Vitor Belfort has been in mixed martial arts nearly two decades, and his opponent at Saturday’s UFC on FX 8 said the Brazilian middleweight hasn’t evolved much.
“Vitor is the dinosaur,” Luke Rockhold said in a news conference ahead of the Brazil bout. “He’s the T-Rex as he likes to call himself. There is a whole career that I have studied. I’ve done my homework. I know what to expect from Vitor. Nothing is going to change this much in the game for him. I know exactly what he’s going to do and how he’s going to do it.”
Belfort, 36, said those who have followed his lengthy career realize that he’s adapted his game, most recently mixing in more kicks and a better ground attack to go along with his already powerful striking power.
“If you stay the same person, you are making a mistake,” Belfort told FOXSports.com. “You need to find your weaknesses and make them your strengths.”
Belfort said that he’s in as good a shape as he’s ever been, something that Rockhold (10-1) attributed to the fact that Belfort (22-10) is on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Belfort received a waiver to use TRT by the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission.
“TRT doesn’t win fights,” Belfort said. “A lot guys on TRT are losing fights. It’s hard work. People who know me know how hard I work. I’m just following the rules and doing everything legal.”
Belfort said this camp was one of the most brutal of his career. He’s been trained by legendary Cuban boxer Pedro Diaz among others with the Blackzilians.
“I’m training to go 10 rounds,” Belfort said. “A training camp has never gone better.”
This will be a five-round fight, one that could set either up for a possible title shot against longtime champ Anderson Silva. Silva is next slated to face Chris Wideman at UFC 162 on July 6.
Belfort said he doesn’t know exactly how many fights he has left in him before his will to fight becomes extinct.
“The day I lose this passion to fight and inspire myself with all these young fighters come up here now,” Belfort said. “I’m happy to do this as long as I have this passion inside me. I won’t lie to you. Whenever I don’t have this passion anymore, I’m not going to be here to just get a paycheck.”
