Belfort says he is leaving UFC after next fight, will fight on

Vitor Belfort began fighting professionally on October 11, 1996. In 2004 he won the UFC light heavyweight championship. Aided by hard work and performance enhancing drugs, both legal and not, Belfort fought on and on and on.

In 2013 he had one of the great runs in the sport’s history, beating Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, and Dan Henderson, all by head kick KO. Then the use of legal TRT was effectively ended in MMA; Belfort has gone 1-4 since, with all losses coming via TKO or KO, although the latest loss to Kelvin Gastelum was overturned after the winner tested positive for the demon weed marijuana.

At 40, Belfort planned one more fight and then retirement. He mentioned both CM Punk and Anderson Silva as possible candidates for this last fight. That the greatest and worst UFC fighter ever were mentioned as opponents illustrates both the majesty and the eccentricity of The Phenom.

Then Nate Marquardt, 38, was named for Belfort’s final, at UFC 212 on June 3 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Now in an interview with Daniela Passoa for Brazil’s Veja Rio, Belfort says he may fight on, but not in the UFC. Via Google translate.

DP: What are you planning for retirement?

VB: I will leave the UFC, but I will continue competing. The fight is my passion. Too bad MMA has not become a serious sport yet. Maybe I’ll help change that picture.

Today, a fighter is more an entertainer than an athlete. The UFC by itself is a show, not a sport. It’s sad to see new fighters wanting to drive the car of the moment or win the spotlight like Conor McGregor. Their reference is to have, not to be.

DP: And how do you propose to change that?

VB: Following the style of the NBA, which professionalized basketball. Today, players are league officials. They do not have to pay their own coach, as in MMA.

DP: Does your wife, Joana Prado, continue to lead your career?

VB: Yes, and we are very excited about our new franchise project, the Belfort Fitness Lifestyle. I created a system with 365 exercises for those who want to take care of the body. In one class, you can spend up to 1,000 calories.