Vitor Belfort’s career ended after he got cracked by Lyoto Machida at UFC 224 last weekend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – his UFC run ended with Belfort on his back, and his shield on the floor.

Here is the footage of Lyoto Machida's second-round knockout victory over Vitor Belfort. pic.twitter.com/AXaFOmzpqq

— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) May 13, 2018

A similar kick from Machida at UFC 129 also ended Randy Couture’s run in the UFC and earned ‘The Dragon’ the Sherdog 2011 Knockout of the Year.

Now that Vitor Belfort’s officially left his gloves inside the Octagon and, we hope for his sake, stepped inside the cage as a competitor for the final time, how will we remember ‘The Phenom?’

"Everything in life has a beginning, middle and end…"

Vitor Belfort calls time on a legendary career 👏 #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/rdKV1FrVUF

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) May 13, 2018

Will Vitor be remembered as a legend, a champion, a knockout artist, a hero, or a cheat? One thing is for sure – he never quit. Even stripped of his Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), he pushed through and fought until the end. He even entered his fight with Lyoto Machida sporting a significant knee injury.

With the intention to be as honest as I can be with my fans and specially with my opponent, I will go straight to the point. The injured that happened with me during the training camp somehow made the news. My team nor I had mentioned before, during or after the fight. Winning or losing, fighting injured or not; it is part of an athlete’s life. I’m not the first one nor will be the last one athlete to fight injured. Even though all the limitations imposed to me because of the injured I suffered. It is my decision to step into the octagon or not. And I decided to do it! I did not want to miss the chance to have my last fight at the UFC; in my country, my hometown and with a such respected opponent. I gave my best on the fight and my opponent was the better man that night. And this is what counts! Nothing that happened with me during the training camp takes anything away from his victory. Of course wasn’t the outcome I wished for. Not because of the defeat, because we can’t control the outcome. What bothers me is knowing that I performed bellow of what I know that I can. I literally grew up in the cage, I was wrought to be a fighter, to leave it all in the cage… and this teachings I brought to all the aspects of my life. Dedicated every minute, every second doing the best you can in whatever you’re committed to. To the ones genuinely concerned with me, I will tell you this: I feel like an injured Lion. To the haters and envious, I will tell you this: I might be injured, BUT I’M STILL A LION! See you all very soon…

A post shared by Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (@vitorbelfort) on May 17, 2018 at 1:11pm PDT

Vitor Belfort is all of the things mentioned above  and people will surely flip-flop back and forth between the positives and negatives depending on the topic of conversation but here are FIVE things that made Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort’s career stand out:

TRT Vitor’s 2013 Knockouts of Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold, and Michael Bisping

Vitor Belfort on testosterone was a treat to watch. Vitor was frightening.

At UFC on FX 7 (that’s not a typo, it was on FX!) Vitor began his 2013 by permanently disfiguring Michael Bisping with a head kick and a mad barrage of punches to the downed ‘Count.’

Bisping later underwent a myriad of surgeries for a detached retina – but he never recovered. Still to this day he has problems with his eye.

“We all know the dangers of this sport. I mean, we’re trying to knock each other out. I’ve been left permanently disfigured, if you will, from my fight with Vitor Belfort. Vitor Belfort head kicked me and that’s what caused my detached retina. Since then, I’ve had five surgeries, and my eye is never going to look the same again,” Bisping said on the Three Amigos podcast #24.

https://www.instagram.com/p/fJWZ61yteM/?hl=en&taken-by=mikebisping

Steroids didn’t help Barry Bonds hurt anybody – but steroids/TRT no doubt played a part in Vitor Belfort injuring Bisping; Testosterone replacement therapy prolonged Vitor Belfort’s prime fighting years to a significant degree.

Belfort went on to deliver a Knockout of the Year performance that spoiled former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold’s UFC debut in May at UFC on FX 8.

Testosterone had nothing to do with that flawless spinning heel kick technique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF1HR6ykC0Q

Belfort would finish 2013 with another scalp on his resume – Dan Henderson’s old mug.

