Vitor Belfort prepares for battle
Vitor Belfort is a spiritual man, who just so happens to also be one of the most talented and gifted fighters competing in the UFC today.
Saturday in Goiania, Brazil, the man known as “The Phenom” will step into the Octagon for the third time this year, looking to build on his consecutive knockout victories over Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold when faces off with Dan Henderson in a rematch of their Pride 32 encounter that fell in favor of the American wrestler and MMA legend.
VITOR BELFORT | RVCA from RVCA on Vimeo.
“It’s a privilege for me, 36-years-old, to step into that cage and still perform at a high level, because I want it and I love it,” Belfort says in this visually stunning behind-the-scenes look at his preparations for his encounter with Henderson that headlines this weekend’s 11-fight UFC Fight Night card.
A perennial contender, Belfort’s previous knockout wins over Bisping and Rockhold could have been enough to elevate him into position to once again challenge for the middleweight title, but a second shot at the championship strap in the 185-pound weight class has not materialized.
Undeterred, the former UFC tournament winner and light heavyweight champion continues to press forward, accepting whatever challenge is placed in front of him, ready to do whatever it takes to earn another shot at UFC gold.
“We are not made to give up,” philosophizes Belfort in the video, produced by RVCA and shot by Ryan Loco. “So when you’re facing a wall, going back is not an option anymore. You’ve just got to find a way.”
Saturday night in Goiania, Belfort will be trying to find a way to do something no competitor has been able to do yet – knock out the iron-jawed veteran Henderson. While the former Pride and Strikeforce champion has been submitted – once by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and once by Anderson Silva – the 43-year-old veteran has never been stopped by strikes.
Though Belfort certainly has the power and past history of finishes to make a knockout win over his familiar foe a possibility, the spiritual fighter says the outcome is not something he can control.
“Outcome? It’s an outcome – it’s in God’s hands – but how I’m going to face the outcome? Motivated. Excitement.”
