Proving Time: UFC Looking To Book Weidman Vs. Belfort In Las Vegas Early Next Year
When the dust settled on UFC 168’s main event, fight fans everywhere were left in shock after witnessing the bizarre and unfortunate scene of former middleweight champion Anderson Silva gruesomely breaking his leg on Chris Weidman’s knee.
It was initially thought that the injury would spell the end for “The Spider,” but apparently that’s not one hundred percent certain with Silva facing a recovery period of three to six months.
However, one man stood to benefit from Weidman and Silva’s rivalry being settled, at least for now.
That man is surging middleweight contender Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, who was promised the next 185-pound title shot by UFC president Dana White. According to The Los Angeles Times, the UFC told the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) that it is looking to book Weidman vs. Belfort for a yet-to-be determined UFC event in Las Vegas in early 2014.
That’s a huge fight in the biggest of locales.
There are inevitably some big red flags when attempting to book Belfort anywhere outside of Brazil. “The Phenom” was famously suspended for elevated testosterone following his 2006 decision loss to Dan Henderson under the Pride banner. To compound matters Belfort now uses TRT as a big part of his recent win streak.
NSAC commissioner Keith Kizer has stated that he doesn’t think “The Phenom” would be granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to use TRT for a fight in Las Vegas. Kizer understood the medial circumstances surrounding Belfort’s TRT use, he just doesn’t think it right to sign off on a TUE for a fighter with a history of using anabolic steroids.
For his part, Belfort thinks that he will be able to fight anywhere, saying the following after UFC 168:
“I’m able to fight anywhere, I have done everything by the book,” Belfort said. “Everybody knows that people cheat, but I don’t.”
But that’s going to be hard stance to back up, because he’s been caught cheating before.
Belfort has chronicled his TRT use and has his blood drawn for testing once a week. White has backed him up on this front, even going as far to say that’s it’s not guaranteed that Belfort would have to give up TRT for a fight in Vegas.
There’s simply no denying that Belfort deserves to fight for the UFC middleweight belt. His three emphatic headkick knockouts over Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, and Dan Henderson are the stuff of legends. Belfort even said he’d give up TRT if it meant fighting for the title.
He believes the belt is “already his,” but he has a long way to go in order to prove that.
All of this is going to take some figuring out, and the whole production could be put on hold depending on Weidman’s medical status. “The All-American” said he may take some time to get his knee scoped, which would put his blockbuster matchup with Belfort on hold for the time being.
This is a mess. It’s time for Belfort to prove he has no issues with fighting in the States, however, and seeing him fight Weidman has to be one of the most anticipated fights of 2014. Will Belfort back up his words and ditch the TRT in favor of his coveted title shot?
Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea for USA TODAY Sports
