Vitor Belfort agrees with Ultimate fighting championship President Dana White’s perception that the best fighters should be willing to fight their buddies, teammates and countrymen.
Belfort may challenge other Brazilian and former training partner Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title Saturday at UFC 126. Even though Silva has been critical of Belfort’s loyalty in the past, Belfort believes the fight is going to be worth it.
“This is a sport,” Vitor Belfort said recently on Bruce Buffer’s “It’s Time” show on the Sherdog Radio Network. “After this fight, I really think Anderson is going to look back and say, ‘Man, this fight [made history] in the sport.’ We’re proving this is a sport. … I believe after this fight, many fighters many years from now, they’re going to see how it was important that this fight happened for the sport.”
Belfort expects the matchup to influence future generations of mixed martial artists. The message: take on all comers regardless of affiliation.
“Pretty much people are going to start changing their perspective because this is what people want to see,” he said. “People want to see the best fighters fighting the best fighters. It’s hard. I know a lot of people take it personal, but what’s personal? People don’t recognize that. What’s loyalty? Loyalty is you taking care of your family. You being the guy that you preach that you are. Living the words that you say.”
A former UFC light top quality champion, Belfort stressed that their fight along with Silva is not about getting another title as well as winning. He explained it’s about putting on a display.
“In the past it was all about, ‘I cannot lose.’ Now I don’t care,” Belfort said. “I really don’t care what’s going to be the result as long as I … bring the best out of me. I think that’s what Dana’s expecting. ... Win or lose, I’m going to leave the Octagon wanting people to go back home and say, ‘Man, that was the best fight I’ve seen in my life. It was worth it.’”
It is certain that both Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva have the power in their hands to put on a classic fight. Anderson Silva is 12-0 in the UFC and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Vitor Belfort hasn’t lost in more than 4 years. In his September '09 return to the UFC, “The Phenom” stopped Former Champ Rich Franklin in just 3:02.
“I respect Anderson Silva’s skills a lot, as a person too,” Belfort said. “It’s a competition. It’s going to be a battle. I hope I can leave with a victory. I’m going to fight for that, but I can promise you guys one thing: that I’m not going to back down. I’m going to do my best.”
