Vitor Belfort Leaves Door Open to More Fights In The UFC

Much of the pre-fight talk for UFC 212 has been tied to the idea that Saturday’s card will mark the last time Vitor Belfort throws hands in the Octagon. But, in a recent interview “The Phenom” did, Belfort sounded pretty interested in returning to the UFC after all… If you’re somewhat surprised and or confused right […]

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Much of the pre-fight talk for UFC 212 has been tied to the idea that Saturday’s card will mark the last time Vitor Belfort throws hands in the Octagon. But, in a recent interview “The Phenom” did, Belfort sounded pretty interested in returning to the UFC after all…

If you’re somewhat surprised and or confused right now, don’t worry. You should be.

After Belfort was bombed out by Kelvin Gastelum in March, he talked about closing the door on his fighting career, after the final fight of his current UFC deal went down. Then, Belfort revealed he wants to continue competing after UFC 212, but outside the promotion. In addition, his manager even reported that Belfort was eyeing potential bouts with Bellator’s Chael Sonnnen or Wanderlei Silva.

So what’s the scoop now? Well, Belfort spoke with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto this week, and “The Phenom” reported he’s enjoyed training at Tristar in Montreal immensely. So much so, Belfort had this to say, when he was asked if his scrap against Nate Marquardt this weekend, will indeed be his last in the Octagon:

“No, I don’t feel that way,” Belfort said. “I’ll be OK if this is my last fight, but it feels more like a new beginning.”

The 40 year-old also added this:

“I feel this can be the beginning of more fights in the UFC.”

So, this is pretty interesting news, considering we’ve gone from ‘Belfort’s retiring’, ‘to okay, he’s just leaving the UFC’, to the possibility of him inking a new deal (although, MMA Fighting is reporting that Belfort in fact has one more bout on his UFC deal – Belfort has said, however, that his contract is ending).

Of course, if Belfort gets taken out by Marquardt, chances are we won’t see the Brazilian star in the Octagon again.

UFC 212 will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the HSBC Arena.

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Vitor Belfort Could Continue To Fight After UFC 212

Vitor Belfort continues to prepare for what will be the final fight of his UFC run, but it sounds like “The Phenom” intends to compete beyond June 3rd. Following Belfort’s one-sided loss to Kelvin Gastelum in March (which has since been overturned), the 40-year-old star announced his next bout would be his last with the […]

The post Vitor Belfort Could Continue To Fight After UFC 212 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Vitor Belfort continues to prepare for what will be the final fight of his UFC run, but it sounds like “The Phenom” intends to compete beyond June 3rd.

Following Belfort’s one-sided loss to Kelvin Gastelum in March (which has since been overturned), the 40-year-old star announced his next bout would be his last with the UFC. Since Belfort has been with the UFC for years, and because he’s won just one of his last five bouts, the consensus was he’d be hanging up the gloves after UFC 212.

Well, it looks like that’s not the case. According to a recent report from MMA Fighting, Belfort recently told Veja Rio the following:

“(I will) leave the UFC, but I’ll continue competing,” Belfort said. “Fight is my passion. Too bad that MMA hasn’t become a serious sport yet. Maybe I’ll help change this scenario.”

This shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise. Yes, even if you’re one of the people who believe that Belfort should call it quits on his storied career.

For some time, Belfort talked about his hope that the UFC would create a “legends” division, so he could continue to fight. Obviously, the world’s biggest MMA promotion isn’t going to go that route. So, Belfort will need to look elsewhere if he wants to fight, and it sounds like he will.

Considering how big of a name Belfort is, he’s going to have no problems finding another promotion to fight for. You know Bellator would love to have Belfort on board.

