Belfort challenges Weidman to fight in Brazil
Vitor Belfort: “I can only see Weidman vs. Belfort. I can only see this. I can’t talk about anything else, only about my belt. It won’t get in my head…”
Vitor Belfort was Chris Weidman’s originally opponent for Saturday’s UFC 175, until the NSAC banned TRT and Belfort had to stop his regime, something that would require time and keep him off the card. Now Belfort believes he’s ready to fight again and wants his title shot in Brazil:
“The Phenom” told Tatame he wants to face the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He declined to make a prediction for the main event of UFC 175, on July 5, but indicates Weidman as a preferable opponent.
“Bring Weidman. Tell him to train more,” Belfort said. “Weidman and Vitor. It’s a fight for Maracana.”
Maracana will host the World Cup final on July 13 with 75,000 fans in attendance. If the UFC can do a fight at the stadium, it would be the biggest live event in promotion history. PRIDE considered doing an event in the stadium in the past, but it never materialized.
The UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro in a yet-to-be-announced pay-per-view card on October 25 at Maracanazinho, but the gymnasium is not as big as Macarana. UFC 179 would be sold out with approximately 13,000 fans.
“I can only see Weidman vs. Belfort. I can only see this. I can’t talk about anything else, only about my belt. It won’t get in my head,” he said. “Of course that I will watch the (Weidman vs. Machida) fight, but I only wait for a winner to fight me. I have no preference. I’m going after the title. I conquered this, that’s what I deserve.”