UFC 103: Vitor Belfort Smashes Rich Franklin in Round One
by Luke Thomas on Sep 20, 2009 12:11 AM EDT
in News
92 comments
Is the old Vitor back? No, the new Vitor is here.
After a feeling out period where Vitor held his stance as if he was Lyoto Machida, it turned out it was only a matter of time.
There wasn't much to the story except that the stories of Vitor's evolution are not overstated. While a left hand grazed the back of Franklin's head, his follow up was dogged enough to make it count with over committing.
Franklin crumbled face forward and could offer not resistance. Belfort followed up with punches on a Franklin on all fours before the referee was forced to stop the fight.
And now Anderson Silva has a contender. While this fight was at 195, the wins Vitor has put together cannot be contested. Vitor has stopped three UFC caliber opposition in a row and done so by finishing them all. While there is still a question of how he'll do against someone the caliber of the greatest pound for pound fighter on the planet, Belfort has clearly put himself in a position to be a viable opponent worthy of the Anderson Silva challenge.
Referee Yves Lavigne stops the fight at 3:02 of the very first round. Huge, huge win for "The Phenom".
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Hate to see Rich go out that soon..
Impressive win for Vitor
by MSEMCEE on Sep 20, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Was very quick
I thought Rich would win, but wow…. Looks like Henderson has someone else to worry about.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 12:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I say they make Silva fight Hendo, Vitor, and Marquardt at the same time
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Sep 20, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Silva -500, other guys +255
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, how about this one
Silva vs. Mini-Ditka
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Sep 20, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does the fight take place in Chicago?
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
neutral site
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Sep 20, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
mini-Ditka
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is the ditka in mini-ditka’s corner regular size? Or is he also mini?
by Phildo on Sep 20, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did Rich get caught?
Or was he overwhelmed from the get-go (As of the time I’m writing this, none of the sites have any description of the fight)?
by dv8shun on Sep 20, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Got caught. But Vitor looked superior up until
by MSEMCEE on Sep 20, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
meh
I wouldn’t say that. Neither guy did much until that point, just some blah shots.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you’re saying that Vitor nailed rich with a Blah shot who went down in a blah manner and then got pounded on with a couple of more blah shots before the Ref stopped the Blah-ing fight and gave Vitor the victory for this Blah match.
Am I correct in assuming that’s what you’re saying, Mythbuster? ;)
by BNTHIS on Sep 21, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Got caught and stunned, and Vitor finished it quickly.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just saying… seemed like a lot of back of the head shots. Rich wasn’t downed by a clean shot, more a forearm to the head. Not sure if it was questionable enough, thought it was stopped a bit early.
by bleve_ on Sep 20, 2009 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
looks like he took two hard shots to the back of the head while he was on the ground…..not vitor’s fault because of the way rich was moving his head….that certainly didn’t help.
by soadtrails on Sep 20, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very impressive win for Vitor.
On a side note, I’d love to see fighter get booed for thanking Jesus. That would be priceless.
by McEwen on Sep 20, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
bah, jesus never gets booed in texas… maybe california or vegas.
by kanodogg on Sep 20, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yea, making fun of someone’s beliefs after they just put on a fight for you would be awesome…
by Phildo on Sep 20, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That...
is how the Wandy fight should have gone! Think about it, then we would have gotten to see a rematch between Vitor and Wandy!
by BakiHanma21 on Sep 20, 2009 12:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Vitor v Anderson
Gives you time for a Hendo v Nate fight
by ryanwk628 on Sep 20, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Except that the whole rationale behind Marquardt/Henderson is establishing a clear #1 contender. Vitor is not a clear #1 contender over either of those guys on the basis of a fight at different weight.
by JRN on Sep 20, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but he would be coming down not up. A win at 195 against a good LHW is bigger than a win at 185. Plus its a fight the fans would rather see. Anderson would want it because its going to be exciting = $
by ryanwk628 on Sep 20, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s silly to say that fights in one weight class can somehow “count” in another weight class, but I’ll set that aside and ask:
How about a win at 205 against a big LHW? Y’know, like Dan Henderson over Rich Franklin? You want to talk about fan exposure—how about a whole season of TUF followed by a huge knockout at the most-watched event in UFC history? Again, Dan Henderson.
