Vitor Belfort: I’m The King Of The Jungle, Weidman Has My Crown
Defending UFC Middleweight champ Chris Weidman has a new storm on the horizon after defeating Anderson Silva at UFC 168; in the form of Brazilian knockout artist Vitor Belfort. After being linked to Silva for the past 12 months or more, Weidman steps out of that shadow and will next face Belfort, who has more than earned his shot at ‘The All American’.
Belfort has dispatched of Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson in the past 12 months, and as a result has found himself in a prime position at 185. ‘The Phenom’ was available to talk with MMAJunkie in the aftermath of last night’s gruesome main event finish, check it out:
“It’s just sad the way it finished, I feel for him. I don’t like injuries. I’ve been fighting for 18 years, and I’ve had all kinds of injuries in my life. People don’t know how hard we work and how intense it is to perform.”
“What I want is in the hands of a guy named Chris Weidman,” Belfort said. “It belongs to me, and that jungle is mine. Eighteen years. It’s a journey.”
Jungle? Anyway, Belfort’s sympathy is indicative of his good heart; having lost to Silva in spectacular fashion after a long feud, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear lesser men talk negatively. As it stands, Belfort could regain a major title after 18 years in the sport.
“I’m the type of guy that I fight to win,” he said. “If you study the animals in the jungle, some animals, they hunt. But the most dangerous animal – and that’s why they call him the king of the jungle – is the lion because he’s unpredictable. I’m unpredictable. People think now of the kick, and here comes the hands and the wrestling and the jiu-jitsu.”
“It doesn’t matter the place – I have fans everywhere,” he said. “I’m part of all countries. It’s about defining yourself. Right now, I’m representing nations; I’m representing the world. That’s my jungle – the octagon.”
Ah I see, he was comparing himself to a lion in a UFC jungle-of course. Although Belfort is clearly a very unique character, he is right about his unpredictability. That is such a huge factor for him, and the ability to knock just about anyone out could be the teller in the title fight.
Chris Weidman is much younger in his MMA career, but we all know that this sport is only predictable in it’s own unpredictability. The title affair between Weidman and Belfort is not yet linked to an event, so the situation with Belfort’s TRT ban in Nevada could provide a few blips.
