Vitor Belfort challenges Chris Weidman at UFC 187 in May

C. Weidman (left) and V. Belfort (right) fight for the middleweight belt at UFC 187. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube

After much expectation, rumors and cancellations, the UFC made official the new date for the fight between Chris Weidman e Vitor belfort, valid for the organization's middleweight belt (up to 84 kg.). The fight will be on the UFC 187 card, an event that takes place on May 23, in Las Vegas (USA). On the same night, another title fight: Jon Jones defends his light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) reign against Anthony Johnson.

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the duel between Vitor belfort e Chris Weidman It has been awaited for a long time. They were scheduled to face off at UFC 173, in May of last year. But the Brazilian was prevented from fighting due to the ban on hormone replacement treatment (TRT), which he was a fan of. Vitor was replaced by another Brazilian Lyoto Machida, who ended up defeated in a unanimous decision by the judges.

The duel was scheduled again for UFC 184, in February this year, but Weidman ended up fracturing his rib and was unable to fight.

Despite high expectations, the fight between Belfort and Weidman will not be the main attraction of UFC 187. The fight will be the penultimate fight on the show. The responsibility for closing the fight program will fall to the fight for the light heavyweight belt between Jon Jones e Anthony Johnson.

Vitor belfort, 37 years old, has a professional record of 24 wins and ten losses. Without fighting since November 2013, the “Phenomenon”, as he is known, comes from three consecutive victories. Already Chris Weidman, 30 years old, is undefeated in MMA. The Ultimate middleweight champion has won all 12 of his fights and is coming off victories over the Brazilians Anderson Silva e Lyoto Machida.

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light weights

In addition to Belfort x Weidman and Jones against Johnson, another fight was also made official on the UFC 187 card. Khabib Nurmagomedov faces the North American Donald Cerrone, where the winner will have the opportunity to compete for the lightweight belt.