Vitor belfort On the 6th, in Las Vegas, he had the chance to become the first fighter to win the UFC belt in three different categories, one of them being the heavyweight GP. But the front stomp applied by his compatriot Anderson Silva, in the main fight of UFC-126, postponed the fighter's plans. A week after the defeat, Belfort spoke to SUPER FIGHTS, by telephone, and analyzed what was called the “fight of the century”.
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“The fight itself was very good, I just didn't expect what happened, I don't think anyone expected it. It was as if he (Anderson) had thrown a dollar at roulette and won a million”, said Belfort, referring to the kick that ended the fight. Even assuming a lucky break from his opponent, Vitor, showing humility, never fails to praise Anderson Silva for the victory.
“It's obvious that the luckier we are, the more we train”, said Vitor, getting confused with the phrase that became known through basketball player Oscar Schmidt.
“I think it was his night, he shone. I just have to congratulate him for that, but up until that moment I was doing really well in the fight,” he added.
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Check out the full interview with Vitor belfort, which talks about the controversy faced with Anderson Silva at the UFC 126 weigh-in, for a possible rematch against Wanderlei Silva and your future plans.
What was your strategy for the fight? Was it to keep the fight standing and try to knock him out or did you have other plans?
My strategy is to put into the fight what I train. I'm a fighter, I'm a knockout artist, but he hit me before I hit him. Everyone knows my desire, I went to change, to knock out Anderson, but he hit me first
Was that kick that ended the fight an oversight on your part or Anderson's credit?
It's a very difficult shot to hit the way he did, but it's his credit, it wasn't my oversight. It was a second that I stopped, he managed to apply the blow. I don't think it was premeditated, but he got it right and took advantage of the moment. His champion star shone
Going back to the day before the fight, the look at the weigh-in caught the attention of all of Brazil. To what extent was that marketing or was there anything personal?
I know Anderson, he's a good guy, and a person's character is tested in these moments. He wanted to be able to intimidate me to mess with my psychology, that was his strategy. But you see the respect he has for me after the fight. People have to be more impacted by that moment at the end of the fight, where he showed himself to be humble. Now, before the fight there is a lot of pressure and some fighters act like he did, but I don't get upset. I am a person who does not depend on people's attitudes to live... But in a moment of pressure, sometimes we do silly things, insecure things...
Do you already have an estimate of when you will return to training and when we will see Vitor back in the octagon?
I'll be back training in a week and I hope to fight again soon. I want to see if I can fight before UFC Rio and I want to go for it. I don't want to stop working.
O Wanderlei Silva He challenged you via Twitter, where he said you have nowhere to run. Could it be a good fight for your return, maybe even at UFC Rio, repeating the first fight between you 12 years ago?
I didn't understand his statement. In reality I'm not running from anyone. The moment he's in front of me, it'll be him. There will be nowhere to run. It's a fight that will definitely happen. But I want to fight now, I don't want to wait to fight in Brazil.
Vitor, end the interview with a message for the fans in Brazil
I have to thank God very much for the opportunity to reach a mass audience, not just fight followers, but followers who appreciate my personal values. I just have to thank these fans for following me, for truly believing in what I brought to them. There are two types of people in this world: those who live with principles and those who live with preferences. The principle is never violated and cannot be negotiated. The guy who lives with preferences goes with the flow. In my case, I live with principles, I try to seek evolution as a man, as a father and as an athlete. Often the results don't happen the way we expect, but the important thing is to do your best and I did my best. The public recognizes this, the entire crowd recognizes my value before and after a fight. The battle was fought and I lost, but the war continues and I'm up and ready to go back. I just have to thank the fans in Brazil and around the world for supporting me.
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