The Phenom, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon to face UFC superstar Rich Ace Franklin in the main event of UFC 103. Also featured on the biggest MMA event to ever hit Texas will be perhaps the most explosive heavyweight battle of the year when one of the sports most feared strikers, Mirko Cro Cop, takes on Brazilian knockout artist Junior Dos Santos.
Vitor Belfort talks with ESPN 1100's Steve Cofield about his move down to the middleweight division, Gegard Mousasi, fighting for Affliction, and whether or not he'll make the move to the UFC to challenge middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
ESPN 1100's Steve Cofield talks with UFC president Dana White about a number of subjects, but notably about the "he is, he isn't" situation around Chuck Liddell retiring from mixed martial arts, the Cro Cop situation, Roger Huerta's return, and Vitor Belfort's prospects in the UFC.
Liddell has been mum on the retirement talk, but the UFC has said they will induct someone into the Hall of Fame at UFC 100. Are they just waiting for the Hall of Fame ceremony to make a dual announcement out of Chuck's retirement and then subsequent induction into the Hall of Fame or are they inducting someone else entirely?
Vitor Belfort is currently under contract with Affliction Entertainment, scheduled to compete on the promotion's third effort, Trilogy, on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. He will face current Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago on the pay-per-view portion of the fight card.
But could he end up back in his old stomping grounds, the UFC... facing current UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva, no less?
Stranger things have happened.
UFC president Dana White on Saturday night -- during The Ultimate Fighter Finale telecast -- more than alluded to the possibility of a return of "The Phenom."
"I know (Anderson) wants to stay at 185 pounds. So, while he's fighting Forrest (at 205 pounds in August), I'm working right now on some other 185-pounders," stated the UFC big-wig.
And just who might he be working on... well, he at least has his eyes on?
"Vitor Belfort. Vitor is a former heavyweight, moved down to 205, now at 185. He's got great hands, great on the ground. If his head is right, he's a dangerous, dangerous guy. I think that'd be a great match-up," said White.
Would it be no surprise that he might want Belfort back, especially after he destroyed Matt Lindland -- a fighter that White isn't exactly fond of -- at Affliction's sophomore effort in January?
And more than that, could Belfort actually be "the bad match-up" for Silva? Could he be the one to dethrone the king?
Vitor Belfort knocked highly ranked middleweight Matt Lindland to the canvas with a strong left hand, then followed with several rights that left "The Law" out cold. He lay on the mat for several minutes, ringside medical staff taking every precaution before the Olympic silver medalist was finally able to leave the ring under his own power.
During the Josh Barnett vs. Gilbert Yvel bout, it was reported that Lindland was taken to the UC Irvine Medical Center for follow-up treatment.
"He was doing good (when he got into the ambulance)," said Lindland's cornerman, Robert Follis. "You know, he was a little bummed and knew what happened – that he got rocked – but he was coherent. He was talking. He looked good. They're just taking him in to check him and make sure."
MMAWeekly.com later followed up with another member of Lindland's camp, Heath Sims, who said that, "Matt is doing okay," and doesn't seem to be suffering from any significant injuries.
RawVegas.tv caught up with Vitor Belfort after a hard day of training as he prepares for a bout against Matt Lindland at Affliction 2 "Day of Reckoning."
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort is expected to hit Xtreme Couture in preparation for his upcoming fight with Matt Lindland at Affliction's "Day of Reckoning" on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif.
Welterweight Jay Hieron, a "Brigadier General" in the Xtreme Couture army, trained alongside "The Phenom" for 6 weeks when he was preparing for Terry Martin at Affliction "Banned."
Apparently, the Brazilian is a beast in the gym.
"Man, that dude, that guy is phenomenal," Hieron gushed. "He could be a professional boxer for sure."
Longstanding rumors of Belfort's inconsistency don't ring true for Hieron.
"People always say, 'Vitor's head,' when he gets out there in a fight," he continued. "I don't know too much about that, because his last fight, he looked great. I've seen him have trouble in the past, but athletically, boxing skills, and all around well-roundedness, he's incredible."
Hieron was unaware of when Belfort would be dropping in, but looked forward to being able to train with him again. "The Thoroughbred" will fight on alongside Belfort on the undercard of "Reckoning," against Jason High.
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