The Brazilian is scheduled to fight fellow veteran Nate Marquardt at June 3’s UFC 212 from his native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The post Vitor Belfort Could Continue To Fight After UFC 212 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

As Expected, Vitor Belfort Will Not Retire Following UFC 212

Yes, UFC 212 marks the final fight in the UFC career of former champion Vitor Belfort. But “The Phenom” is not walking away from competition completely. Belfort will take on Nate Marquardt next month from Brazil, looking to snap a three-fight losing skid. After that, he said he’ll “continue competing” in an interview with Veja […]

Yes, UFC 212 marks the final fight in the UFC career of former champion Vitor Belfort. But “The Phenom” is not walking away from competition completely. Belfort will take on Nate Marquardt next month from Brazil, looking to snap a three-fight losing skid. After that, he said he’ll “continue competing” in an interview with Veja […]

Vitor Belfort Moves Camp To TriStar For Retirement Bout

MMA legend Vitor Belfort will be training with one of fighting’s most highly-regarded teams for the final fight of his career at June 3’s UFC 212. Photos surfaced on Alex Garcia’s Instagram of “The Phenom” training at Montreal’s famed TriStar Gym alongside Georges St-Pierre for his upcoming bout agianst fellow longtime veteran Nate Marquardt, a

The post Vitor Belfort Moves Camp To TriStar For Retirement Bout appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

MMA legend Vitor Belfort will be training with one of fighting’s most highly-regarded teams for the final fight of his career at June 3’s UFC 212.

Photos surfaced on Alex Garcia’s Instagram of “The Phenom” training at Montreal’s famed TriStar Gym alongside Georges St-Pierre for his upcoming bout agianst fellow longtime veteran Nate Marquardt, a move which Belfort later confirmed when questioned by MMA Junkie:

Belfort is unquestionably one of the most powerful knockouts in the short history of MMA, but he’s also undoubtedly fallen upon hard times during a disappointing streak of mounting knockout losses following his unlikely TRT-fueled knockout streak in 2013.

Matching him against Marquardt, who’s also a onetime great past his prime, is an excellent booking for Belfort’s last walk to the cage after recent match-ups with top middleweights like Kelvin Gaastelum, Gegard Mousasi, and ‘Jacare’ Souza. The fight gives him an opportunity to go out with a victory in his native Rio de Janeiro, something many longtime fans of MMA will be rooting for the Brazilian legend.

He’ll always be a polarizing figure, but controversy aside, Belfort secured and still boasts many UFC milestones and could realistically go down as one of them most exciting fighters in MMA history win or lose. Training with Zahabi and St-Pierre in Canada will certainly give him a great chance to deliver one last great performance for his many fans.

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Vitor Belfort Training at Montreal’s TriStar Gym for Final UFC Fight

Heading into the final fight of his MMA career, Vitor Belfort has moved camps. MMA Fighting confirmed the news after TriStar’s Alex Garcia posted a photo picturing The Phenom with the rest of the TriStar camp. It’s an interesting move heading into his June fight with Nate Marquardt. While Belfort (25-13, 1NC) has fallen on […]

Heading into the final fight of his MMA career, Vitor Belfort has moved camps. MMA Fighting confirmed the news after TriStar’s Alex Garcia posted a photo picturing The Phenom with the rest of the TriStar camp. It’s an interesting move heading into his June fight with Nate Marquardt. While Belfort (25-13, 1NC) has fallen on […]

Kelvin Gastelum Responds After UFC Suspension, Vitor Belfort Win Overturned

UFC star Kelvin Gastelum has vowed never to fight in Brazil again in response to a 90-day ban handed out by the Brazilian MMA Sports Court after a positive drugs test for marijuana.
Gastelum did accept the suspension, however:

Per MMA Fighting’s Marc …

UFC star Kelvin Gastelum has vowed never to fight in Brazil again in response to a 90-day ban handed out by the Brazilian MMA Sports Court after a positive drugs test for marijuana.

Gastelum did accept the suspension, however:

Per MMA Fighting’s Marc Raimondi and Guilherme Cruz, the 25-year-old’s UFC Fight Night 106 victory over Vitor Belfort has also been overturned as a no contest as part of the sanctions, and he has also been fined 20 per cent of his purse.

    

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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