Coming off an impressive first round finish of Japan's Yoshihiro Akiyama this past Saturday in Philadelphia, Vitor Belfort (20-9) looks to return to title contention shortly. Belfort talked with CagedInsider.com on his recent fight camp and on the controversy of possible illegal strikes to the back of the head at UFC 133 that may have ended the fight.

CagedInsider.com: We hear you added gymnastic training to your regiment in your last camp. Who or What led you to implementing this type of cross-training and do you think it made a big improvement in your last fight?

Vitor Belfort: "In 1997 I met Professor Alvaro Romano who developed the method 'natural gymnastic.' A unique and very fundamental work on my breathing, mobility, flexibility, strength and agility. When I fought Wanderlei I was training with Alvaro every day and the results showed. I stopped for some time, but now Im back [training with Alvaro] and wont stop again."

CagedInsider.com: There has been some controversy that your finish of Akiyama may have included illegal strikes to the back of the head towards the end of the fight. Do you feel that it's possible that there may have been some unintended strikes?

Vitor Belfort: "In the heat of the fight maybe a strike can go to the wrong spot, but in this fight [with Akiyama] it wasn't the case for the knock out. The referee was very close watching everything. Looking back it was only one strike to the back of the head, the other was on the side, its a fight and things like this happen sometimes unintentionally."

Read Entire Article