Vitor Belfort rules out retirement and talks about regaining his desire to fight: 'I'm going to rekindle that flame'

Vitor (photo) rules out retirement after second defeat in the UFC. Photo: Josh Hedges

The 39 years and the two consecutive defeats did not take away from Vitor belfort the desire to continue his career in MMA. The fighter, who has 38 fights as a professional, had his retirement speculated after being knocked out by Gegard Mousasi at UFC 204, held on the 8th. But through a post on Instagram, the “Phenomenon” made a point of dispelling the rumor and promises to regain his desire to compete in the octagon.

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“Whoever does not know his mistakes is not worthy of leading himself, let alone the people around him. I recognize that I am not perfect, I am just HUMAN, a HUMAN BEING. The poet has already written: “may love be eternal while it lasts”. This is a beautiful excerpt from a poem, but I consider it naive. With all affection and respect to the poet, I ask permission to rewrite it as follows: “MAY LOVE BE ETERNAL AS LONG AS IT IS CULTIVATED.”


I confess that I need to cultivate my desire for competition inside the octagon. I know I have to care for that flame that has always burned in me. Having full knowledge of this: I DECIDED THAT WHATEVER IT COSTS, I WILL RELIGHT THIS FLAME ONCE AGAIN. Thank you very much for your love and support. I will finish this chapter in my life, looking in the mirror and recognizing myself.”

Vitor belfort He held the UFC light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) belt in 2004 and tried on two occasions to win the middleweight (up to 84 kg) title. In 2011, he was knocked out by Anderson Silva, in the clash that was called in Brazil 'the fight of the century'. In 2015, after reinventing himself inside the octagon and going through controversy over Hormone Replacement Treatment (TRT), Belfort challenged Chris Weidman at UFC 188, but was also knocked out in the first round.

The Brazilian has an MMA record of 25 wins and 13 losses as a professional. In his career, he has faced some of the biggest names in the sport such as Randy Couture, Kazushi Sakuraba, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson e Anderson Silva.

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