On the same week Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya will have their championship rematch at UFC 287, the promotion will gather four middleweight legends for a special fan event backstage at Miami Dade Arena.
Vitor Belfort, who is one of the middleweights scheduled to be in attendance, confirmed the news to Sherdog.com in a recent interview following his victory over Ronaldo Souza at Gamebred Boxing 4.
“I'm very happy and honored to receive that invitation from UFC and be together with Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen on Friday doing a [Q&A] with the fans,” Belfort said.
As for the fight with “Jacare,” Belfort came away impressed with his opponent’s toughness in six-round boxing match.
"I have already beaten up many opponents, but I can tell you for sure: There is no tougher BMF than Ronaldo, and that's why I suggested his name when Roy Jones Jr. refused to fight me,” Belfort said. “I knew I could. There couldn't have been a better way to spend my 46th birthday than in the ring having a historical war against someone I respect and admire like him, who had already beaten me in MMA. It was such an honor.”
After dominating the third round against Souza, “The Phenom” revealed why the fight became more competitive down the stretch.
“I tore my biceps in the third round, and I could not jab so I could not set up my combinations, which [forced] me to adapt,” he said. “Also I didn’t tell my coaches because I was afraid that someone would hear and stop the fight so I just kept quiet.”
Belfort currently doesn’t have any offers to return to the ring, but he has two conditions that must be met if he is going to compete in the squared circle again.
"I have no intention to fight champions at 46 years old,” he said. “I already built my history in the sport, but I'm open to fights on two conditions: An opponent that brings me a real challenge and motivates me to train hard and, of course, a financial return of at least seven figures.”
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