Makes no sense to slot Vitor ahead of Dan. And meanwhile, Marquardt has a better recent record in the actual middleweight division than either one of them.
by JRN on Sep 20, 2009 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to do a fight anderson will take.
by ryanwk628 on Sep 20, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess I’m not entirely convinced that Anderson would be any more inclined to take Vitor than he would Henderson. It probably wouldn’t be any more financially lucrative, and meanwhile he’s trawling for possible LHW and HW fights.
But yeah, I’m talking about what would be right, not necessarily what might actually happen.
by JRN on Sep 20, 2009 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Henderson and Marquardt have both been finished already by Anderson. Possibly a good reason to give the next shot at the belt to Vitor.
by Big4Nuthin' on Sep 20, 2009 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Franklin is a 185lber… them fighting at 195 makes little difference.
Vitor just killed Lindland and Franklin.
Marquart and Henderson were already raped by Anderson. Vitor IS THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER.
by mmalogic on Sep 20, 2009 5:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yet Vitor was already beaten by Henderson not too long ago.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 20, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
which just means that should Vitor pull off the upset and become champ, then Hendo gets first shot at the title.
by BNTHIS on Sep 21, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“There wasn’t much to the story except that the stories of Vitor’s evolution are not overstated. While a left hand grazed the back of Franklin’s head, his follow up was dogged enough to make it count with over committing.
Franklin crumbled face forward and could offer not resistance. Belfort followed up with punches on a Franklin on all fours before the referee was forced to stop the fight."
Was this translated not from the Japanese?
by mosesloaf on Sep 20, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great performance by Vitor, he showed that he has PATIENCE. Him and Anderson would have a LONG feeling out process, but someone would go to sleep.
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by kyfm621 on Sep 20, 2009 12:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
vin
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Sep 20, 2009 12:52 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Vitor vs. Hendo
A catchweight fight shouldn’t put you in line for a title shot.
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Sep 20, 2009 12:55 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Yes it absolutely should in this instance. You beat a LHW contender, who was a former middleweight champ.
Maybe not in every instance, but in this instance. Yes.
by Dooda on Sep 20, 2009 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rich Franklin is not a LHW contender. He’s 1-1 in his current stint at that weight.
by JRN on Sep 20, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with takeover
Want a shot at Silva? Beat a big name or two at 185. Want a shot at Machida? Beat a big name or two at 205. Beat a big name from the 185 bracket at magical made-up weight of 195? Congrats. You get to fight the imaginary champion of 195, Tyler Durden.
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Sep 20, 2009 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So then Hendo’s win over Franklin shouldn’t mean anything?
by Zack Gobie on Sep 20, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Hendo’s win over Rich didn’t mean anything at 185, then the only thing Hendo has going for him (to claim that he’s the #1 contender) is a knockout of the much hated/disrespected Bisbing.
by m-e-s-s-i-a-h on Sep 20, 2009 6:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is exactly why I don’t buy that Henderson is even a top 10 middleweight right now, let alone #1 contender.
by JRN on Sep 20, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hendo is in hiding unless Dana gives him a title shot.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess it was just me, but I wasn’t impressed with Vitor. He caught Franklin with a glancing blow to the top of the head that knocked him to his knees and followed it up by another blow to the back of his head that knocked him out. Never even saw him land a clean blow (and I did watch all the replays) I know stuff happens in fights, so I don’t care about that, but seeing him win like that didn’t blow me away.
by JeremyShane on Sep 20, 2009 12:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah me too sort of. Franklin seemed a bit lame. Maybe he’s getting tired of fighting or something. Dunno. He sort of barely got clipped and then collapsed all of a sudden, I didn’t really see anything land flush.
