MMA Fighter Profile – Victor Belfort
Vitor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and was born in Rio de Janeiro on April 1, 1977. He now fights in the middleweight division and as per multiple MMA publications; he is considered one of the top-ten middleweights in the world.
At Superbrawl in Hawaii, in his first sanctioned mixed martial arts match, his opponent was Jon Hess. Belfort defeated him in 12 seconds by knockout (KO). The Phenom was the nickname given when he moved on to compete in the UFC. Inside the octagon, he became the youngest fighter ever to score a victory.
In a rematch, Belfort defeated Couture but lost in their third and final match. In the UFC, he fought against his training partner Joe Charles and via armbar defeated him. Future Pride Middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, was also defeated in just 44 seconds by TKOing. He started to train with Brazilian Top Team and stopped training with Carlson Gracie. In Pride, he fought five more times against Heath Herring, Daijiro Matsui, Bobby Southworth, Gilbert Yvel and Yoshiki Takahashi. He sustained an injury prior to a fight against Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC’s first Las Vegas show at UFC 33. Belfort eventually returned, fought and won Marvin Eastman. He lost to Chuck Liddell via decision. On February 2, 2004, against Randy Couture he won it in 49 seconds. On February 5, 2005, against Tito Ortiz, Belfort was impressive but he lost the match by split decision. In his pro boxing debut, Belfort fought against Josemario Neves, on April 11, 2006 and won by TKO.
On October 21, 2006, Belfort tested positive for an illegal substance, 4-hydroxytestosterone and was suspended for nine months from the date of the hearing and fined $10,000 on December 21, 2006.
On April 21, 2007, Vitor Belfort defeated Ivan Serati by TKO at Cage Rage 21. At Cage Rage 23, he defeated James Zikic. In November of 2010, for the Middleweight title, Belfort will challenge the winner of the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen fight.
