Belfort: I don’t pick fights, I accept fights
When Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold knew he was moving to the UFC, he publicaly stated that he would like to…
When Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold knew he was moving to the UFC, he publicaly stated that he would like to fight Vitor Belfort, as a warm-up, before challenging UFC champion Anderson Silva. Belfort has always been known as a fight anyone, anytime fighter and recently told MMA Radio that he didn’t feel disrespected by Rockhold’s call out in the least:
“Not at all,” he said. “I have all the respect for guys like him. He asked, and he received it. … I don’t pick fights. I accept fights. And he deserved it. I like his attitude. I see it as a positive. I don’t see it as personal. This is a job. This is what makes people interested in seeing us fight.
Belfort (22-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) and Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) now headline UFC on FX 8, which takes place May 18 at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The FX-televised fight marks Belfort’s third in Brazil since early 2012 and could set up a title shot for the winner
While the middleweight division awaits the outcome of July’s UFC 162 headliner between champion Anderson Silva and challenger Chris Weidman, Belfort said he’s not personally dwelling on anything past the Rockhold fight.
“Tomorrow will take care of itself,” he said. “The key is to take care of today.”