MMA Worldwide

Name:

Vitor Belfort

Nick Name:

The Phenom

Height:

6'0 (182cm)

Weight:

185lbs (83.91kg)

City:

Las Vegas

Country:

U.S.A.

Birth Date:

Jun 24 1996 (15)

Association:

Xtreme Couture

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort

Biography

Vitor Belfort was one of the first true stars of the UFC with a career extending all the way back to 1996. He first made a name for himself in the UFC by defeating his first opponents in a combined 2:49 at the age of 20 earning the nickname “The Phenom”. His trademark lightning fast hands and black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu made him one of the most feared fighters early in MMA’s early days.

He beat two fighters in his debut event in the UFC, winning the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament. Belfort's next match saw him score a TKO against Tank Abbott, knocking Abbott down and finishing him with a ground and pound attack.  Belfort fought against American wrestler Randy Couture and was upset by KO 8:16 into the match. He rebounded from that loss against a training partner of his, Joe Charles, who he defeated quickly via armbar without throwing a single punch at UFC Japan.

A year later, Belfort faced rising Brazilian star and future Pride Middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva. Catching Silva early with a left cross, Belfort chased him across the ring with a flurry of punches, knocking the Brazilian out in just 44 seconds.  Vitor then moved on to fight in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships. His first opponent was Kazushi Sakuraba in 1999, who defeated Belfort via a unanimous decision. He fought five more times in Pride against Gilbert Yvel, Daijiro Matsui, Bobby Southworth, Yoshiki Takahashi, and Heath Herring. For these matches Belfort used his stand-up striking skills less and instead controlled the fights and won by ground-and-pound tactics.

With the exception of his fights with Southworth and Takahashi, which he won via rear naked choke and knockout in the first round respectively, all his wins in Pride were by decision. Belfort eventually returned to the UFC and fought Chuck Liddell (losing via decision), and then Marvin fought Eastman winning via TKO.  His next was on February 2, 2004, a rematch with Randy Couture for the UFC light heavyweight championship. Vitor won the fight in 49 seconds after a seam from his glove cut Couture's eye leaving Couture with a corneal abrasion, prompting a referee stoppage. A third match between the two took place on August 21, 2004. Couture won via doctor stoppage after the third round, recapturing the UFC light heavyweight title.  His next fight in the UFC was against Tito Ortiz on February 5, 2005, which he lost by split decision.  Vitor fought for Afflictions opening two cards beating Terry Martin by KO in the second round and Matt Lindland by KO in just 45 seconds into the first.

Notable wins: Wanderlei Silva, Randy Couture, Heath Hearing and Matt Lindland.

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