somebody beat him up? You’re boring, get out of here,” responded Belfort. Belfort then said he didn’t want to answer any more questions from Morgan. “Talk to my hand.” (Let’s give a brief round of applause for Belfort’s use of a slang phrase that has been out of circulation since around the time of Belfort’s UFC debut in 1997.)

Now, suggesting that a reporter should be beaten up during a press conference seems like an innocent joke on paper, but you have to keep in mind that the room was packed with Brazilian media members, most of whom were likely carrying shock pens. Luckily, Morgan made it out unscathed, and after a few days of reflection, Belfort released a statement on twitter today expressing how badly he feels about the incident:


(John Morgan is an award-winning MMA journalist with a rack of those trophies on his mantle. Everything else is virtually identical.)

As we all know, Testosterone Replacement Therapy — or “legalized steroids,” if you want to be an asshole about it — is a private matter that’s best kept between you and Jesus. But for some reason, MMA media members can’t stop wondering about the ethics of Vitor Belfort‘s hormone treatments, and how much TRT should be credited for the Brazilian slugger’s recent career-resurgence.

So, during the UFC on FX 8 post-fight press conference on Saturday night, just moments after Belfort spinning heel-kicked Luke Rockhold into Bolivian, MMAJunkie’s John Morgan asked Belfort the following question: “How frustrating is it that every time you do something good people just want to ask you about testosterone, and how much that’s playing in your life and can you just address that?” (Let’s give a brief round of applause for the brilliantly underhanded nature of that question. Instead of asking Belfort “what’s up with the testosterone, bro?” Morgan asks how frustrating it is that people — like John Morgan, for example — keep asking about it. Kudos, sir.)

Belfort’s response was quick and to the point: “Can somebody beat him up for me please? Can somebody beat him up? You’re boring, get out of here,” responded Belfort. Belfort then said he didn’t want to answer any more questions from Morgan. “Talk to my hand.” (Let’s give a brief round of applause for Belfort’s use of a slang phrase that has been out of circulation since around the time of Belfort’s UFC debut in 1997.)

Now, suggesting that a reporter should be beaten up during a press conference seems like an innocent joke on paper, but you have to keep in mind that the room was packed with Brazilian media members, most of whom were likely carrying shock pens. Luckily, Morgan made it out unscathed, and after a few days of reflection, Belfort released a statement on twitter today expressing how badly he feels about the incident:

To all my fans and to all the reporters that was there on the after press conference I would like to ask for forgiveness the way I answer about TRT I RECOGNIZE THAT I ANWSER IN A IMMATURE WAY BUT WAS THE 10 th time that that reporter ask the same question. No excuse!! I made a WORNG call and I am here to ask for forgiveness God bless all you guys love to do what I do and I am keeping moving UP SEEKING GROW AS A MEN OF GOD AND AS A FIGHTER “DONT DOUT ME I WILL PROUVE U WORNG” PEACE

Unlike GSP, I think we can all assume that Belfort is in charge of his own twitter feed. And props to Vitor for at least acknowledging that what happened at that press conference was sort of weird and uncalled for. (See Mike? How hard was that?) Still, the entire incident underscores what a touchy subject TRT use is among MMA fighters — especially ones who already have a checkered history with PEDs.