UFC 187: After a long wait, Belfort finally challenges Weidman for the middleweight belt

Belfort (right) and Weidman (left) will finally duel in the octagon. Photo: Brendon Magnus/UFC

The main fight of UFC 187, which takes place this Saturday (23) in Las Vegas (USA), is between Anthony Johnson e Daniel Cormier, but Brazilian fans only have eyes for one duel: the co-main fight of the night between Vitor belfort e Chris Weidman. But he also could. In addition to being the chance for another belt for Brazil in the biggest MMA organization on the planet, the duel has been anticipated for almost a year and a half.

LIVE: Follow UFC 187 and the fight between Vitor Belfort x Chris Weidman

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Belfort was announced as Weidman's opponent shortly after the American's victory in the rematch against Anderson Silva, which he watched from the front row, in December 2013. The Testosterone Replacement Treatment (TRT), which the Brazilian was undergoing at the time, ended up being the cause of his withdrawal from the original fight, scheduled for May 2014. After presenting high hormonal levels in an exam, the “Phenomenon” saw the treatment banned and, as a bonus, lost the chance to compete for the title with his compatriot Lyoto Machida.

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After the defense of the belt of Chris Weidman against Lyoto, in July last year, Vitor resolved his situation with the Nevada Athletic Commission and a new duel can be scheduled, this time for December 2014. The second attempt of the dispute, however, was suspended after Weidman was injured during the trainings. A third date for the confrontation, February 2015, also ended up cancelled, following a new injury to the American.

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After so much adversity, Belfort and Weidman will finally share the octagon and the prize couldn't be bigger: the UFC middleweight belt. If he wins the title, Belfort would become only the third athlete in history to hold belts in two different categories (he was already light heavyweight champion in 2004) – the other two are B.J. Penn and Randy Couture. Furthermore, Vitor also won a heavyweight GP title at just 19 years old, in 1997.

The tension after such anticipation was evident at the official weigh-in, when Weidman and Belfort exchanged insults during the face-off and the champion did not spare his rival in an interview shortly after passing through the scales. “I left Vitor alone all this time with the anti-doping tests, but when this result came from the Testosterone test (in which Vitor appeared with higher levels than Weidman)… I'm 10 years younger than this guy, look at the levels from him! He keeps cheating and tomorrow night he will pay”, said the American, to official commentator Joe Rogan.

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In the duel of styles, the main analysts point to the greatest chances for Belfort in the opening rounds, when the Brazilian will still have enough strength and explosiveness to achieve a knockout over his rival. As for Weidman, the path of stones is seen as maintaining the long distance, as the North American has the advantage in terms of wingspan by 10 cm, and Vitor's control in the takedown game.

Cormier and Johnson fight for the belt vacated by J. Jones

Johnson (left) and Cormier (right) will fight for the belt after J. Jones leaves. Photo: Brendon Magnus/UFC

The main fight of UFC 187 promised to be a duel between the dominant champion Jon Jones and the renewed, and threatening, challenging Anthony Johnson. However, after yet another huge controversy involving the name “Bones”, he ended up losing his title and, as a bonus, his place on this Saturday's card, giving up the position precisely to one of his biggest rivals, Daniel Cormier, who is now dueling against Johnson for the vacant title in the 93 kg division.

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Unlike rivals in the co-main event, or even in the last title fight in the light heavyweight division between Jon Jones e Daniel Cormier, the atmosphere between the opponents was mild throughout the preparation and the heated spirits should even last for the octagon, when Johnson and DC compete for the long-awaited Ultimate belt.

Sapo has a great rivalry duel with “Homem Ambulância”

Hall (left) and Sapo (right): the atmosphere heated up in the face. Photo: Reproduction

Second Brazilian representative on the card in Las Vegas (USA), the Minas Gerais native Rafael Sapo will face the TUF 17 participant Uriah Hall, who gained fame on the reality show with the nickname “Ambulance Man” – due to the brutal knockouts he inflicted on his opponents in the program’s tournament. At the official weigh-in it was clear that the rivalry between Sapo and Hall is fierce, and the opponents exchanged insults and even shoves when they were face to face.]

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