Connect with us

MMA

Vitor Belfort mentioned in the UFC Hall of Fame class with 2025

Published

1 year ago

on

(Photo Josh Hedges/Zufffa LLC/ZUFFA LLC via Getty Images)

Las Vegas – UFC announced today that the former heavyweight champion UFC and UFC® 12 The winner of the Vitor Belfort heavyweight tournament will be introduced to the UFC Hall class with 2025

Fame as a pioneer. The Hall of Fame 2025 induction ceremony will take place under 13th Annual International Fight Week UFCUMBRELLAOn Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena I will be broadcast live, only on UFC Fight Pass®.

“Vitor Belfort was 19 years ancient when he was signed by UFC and quickly influenced, becoming the youngest athlete who won the UFC fight and UFC tournament,” said the president and general director of UFC Dana White. “Vitor was a pioneer of this sport and is definitely a UFC legend. It will be honored to introduce him to the UFC Sław Galeria this summer.”

Belfort will enter the Hall of Fame UFC as 20th Member of Pioneer Era Wing. In the pioneering era, they include athletes who became professionals before November 17, 2000 (when united principles of mixed martial arts were adopted). Other requirements include a minimum age of 35 or a retired person for a year or longer.

Veteran 41 Fight during his 22-year MMA career, Belfort registered the record of 26-14.1 NC (20-14.1 NC-WULC / Pride / Strikeforce), providing victories over UFC Hall of Famers Wanderlei SilvaIN Randy CoutureIN Prosperous FranklinIN Michael BispingAND And Henderson (Wing fight); Former UFC medium weight master Luke Rockholdformer Strikeforce heavyweight master Bobby SouthworthFormer underfund master Strikeforce Nate Marquardtand former massive armor champion Kazuo Takahashi.

At the age of 19, Belfort debuted in a professional MMA on October 11, 1996, rising in Superbrawl 2 in Hawaii. Despite the discrepancy of seven -inch height and 100 pounds. Belfort’s weight disadvantage defeated his opponent, Jon Hess, through a knockout in 12 seconds of the first round to start his career. He immediately signed a contract with UFC after his victory.

Belfort debuted in the UFC as a massive weight, entering the tournament UFC® 12: The day of the judgmentwhich took place on February 7, 1997 in Dothan, Alabama. He defeated his opponents, Tar Tellman and Scott Ferzzo, both through TKO in the first round to win the tournament in massive weight.

Belfort returned to the action three months later, beating the favorite fans of Tank Abbott for TKO in 52 seconds during UFC® 13: Final forcewhich took place on May 30, 1997 in August, Georgia. The victory helped to establish Belfort as a rising star and brought him the fight against Couture on UFC 15.

UFC® 15: collision course It took care of October 17, 1997 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Belfort and Couture faced the event of cooperation with the winner, aiming at the then heavyweight champion UFC and Future UFC Hall of Famer Maurice Smith in UFC Japan.

Couture would beat Belfort for eight minutes to the first round to give him his first loss as a professional. Belfort won another two fights with Joe Charles and Wanderlei Silva in UFC Japan (December 21, 1997) and UFC Brazil (October 16, 1998), bringing his record to 6-1. His fight with Couture prepared a scene for two exhilarating rematch down, because both athletes will continue to improve popularity.

Over the next three years, Belfort won four of the next five fights with pride, with the only loss in the future Hall of Famer UFC Kazushi Sakuraba.

Belfort returned to UFC as a lightweight heavyweight on June 22, 2002 UFC® 37.5: As real as possible. He will return to his victorious form a year later, defeating Marvin Eastman by TKO in the first round UFC® 43: MeltdownJune 6, 2003 in Las Vegas.

The victory brought him his first title shot and a rematch against Couture in the main UFC 46 event. UFC® 46: supernatural It took place on January 31, 2004 in Las Vegas. The expected fight was shortened due to the detention of a doctor 49 seconds to the first round, and Belfort was crowned the novel UFC heavyweight champion.

Belfort would give couture an immediate rematch UFC® 49: Unfinished business On August 21, 2004 in Las Vegas, where he would lose his title because of the detention of a doctor in the third round. He would lose his next fight with the future UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz in the main event UFC® 51: Great Saturday February 5, 2005, ending the second time with UFC.

In the next four years he won six of the next nine fights in numerous fight promotions, including Strikeforce and Pride, and then returned to the UFC to face Franklin in the main event UFC® 103: Franklin vs. Baking. Belfort won his fight against the unforgettable KO Franklin, restoring as a star in the octopus.

Over the next nine years, Belfort would compete with the best pretenders in medium weight UFC and lightweight heavyweight divisions. He fought for both titles, losing to UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. During this episode, he also provided unforgettable victories over Bisping, Rockhold, Henderson and Anthony Johnson. His last victory took place in 2017, when he defeated Nate Marquardt through a unanimous decision at UFC® 212: Aldo vs. Hollowayin his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. He retired after the next fight, lost by KO with the former heavyweight champion UFC Attractive photos while UFC® 224: Nunes vs. Pennington May 12, 2018 in Rio.

