Vitor Belfort Says He Didn't Want An Early Title Shot But the UFC Insisted on It
by Nick Thomas on Jan 28, 2010 9:58 AM EST
in MMA News
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At the UFC 112 press conference, according to Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription only):
Vitor Belfort talked about his history with Anderson Silva (training partners) and how he hopes that Anderson understands that this is a professional sport and there is nothing personal.
He also mentioned how he didn't want an early title shot but the UFC insisted on it (weird thing to say at this point. Lorenzo didn''t look too much happy with that comment).
He said it's good to be back in Abu Dhabi and he hopes to put on a show with Anderson in April.
And here's Vitor saying the same thing 3 months ago:
"I never looked for the Anderson Silva fight. I'd actually like to have a couple more fights. I think Nate Marquardt deserves the title shot more than me. I didn't call that Anderson fight. I'm just an employee."
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Clearly Vitor is an anti-UFC shill.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jan 28, 2010 9:53 AM EST reply actions 4 recs
what about Anderson, did he say anything on the matter? He’s the one who mostly made a big deal of fighting Belfort I wonder what his response was.
Pain is Temporary
Pride is Forever
his initial response was elbow surgery!
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Jan 28, 2010 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
Anderson got a title shot after 1 victory over a run of the mill, c-level fighter in Leben. and the wins Anderson had in cage rage coupled with the losses he suffered in Pride sure didn’t warrant an immediate title shot, regardless of how devastatingly he ko’d a c-level Leben. Vitor on the other hand is well, Vitor. fought all the best, had just run through 2 good fighters in Affliction n melted franklin easier than franklin himself probably ever thought he could be melted. He exposed franklin for exactly what he is, a gatekeeper to the big dogs. Franklin has never once beat a top tier fighter, the wandy win was a joke, beating a 33 yr. old who has just cut weight for the first time in his entire life. at 205 wandy would’ve destroyed Ace. if vitor’s head is right and has the fire n hunger in his eyes, he can make a run at 185 n 205. there’s nobody in those 2 divisions that can take too many of his punches once he lets his hands go
Leben’s stock has fallen off greatly since then. At the time he was considered a legit fighter on his way towards a title shot after a 5-0 start to his UFC career, he was thought of as anything but a C level fighter. But revisionist history is always great
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Jan 28, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
Back then Leben was on a 6 fight winning streak and if he’d defeat Silva, he would get a title shot…
Terry Martin is a good fighter, but Leben was a c level fighter (4 years ago). Interesting…
Vitor fought all the best and lost the most important fight in his career…
It wasn’t Wandy’s first cut. He said multiple times that he was around 223 lbs when fighting at 205. Thats why he recently dropped some muscles to fit to 185.
by dancingChicken on Jan 28, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
I still dont really understand why the UFC felt the need to force this fight so early. They could have given vitor another fight at 185 and still made the fight. It felt like as soon as the signed him they were going to give him a title shot. It just doesnt seem like its going to be that big of a fight that it neccesitates forcing it that much.
Im not upset with Vitor taking it or anything but i find this to be strange matchmaking by a group that i usually agree with.
I think it’s mostly because all other contenders were not as appealing (not to me at least). Hendo and Marquardt needed another win, perhaps a fight between each other as it was planned in order to get another shot, and Maia had lost so this was the only appealing fight since Vitor is a known fighter and was coming off a winning streak and had a great KO in his return to the UFC.
Pain is Temporary
Pride is Forever
Not to mention that these guys are not getting any younger . . . the iron is hot, make it happen.
yeah yeah yeah . . .
by VeeisAnimated on Jan 28, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
I wonder if Vitor has the motivation to fight. He certainly doesn’t sound like he wants to kick Silva’s ass.
by dancingChicken on Jan 28, 2010 10:27 AM EST reply actions
They should have atleast let him make a full cut to 185 one time before pitting him against the p4p king.
Did you see the size of that chicken?
Vitor has made 185 several times before the Franklin fight. Having that fight at 195 was for Franklin’s benefit, as Rich was moving towards 205 permanently.
by Hardcharger on Jan 28, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Rich...
Was already at 205 permanently. He’s been getting jerked around to fulfill the UFC’s needs, and 195 is where they continued putting him for guys who are moving to MW. Glad they cut that shit out, it’s not really fair to Rich to be fighting in a non-existent division, where wins take him no where.
But yes, Belfort is a MW, he’s made MW before.
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Jan 28, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
I’m sure Hendo is going to be thrilled to find out that the UFC gave Vitor a title shot against his will
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on Jan 28, 2010 10:39 AM EST via mobile reply actions
he might have settled for less money if he had been given the title shot he desperately wanted. Considering how badly both Hendo and Marquardt wanted to rematch Andy, I’m sure if I was one of them I would be pissed that they instead forced the title shot on someone who didn’t even want it.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
I hate Hendo, and wouldn’t have been pleased to see him fight Silva again. Not yet at least. I mean, it’s not like he’s the only fighter in the division…Nate just KTFO’d Maia, which was quite a feat, and his shot was longer ago than Hendo’s. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t use his hype coming off Ko’ing Bisping, and going after a few more guys he can actually finish, to continue building himself up as a finisher, rather than Decision Dan.
Oh wait, there was that money thing. Oh well. At least he’s gonna beat Shields.
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Jan 28, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not thrilled with Vitor's seeming lack of confidence.
I dunno, maybe it’s just me, but I don’t recall this being the first time he’s said something about not wanting the early title shot. I figured Silva would win anyway, but this doesn’t make it better.
You have to be the man... you have to be very, like, alpha male with her. You know? Decide what you do and everything. So, show her who's the boss, you know? - GSP
hmmmm
If only the article mentioned when/if he had stated that he didn’t want the title shot 3 months ago…
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Jan 28, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
Or even included his exact quote!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
No, it’s referring to the Silva fight…
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Jan 28, 2010 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think this is the case, Vitor is a really nice guy and he’s just trying to let Anderson know that it wasn’t really his idea the he got the title shot (because Andy was taking issue with Vitor getting a title shot when just not that long ago Vitor came to train with Andy). he talks about this in this video. Notice he says the same thing, he’s just being nice, but I don’t think he’s afraid of Andy and I’m sure he feels confident he can win the fight.
Pain is Temporary
Pride is Forever
not sure what happened with the video
it used to have subtitles, now they appear to be gone…
Pain is Temporary
Pride is Forever
Maybe. Regardless, I don’t really have much hopes that Vitor would beat Silva. I’ll be rooting for him though.
You have to be the man... you have to be very, like, alpha male with her. You know? Decide what you do and everything. So, show her who's the boss, you know? - GSP
yeah, I’ll be shocked if Vitor wins, I see a very nasty KO in his future and 7 nights at hospital in Dubai. Hopefully their medical practices are not that expensive…
Pain is Temporary
Pride is Forever
No, thank you.
Wandy would get clowned.
Walking the line between intelligence and ignorance since 1985
@deowade
I blog about stuff too.
Well ...
Dana White is trying to make Anderson Silva bigger in the minds of hardcore fans than Fedor as P4P king.
He’ll keep feeding Silva shitty matches for easy wins to pad his stats.
You have the guys confused the only guy being fed shitty fights is Fedor it’s part or the reason he wants no part of the UFC shark tank. He won’t be able to cherry pick who he fights and where like he has a majority of the fights in his career in the UFC the best have to fight the best period.
you realize that when he was the King of Pride, Pride was the King of MMA right?
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Jan 28, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
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