Vitor Belfort didn’t all out disagree with the criticism that he is looking for an easy fight for his final outing, but he did offer an explanation as to why. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Belfort reminded his followers of the quality of opponents he has fought in the last few years of his career. “Let me remind you all my last ten fights,” he wrote. “Anthony Johnson, Jon Jones, [Michael] Bisping, [Luke] Rockhold, [Dan] Henderson, [Chris] Weidman, [Dan] Henderson, Jacaré [Souza], [Gegard] Mousasi, and [Kelvin] Gastelum. Only big names, champions, and rising stars.”
While he praised the level of competition of his recent fights, he still decided to throw in a little shot at current UFC Middleweight Champion. “The only easy fight I had was with the actual FAKE Champion, Michael Bisping,” he said.
Belfort had recently stated that he would be interested in a fight with 0-1 fighter C.M. Punk at UFC 212 in Rio and saw a good deal of criticism for calling out a fighter a weight class below him that hasn’t so much as landed a single significant strike in his career.
Belfort, who was TKO’d in his last three outings and has lost five of the ten fights he referenced, said that he’s willing to fight anybody young, or old, and reiterated that his next fight will be his last. “Now, whoever they want to give as my last fight… I will take it! Give me younger kids or big names, champions… whatever! Let them come… I may be older, but I still have some tricks in my sleeve. I will be in front of my friends and family. And invite everyone to walk the last mile with me. Guys, I want and need your support! Let’s make this last walk to the Octagon a real celebration. Love you all!!”
Hiscoe’s Analysis: Vitor must have realized how ludicrous it was for him to ask for a fight with C.M. Punk at this point in each of their careers. People were right to criticize him for that as it would have been a lose-lose scenario for Belfort and it made him look weak to fans for calling out an inexperienced fighter.
I’m not sure where the dig at Bisping is coming from. Belfort isn’t’ even close to being in the conversation to fight for the title so I don’t know where he’s coming from in calling Bisping a “fake champion,” especially after his run of wins while on TRT that many would call “fake” themselves.
As for a final fight for Vitor Belfort, I like the idea of Belfort vs. Uriah Hall. Hall is a solid middleweight but not a world beater. Belfort would have at least a shot at winning and riding off into the sunset while Hall could give his career a bit of a boost by beating Belfort in Brazil.
MONDAY NOTEBOOK ITEMS
-Brock Lesnar’s attorneys have followed suit to Dana White and UFC and have filed a motion to have the Mark Hunt lawsuit against Lesnar dismissed. The document, obtained by MMA Junkie, states that the “Plaintiff’s complaint is so devoid of any facts to support his RICO and fraud claims that it would be almost impossible for Mr. Lesnar to respond.”
-Urijah Faber told Submission Radio that he’s not sure if Paige VanZant will continue to train at Team Alpha Male but that the door is always open to her.
-UFC on-air interviewer Megan Olivi spoke to MMA Junkie Radio about reporting on her husband Joseph Benavidez’ fights. “His last fight, I stood in the kitchen of the Palms,” she said. “I took the elevator, and I just pressed a button and I ended up at the kitchen, and I said ‘Listen, my husband’s fighting. I don’t want to watch it.’ Because I wasn’t working, and they were like, ‘Okay.’ So I put a timer on my phone for 17 minutes, because of the minutes between rounds and, when it was over, I took the elevator down and the fight was over.”
-Lina Lansberg is looking to get booked on the UFC Stockholm card according to a post on her Instagram account. She won a three round decision at UFC Fight Night London this month over Lucie Pudilova.
-Chris Camozzi will now fight Trevor Smith at the Stockholm event after original opponent Magnus Cedenblad was forced to pull out.
NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S REPORT: SUNDAY NEWS DIGEST 3/26: Invicta FC results, Rampage says he wishes he never fought in MMA (w/Hiscoe’s Analysis)
(MMATorch’s Daily News Digest features the top story of the day with added analysis, plus smaller tidbits in the News Notes section. Mike Hiscoe, who writes the News Digest Sundays through Thursdays, has a background in film criticism and previously wrote for the DVD Town and Movie Metropolis websites. His passion for Mixed Martial Arts goes back to 2005, but it was in the promotion for UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie that he really got hooked.”This is my house, I build it,” is still among the all-time great UFC promos. You can follow Mike on social media under the tag @mikehiscoe. He now provides his experienced writing and perspective on live MMA events for MMATorch.)
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