Photo Gallery: Vitor Belfort prepares for UFC 133 bout with Yoshihiro Akiyama
Posted on August 1, 2011, 04:39 AM by Anton GurevichOnly one week after the historic bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson, Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to action with a stacked UFC 133, headlined by a Light Heavyweight rematch between two former Champions - Tito Ortiz and "Suga" Rashad Evans.
Co-main event action of the night will feature a Middleweight collision between the Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama, and the former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion, one of the best fighters to ever compete in MMA - Vitor Belfort. The Brazilian "Phenom" will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss against the fellow Anderson Silva back at UFC 126, with sights on another run for the UFC Middleweight title. This will be Belfort's second UFC bout as Middleweight, and his fourteenth overall for the promotion. After 15 years of competition, thirty-four year old Belfort holds a professional MMA record of 19-9, with 13 KO/TKO and 2 Submission victories.
Our photographer Scott Hirano traveled to Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he followed Vitor Belfort in one of his final training sessions before taking off to Philadelphia for the fight against Akiyama. And judging by the photos, "The Phenom" prepares for war.
Please make sure to follow Scott Hirano on his *NEW* Twitter @ScottHirano. So far, he has only 6 (loyal followers), so make sure to give some props to one of the best photographers in the business by clicking on that "Follow" button. Also, please check out his website at www.scotthirano.com.
You can follow Vitor Belfort at @VitorBelfort, and visit his website www.vitorbelfort.com.
Enjoy!
Comments
this fight seems tailor made for belfort.. i got him by decision as akiyama is tough.. i just hope they dont cut him after this should he lose... maybe even give wand one more go... yh the loser of this should get wand...
He better learn how to defend a front kick to the face
I've got Belfort as a bit of a lock for this fight. Akiyama moves forward too much and is going to get caught. Belfort's too powerful. 1st roundKO. You heard it here first (you probably didn't)
couldnt agree more
Akiyama is completely over-rated, and should have been cut by now. Belfort should destroy him.
akiyama comes to fight. wether he wins or not he puts on a show. i wouldnt grudge paying for a PPV with akiyama on one of the main card fights. maybe not a headliner but defintly on the main card. hes entertaining to watch win or lose...just my opinion though...
he isnt over rated.. yes he should have beat leben but his cardio was poor... but the bisping match was terrible style wise and he didnt do awful.. and he was winning the leben match.. he did well against belcher... he is still relevent i would say... if he loses to belfort i would give him one more chance... but if he loses after that he will recieve his walking papers for sure
Good job Scott!
Going to be a great fight !
i like the direction of the site, with exclusive interviews and now photographers from the community taking professional shots for this site.
I don't think Akiyama is over rated, he always comes to fight for sure and he does have heavy hands too but he lacks some of the technique other strikers have, he can be a bit of a brawler but although his shots can be a bit wild they carry a lot of power and can do some damage if they connect. He's always entertaining to watch though imo, i just think in this fight Belforts speed and power as well as his technique will be too much for him......