I still think that Vitor’s hands are amazing and he’s a top contender. Would love to see him up against Hendo, but not Nate, I wanna see Nate fight for the belt, and the winner of Vitor and Hendo fight for the belt.
by Dooda on Sep 20, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wrong
When your last 3 wins all look like this, it isn’t a fluke.
by sacterre on Sep 20, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the Lindland fight he landed flush shots. Straight left and several power shots to the kisser. The fight before that he finished it with flush shots to the head too. This one I didn’t see anything flush. It just sort of looked like something that a guy with the experience of Rich could’ve handled.
But I never said it was a fluke, and calling my statement wrong seems a little bit dingly. I’m just speaking about my impression of it. That’s not wrong it’s an opinion.
by Dooda on Sep 20, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, probably should have replied to Jeremy, not you. My bad. Hopefully tomorrow there will be a good gif around because atm it does look like Franklin was dropped by a grazing blow. Still looked very similar to his previous wins.
by sacterre on Sep 20, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He got clipped behind the ear and went down ala Randy against Brock. Then Vitor delivered a HUGE shot directly to the back of Rich’s head. That was it.
Other fighters have been sanctioned for a lot less.
by jebushchrist on Sep 20, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh, hitting the back of the head when it’s moving from side to side is rarely warned and never sanctioned. The actual area the C and NSAC regard as the “back of the head” is in fact quite narrow, most shots that are warned actually miss this spot.
by sacterre on Sep 20, 2009 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Head wasn’t moving and it was a shot di-rectly to the occipital lobe. It was quite literally a bulls-eye to the no-no area.
by jebushchrist on Sep 20, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just watched the fight, Franklin rotated his head to the right while he took those 2-3 shots on the ground.
by sacterre on Sep 20, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
(Only Lesnar gets the fight stopped and stood up and docked a point for a blow to the back of the head, other fighters get a win)
But yea, it was straight to the no no area and his head wasn’t moving.
Vitor won, nobody is trying to take that away. But when you win like that, it’s not going to blow everybody away.
by JeremyShane on Sep 20, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn’t suggesting his last three wins were a fluke or that Vitor doesn’t have some speed, power and skill. My statement was simply that the way he took Franklin out didn’t blow me away.
Calm down dude. lol
by JeremyShane on Sep 20, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he got one good blast while Rich was on his knees that made Rich drop to the floor. If I knew how to make a .gif clip I would show it.
by YoungGun on Sep 21, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
klown's MW Top 10
1. A.Silva
2. Belfort
3. Henderson
4. Franklin
5. Okami
6. Marquardt
7. Maia.
8. Musasi
9. Souza
10. J. Miller
by klown on Sep 20, 2009 1:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You have failed.
Behold!
I specializes in grammar fail.
by a tommy point on Sep 20, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That girl to his left is now pregnant.
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Sep 20, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
He is the quintessential LADIES’ MAN. At least those of Asian Descent.
I really wish I was him right now. And I know many of you here wish you were him as well. :)
by BNTHIS on Sep 21, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jacare and Mayhem in your top 10? DOHKAY!!
by GoldenOldie on Sep 20, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jacare in the top 10 makes sense IMO. Mayhem, and several other aspects of that top 10, do not.
by JRN on Sep 20, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
People seem to be on a Mayhem Love Fest recently. I don’t understand it, but there ya go.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what do you mean?
How could he get a show on VH1 if he wasn’t a super awesome fighter?
by Phildo on Sep 20, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
in addition, any article with his name in it gets front paged here, so I think some loyal readers think he must be important or something.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he’s just the latest of the, “he’s not in the UFC crowd, so he must be awesome” fighters.