Belfort enters the Hall of Fame UFC with an impressive CV, which includes:

UFC:

  • Most of the finals of the first round in the history of UFC-13
  • Knockout in 90 seconds or less – 10
  • 18 finals in the first round in 26 career wins

In addition to the octagon, Belfort is an excellent author who has his autobiography Vitor Belfort: Claw, Faith and Success Lessons Published by Thomas Nelson Brazil in 2012. In 2013 he won Knockout of the year Behind his Ko with Luke Rockhold in the main event UFC® On FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold while Only fighters World MMA awards. Belfort also spent time in the boxing ring, winning both his professional matches in 2006 and 2023.

Coming from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, he began training in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 12. At the age of 18, he was a black belt at Carlson Gracie and won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Championships in absolute and massive divisions. In 2001 he returned to the competition in ADCC, winning a bronze medal in the absolute division. He currently lives in Florida with his wife and children.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MMA

UFC 330: 'Makhachev vs. Garry' Live Results and Highlights

Published

2 hours ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

UFC 330: 'Makhachev vs. Garry' Live Results and Highlights
Trending:

Daniel Cormier doubts Dricus du Plessis gets next middleweight title shot due to history with Sean Strickland

The Octagon returns to Philadelphia for tonight's UFC 330 event, a 12-bout fight card headlined by Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry.

Makhachev (28-1 MMA) will be looking to earn his first career welterweight title defense this evening at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Russian star captured the promotion‘s coveted 170lbs title this past November at UFC 322, where he earned a dominant unanimous decision win over Jack Della Maddalena. Islam will enter this evening's contest sporting a 16-fight winning streak, which includes recent triumphs over Renato Moicano, Dustin Poirier and Alex Volkanovski.

Meanwhile, Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since scoring a unanimous decision victory over former division champion Belal Muhammad this past November in Qatar. Prior to that triumph, ‘The Future' was coming off an impressive win over Carlos Prates.

UFC 330 is co-headlined by a women's strawweight title fight featuring Mackenzie Dern taking on Gillian Robertson.

(via Zuffa LLC)

Dern (16-5 MMA) will be competing for the first time since capturing the promotion's then vacant strawweight world title this past October at UFC 321. The jiu-jitsu ace has won her last three Octagon appearances, which includes a submission victory over Amanda Ribas (see that here).

Meanwhile, Gillian Robertson (17-8 MMA) will enter her first career UFC title fight sporting a five-fight winning streak. ‘The Savage‘ was most previously seen in action this past March, where she scored a unanimous decision win over Amanda Lemos. Prior to that triumph, the Canadian standout was coming off a second-round TKO victory over Marina Rodriguez.

Also featured on tonight's UFC 330 main card lineup is a lightweight contest between Jalin Turner and Kauê Fernandes.

Turner (15-9 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since earning a first-round TKO victory over Edson Barboza this past December at UFC 323. That triumph snapped a two-fight losing skid for ‘The Tarantula', who had previously suffered stoppage losses to Renato Moicano and Ignacio Bahamondes respectively.

Meanwhile, Kauê Fernandes (11-2 MMA) will enter this evening's contest on a three-fight winning streak, with his latest victory coming by way of first-round TKO this past September against Harry Hardwick. The Brazilian has gone 3-1 since joining the UFC ranks in November of 2023.

If that wasn't enough to get you interested the first fight of the main card is a lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and Esteban Ribovics.

Barboza (24-14 MMA) will be looking to snap a three-fight losing skid when he takes to the Octagon this evening. The 40-year-old veteran has suffered losses to Jalin Turner, Drakkar Klose and Lerone Murphy in his most recent efforts. Edson's most recent victory occurred in October of 2023, where he outpointed Sodiq Yusuff in a ‘FOTN' affair.

Meanwhile, Esteban Ribovics (15-3 MMA) was most previously seen in action this past April, where he suffered a submission loss to Mateusz Gamrot. Prior to that setback, ‘El Gringo' was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Elves Brener.

