Rob
10-05-2007, 08:24 PM
Having spent most of his career in the UFC and Pride, Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort (16-8) has recently expressed interest in joining EliteXC and fighting Robbie Lawler for the Middleweight (185 pounds) Championship.
Belfort holds wins over David "Tank" Abbott, Wanderlei Silva (a shocking 44-second TKO), Gilbert Yvel, Heath Herring, Marvin Eastman, Randy Couture (this victory won him the UFC Light Heavyweight title, though he lost it back in the rematch) and James Zikic (won the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight title).
He has been defeated by Randy Couture twice, once by Chuck Liddell, once by Kazushi Sakuraba, once by Dan Henderson, once by Tito Ortiz, in a very controversial split decision where Belfort broke Tito's nose and dominated the first two rounds before gassing and somehow not being awarded with a victory, and twice by Alistair Overeem.
Of his 24 professional fights, nearly every one of them has been against a top contender in either the Heavyweight or Light Heavyweight division.
To add a little spice to this story, Belfort has also challenged Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to a future fight, as Belfort believes that it would be a good match. If he beats Lawler for the EliteXC Middleweight title, perhaps he will have some leverage in securing a fight with Jackson, as Belfort would then be the holder of two championships. Before he can even think about that, however, he would need to sign with EliteXC and defeat Lawler or whomever he is put up against.
Belfort holds wins over David "Tank" Abbott, Wanderlei Silva (a shocking 44-second TKO), Gilbert Yvel, Heath Herring, Marvin Eastman, Randy Couture (this victory won him the UFC Light Heavyweight title, though he lost it back in the rematch) and James Zikic (won the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight title).
He has been defeated by Randy Couture twice, once by Chuck Liddell, once by Kazushi Sakuraba, once by Dan Henderson, once by Tito Ortiz, in a very controversial split decision where Belfort broke Tito's nose and dominated the first two rounds before gassing and somehow not being awarded with a victory, and twice by Alistair Overeem.
Of his 24 professional fights, nearly every one of them has been against a top contender in either the Heavyweight or Light Heavyweight division.
To add a little spice to this story, Belfort has also challenged Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to a future fight, as Belfort believes that it would be a good match. If he beats Lawler for the EliteXC Middleweight title, perhaps he will have some leverage in securing a fight with Jackson, as Belfort would then be the holder of two championships. Before he can even think about that, however, he would need to sign with EliteXC and defeat Lawler or whomever he is put up against.