He’s a little different because he hasn’t been sliding up the rankings, but he’s getting a lot more publicity now than ever before with the show. And publicity equals good, apparently.
by Phildo on Sep 20, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Incredibly impressive showing by Vitor he’s officially back and a threat to anyone at MW. Dana needs to book Nate vs. Vitor for the number 1 contender spot now that Hendo has taken himself out of the picture. Whoever wins that fight would be without a question the no. #1 challenger for Anderson. Franklin needs to go back up to 205 and work on his defense a bit more but he’ll be fine and ready to go against any LHW contender maybe give him Jardine.
by Raker on Sep 20, 2009 1:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, he’s in hiding, refusing to fight anyone unless it’s for the title.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotcha. Though I don’t see that as him taking himself out of the picture, I just see that as he only wants a title fight.
by Dooda on Sep 20, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hell yeah stoked! I knew Vitor was back, and back for good he will be. I honestly hope the UFC doesn’t put Anderson vs Vitor up right away and waste an opportunity to showcase exactly how good Vitor really is, and if he can rack up just one more impressive win; Because I think he most certainly could. For that fact I don’t think think any one of these guys on this list could beat down Vitor at this stage in his career. This is a list of tough opponents I really, really want to fight Belfort before a fight with Anderson: tim credeur, patrick cote, chris leben, yoshihiro akiyama, michael bisping, kendall grove, jorge rivera, aaron simpson, rousimar palhares, james irvin, alan belcher, dennis kang, dan henderson, nate marquardt, wilson gouveia, yushin okami, demian maia, tom lawlor, mark munoz, drew mcfedries, thales leites, cb dollaway, chael sonnen, nate quarry, goran reljic, matt horwich, alessio sakara. That is only a list of UFC fighters I would like to see Vitor fight. I think he could convincingly beat many other top ten fighters outside of the UFC in the MW division.
by buttters on Sep 20, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Vitor’s stance looked interesting, possibly affected by training with Machida?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Sep 20, 2009 1:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
when a fighter has explosive zing jab pow boxing skills (like vitor) they seem to ruthlessly ko all opponents they come across
by oousty on Sep 20, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has been training in KARATE. That’s a new addition to his style.
by BNTHIS on Sep 21, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I picked vitor to KO Rich in the first round, I also picked Wandy to do the same. I still think nate marquardt posses the biggest threat to Silva and I think he would beat Belfort. I also Think Henderson would beat Belfort. I think the fight that makes most sense is Belfort vs Maia. I wouldnt even mid seeing Cote vs Belfort. Im still not convinced that Belfort could beat the spider. Sure the fight looks exciting and would end in a KO.. But I dont think Belfort is the guy to beat the spider. I thought he looked not in the best shape, and I would be curious to see if he could get passed maia before he gets a title shot.
by mlzybaby on Sep 20, 2009 1:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
are you really curious to see if vitor can get passed maia…slow motion nate knocked his a$$ silly…vitor will have issues (like anyone at 185) with silva’s reach advantage but has a solid chin and dynamite hands….maybe silva is now thinking twice about ducking henderson
by oousty on Sep 20, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im curious, because I know belfort can strike, but I think his ground is suspect, and I think maia getting kod like that was one of those anything can happen moments granted Im a huge nate fan, I just would like to see him beat someone with those kind of skills. I think we all knew vitor was a bad matchup for Franklin…
by mlzybaby on Sep 20, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fairly certain Belfort is a BJJ blackbelt.
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Sep 20, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so am I and I fairly still think hes suspect…
by mlzybaby on Sep 20, 2009 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s got his black belt from Carlson Gracie, which means he’s a legit black belt. Also he defeated Ricco Rodriguez in ADCC.
by dancingChicken on Sep 20, 2009 6:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe silva is now thinking twice about ducking henderson
Wait, what?
lol
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No one mentioned...
but one of the best things about Vitor Belfort being an actual contender is.. his name is so damn fun to say!
Veeeeeeeeeeeetor Beeeeeeeeeeeelfort!
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
by mythbuster on Sep 20, 2009 1:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah
he should drop the phenom part….messes with the flow of the kick ass name
by soadtrails on Sep 20, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vitor vs Anderson is happening...
Get used to it. It was very clear that’s what Dana was leaning towards after watching the post fight press conference.
I’m very worried about that being a boring fight.
by Razzel on Sep 20, 2009 3:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Two counter punchers going at it? Yup, there is some concern there.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 20, 2009 4:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rashad-Machida.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Sep 20, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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