Get all of tonight's live results and highlights below (refresh for updates):

UFC 330 Main Card (9pm EST on Paramount / PPV)

170 lbs: Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry –

115 lbs: Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson –

155 lbs: Jalin Turner vs. Kaue Fernandes –

185 lbs: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dustin Stoltzfus –

155 lbs: Edson Barboza vs. Esteban Ribovics –

UFC 330 Televised Prelims (7pm EST on Paramount+)

170 lbs: Chidi Njokuani vs. Joel Alvarez –

125 lbs: Charles Johnson vs. Eduardo Chapolin –

185 lbs: Donte Johnson vs. Eric McConico – Johnson def. McConico via KO (punches) at 1:38 of Round 1

185 lbs: Vicente Luque vs. Tresean Gore – Gore def. Luque by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

UFC 330 Early Prelims (5:30 EST on UFC Fight Pass)

205 lbs: Rafael Tobias vs. Lucas Fernando – Fernando def. Tobias via TKO (knee and elbows) at 1:10 of Round 3

170 lbs: Neil Magny vs. Ramiz Brahimaj – Magny def. Brahimaj via TKO (punches) at 3:20 of Round 2

170 lbs: Jeremiah Wells vs. Myktybek Orolbai – Wells def. Orolbai via technical submission (ninja choke) at 1:24 of Round 3

Who are you picking to win this evening's welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry? Share you predictions in the comment section PENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

Continue Reading

MMA

Ian Garry polices UFC 330 reporter questions, MMA media vet states, "that's not the way this works"

Published

8 hours ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Ian Garry polices UFC 330 reporter questions, MMA media vet states, "that's not the way this works"
Trending:

Colby Covington praises Arman Tsarukyan following RAF 11 match: “You're gonna be the UFC lightweight champâ€

Ian Garry wanted to avoid talking about personal subjects outside the cage during the media day leading into his first UFC title shot, but this was deemed improper protocol by one of MMA's most veteran media members. The Irish standout will compete against Islam Makhachev for the latter's welterweight crown in Philadelphia on August 15th. Ahead of the fistic fireworks this Saturday, Garry spoke to the credentialed media members assembled for the UFC 330 media day.

Kicking off his fight week media obligations in a fairly clear fashion, with an excerpt of the full scrum shared via X account @HappyPunch, Garry said,

“Before we start, I just want to make one thing abundantly clear. I have got the biggest fight of my life this weekend. I am absolutely completely f***ing focused on the fight. So let's stick to the professional stuff, yeah? Stick to the fighting, let's talk about the fighting. Let's talk about Islam [Makhachev], let's talk about the fight. Nothing else.â€

Luke Thomas noticed the clip posted by Happy Punch and then retweeted his thoughts regarding the proclamations of the brash Garry ahead of his bid for the 170-pound strap in the coming days. Articulating his viewpoint on this scenario in a quote tweet, Thomas stated,

“[Garry']s trying to politely dissuade what could be an onslaught of questions about irrelevant, prurient topics, but that's not the way this works. He can decline to answer, but not set the terms.â€

Ian Garry reflects on his journey in martial arts before this massive matchup at UFC 330

Islam Makhachev is regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts currently, and Ian Garry is relishing the nature of this moment as he mulls over this being such a seismic culmination of a broader journey in combat sports. Expanding upon these narrative pieces at the UFC 330 media day, Garry quipped [via MMA Junkie],

“I knew from the moment I started this sport, the talent that I had. I knew that with all the talent, the discipline, the sacrifice and the hard work I put in, I knew I'd get here, and I have gotten here. Nobody in the world has deserved a world title shot more than me. It still hasn't hit me yet. It'll be Friday when it hits me, ‘All right, this is it. He's here.' There's no more to do. There's no more weight cutting. No nothing. No media. It's just show up, face off at the ceremonials, and I know tomorrow we're fighting.â€

“I think then it will kind of come to reality that it's real. I've always said I want to fight the toughest fighters in the world, the best fighters in the world, because that's how you become great. You leave no question marks. You make no excuses. I've fought some of the greatest fighters walking this planet right now at welterweight.â€

“It's going to be a big honor to go out there and compete against Islam, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the planet, a world champion. His legacy is set in stone. He's done so much in this sport. Beating him, it's exactly the challenge I'd want to become the champion of the world.â€

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

Continue Reading

MMA

Anything but Fighting: Neil Magny

Published

9 hours ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Anything but Fighting: Neil Magny

PHILADELPHIA – UFC welterweight veteran Neil Magny speaks with MMA Fighting's José Youngs about not watching movies or TV, instead focusing his attention on a love of sourdough bread, remodeling homes, listening to audio books, and more on the latest episode of Anything But Fighting.

Magny competes Saturday at UFC 330 in what will be his 38th appearance for the promotion, matching a level of output tied with Donald Cerrone and surpassed only by Andrei Arlovski (42 UFC fights) and Jim Miller (47). He takes on Ramiz Brahimaj on the preliminary portion of the card.

The 16-year veteran holds numerous other notable records in the UFC, including the most wins and most appearances in the welterweight division, as well as being tied for the third-most wins in UFC history overall behind only Charles Oliveira (25) and Miller (28). He is tied for the fourth-most UFC welterweight stoppages ever with Matt Hughes (12), Vicente Luque (14), and Matt Brown (15), and is tied with Brad Tavares for the most decision wins (14) in UFC history.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending