Vitor Belfort first fought in the UFC on February 7, 1997. Over 20 years later, on Sunday night, he was to have his final fight, vs. Uriah Hall. His opponent suffered a seizure during a reportedly ill-managed weight cut, and was hospitalized. Belfort weighed in successfully and posted a kind message on his social network.
“I dedicated two months for this training camp,” he wrote. “Stayed away from my family and who knows me knows how hard this is for me. I spent all necessary to have the best structure to achieve my goal. My team had an intense dedication even during the holidays. I did all my fight week obligations, cut the weight and made the fight weight. Unfortunately, my opponent had a problem during his weight cut, I wish him a soon recovery. Now I just want to go back home and see my family. Thanks for all the support along this training camp. Love you all!!”
The usual process when the opponent misses weight and the other fighter makes it successfully is for the latter athlete to be paid his show money. However, that may not be the case here.
UFC president spoke with the press and said Belfort turned down an alternate fight Sunday and one the following week at UFC 220 in Boston. John Morgan reported that Karl Roberson was reportedly willing to step up on a day’s notice, and Brad Tavares on a week’s.
I haven’t seen or talked to Vitor yet, said White post fight as transcribed by Dann Stupp and Morgan for MMAjunkie. But we will get Vitor a fight. He wants to fight [Michael Bisping] in London. That’s the fight he wants. We’ll see. I don’t know. I’ve still got to get back and home and get in a room and figure it out. But I’m not opposed to it, no.
Bisping, however, is bitterly opposed to the idea.
We offered him a fight tonight, said White. Vitor could have fought tonight. We got him a fight and offered him a fight, and he turned it down. We also got him a fight in Boston, and he turned that down too.
[UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard] and those guys know. I just got back from vacation, but Vitor could have fought tonight. He turned it down. He didn’t want to fight in Boston either.
The replacement refusals may mean Belfort doesn’t get paid. The fighter posted a message on his social network, with an image of a column that called Belfort the most important Brazilian athlete outside of soccer in history.
Now, a message to the UFC: I’m waiting for my payment, wrote Belfort, as translated by Fernanda Prates for MMAjunkie. After all, I did what had to be done (I trained, I was present on fight week, I made weight…) Where is the respect?
At a time like today, when the now doesn’t make much sense, it’s hard to understand, after so much dedication and sacrifice. Of having psychologically prepared to retire from a sport I basically help create. And have that simply not happen. I have conflicting feelings about what happened.
Hopefully this is an unfortunate misunderstanding and Belfort is getting paid. After 20 plus years, at the least he should not have his final fight be decided with 24 hours notice, or a week. As he said, it’s a simple matter of respect.