Vitor had previously lost to Henderson at PRIDE 32: The Real Deal by unanimous decision, but in their second encounter at UFC Fight Night 32 nothing was going to stop Belfort from getting a knockout.

https://gfycat.com/delightfulillguppy

May 18, 2013, was the last time Vitor Belfort was allowed to compete while receiving a TRT exemption, as testosterone was banned by the NSAC and other governing bodies followed suit in February 2014.

Click and Drag to the Left for Next Moment

Vitor Belfort Nearly Finishes Jon Jones via Armbar at UFC 152

Joe Rogan almost talked it into existence – almost.

Vitor Belfort earned a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 152 after Lyoto Machida turned down his own title shot due to lack of training time.

Early on in the first round, Belfort found himself on his back and it looked like he might be in trouble – as Jones wasn’t fatigued yet and it looked like he was getting in position to land some serious ground and pound.

“Now one thing we’ve never seen from Vitor Belfort is submissions from his back, he can defend himself – I’m sure he has submissions… OH! ARMBAR! He’s got it! HE HAS GOT IT! He might break that arm Mike!” Joe Rogan said at the announcing table as Vitor Belfort nearly pulled off the impossible.

https://giphy.com/gifs/mma-jones-jon-ixaiMFzZNEuti

Cageside Press reader Trevor Bender wrote:

“He (Vitor) was tough as nails. My mom bought the PPV for my birthday and we stayed in and watched it together. First fight I had to look away from because I didn’t think he was gonna tap when Belfort had his arm/shoulder.”

Jon Jones would go on to win the fight via submission in the fourth round after he caught Vitor in an Americana – but Jones’ arm was never the same, as he suffered a strained ligament in his right elbow.

Click and Drag to the Left for Next Moment

Vitor Blitzes Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil

In 1998, we had young stud Vitor, who was about as clean as Jose Conseco in his heyday – and he was arguably scarier than the TRT Vitor we had in 2013.

At UFC Brazil in his light heavyweight debut, Belfort would meet Wanderlei Silva.

‘The Axe Murder’ hadn’t come into his own and wasn’t yet the Pride legend that would instill fear in everybody – even the heavyweights. In a way though, the thought of a fresh Wanderlei Silva that hadn’t taken a career’s worth of damage is a scary thought and ‘stud’ Belfort was able to defeat him in just 44 seconds.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ufc-gHtAxQxc0tMe4

Click and Drag to the Left for Next Moment

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Victory vs. Randy Couture at UFC 46

In their first encounter back in 1997 at UFC 15, Randy Couture knocked out Belfort in 8:16 of the first round in a match to determine who would compete for the UFC Championship next.

Belfort would get his revenge when he defeated Couture via Doctor’s stoppage after ‘The Natural’ suffered cut near his eye just 49 seconds into the fight.

The full fight video is available here.

This fight though is more notable because of what Vitor went through in the lead-up to his first Championship win.

On January 9, 2004, Vitor’s sister, Priscila Belfort, disappeared without a trace. It wasn’t until years later that a woman named Elaine Paiva confessed to her kidnapping and killing – but Belfort’s family has never accepted this version of events, still to this day, even though arrests have been made in connection to her case.

Exactly 43 years ago a princess was born. Her name was already pronounced sweet. PRISCILA VIEIRA BELFORT was born. Pri, wherever you are I really want this message to come to you. I hope in God’s Eternity of all creation. You can have access to LOVE messages. In fact, our father had already said that love is greater than everything. And it is with this love that I come to congratulate you on your birthday. I promise that somehow I will celebrate this day as if you were by my side. Pri, my kids always ask you! They want to know every detail of your life. @davibelfort @vitoriabelfortoficial and @kyarabelfort it is logical that you could not forget your great friend @joanapradob who turned out to be your confidant … rsrs Well … we love you very, very much. And Pri just spoke to Mom and she promised that on this big day she will celebrate her birthday without staying at home. She told me she’s going out and walking with a friend … Daddy you know what it’s like? LOL It’s still the same … That day especially we all wanted to be able to hug you and kiss you. I forgot to say; Dad returned to live in BH with our family. He is being very well taken care of there. All cousins ​​and aunts love you very much and say that they miss you a lot. All our cousins ​​have already become parents with beautiful children! You can not imagine every beautiful nephew we have !! Well I write this letter directly from Montreal in Canada, on January 14th I will do my last fight on @ufc. Pri, they have been fighting for 21 years and I confess that I can not wait to follow up on my second journey. In which all who participate will be winners. I and @joanapradob created @belfortfitnesslifestyle a new model of gyms and next year we started opening for franchises. We are very happy with the result. We have a huge list of interested people and our students have become a great family. I’m sure you would love our students, each with a wonderful story. Pri, right now I had to wipe away many tears from my face when I wrote this letter but I know that every tear is translated by God. Because only He understands that language. I Love you, my sister.

A post shared by Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (@vitorbelfort) on Dec 5, 2017 at 8:28am PST

Being able to compete under those circumstances is certainly heroic.

Belfort’s title reign would be short-lived as Randy Couture would win the rubber match later that year to reclaim the Light Heavyweight Championship.

Click and Drag to the Left for Next Moment

Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson III

Vitor Belfort is best known for his knockout power – but how would he fare after the use of TRT was no longer allowed? How would ‘Dad Bod’ Vitor Belfort fare against elite competition in the Octagon? Would he even be able to play the role of gatekeeper in his depleted state?

https://giphy.com/gifs/ufc-mma-ufc-212-xUPGcy3G1Aq7FCez3G

A TKO loss to UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman in May 2015 seemed to indicate that Belfort could no longer compete with the best of the best – but what about Dan Henderson, could he still beat Dan? The two had split a pair of fights and the rubber match was set for UFC Fight Night 77 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Belfort once again finished Henderson with kicks and punches for the TKO victory.

Vitor Belfort defeats Dan Henderson via first round TKO!!! #UFCFightNight77 #UFCSaoPaulo pic.twitter.com/R4PEmBp1Ca

— Major Sports Talk (@MjrSportsTalk) November 8, 2015

Even though ‘Dad bod’ Vitor would go on to be knocked out four times in his next five appearances, ultimately resulting in his retirement at UFC 224 last week – he got one last highlight against Dan Henderson in 2015.

The post Vitor Belfort: Looking Back at the Brazilian’s Storied Career appeared first on Cageside Press.

The retirement question is a touchy one in mixed martial arts. Many factors need to be taken into account when attempting to answer it, and perhaps it can’t be answered as long as a fighter is cleared to compete by one of the inept athletic commissions we’ve come to admire. Punishment taken over the course of a career, financial incentives, age, title aspirations, and CTE are all things fighters should ponder as they give themselves the Joe Rogan Talk. Is a little brain damage worth another paycheck? It’s conceivable. Not smart — but conceivable.

No one can say for sure when it’s time for a mixed martial artist to hang up the gloves, but when losses start to add up inside the octagon and a UFC Championship is out of reach – it’s time to at least consider hanging up the gloves.

Some of these fighters could be paraded out for years to come as part of a young UFC lion/lioness’ next meal, or allowed to headline television cards as gatekeepers until their health diminishes to the point of early dementia. But which UFC Middleweights should leave the sport now that the time is right before they die in the cage?

Lyoto Machida (23-8)

Notable Wins: B.J. Penn, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans,  Shogun Rua, Randy Couture, Ryan Bader, Dan Henderson, Gegard Mousasi

Earlier this month in Brazil the 39-year-old Dragon didn’t look like the same fighter who once captured the Light Heavyweight Championship. Even though he did manage to win that weekend, snapping a three-fight losing streak in the process, Machida really struggled against Eryk Anders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR3ryb1bTrE

The once untouchable Lyoto Machida got busted up at UFC Fight Night 125, and took more damage than Anders even though the Brazilian out-struck the former Alabama State linebacker 66 to 46. When all was said and done, Machida walked away with a split decision, but a win here didn’t do anything to put him back in the hunt for the 185lb strap he once competed for.

Machida’s last four fights have resulted in three losses and a close split decision win that would have been lost if it were contested under ‘Pride Rules.’ What good is a win if you lost in the eyes of the casuals? Anybody else remember when Conor McGregor lost his 170lb title to Nate Diaz? I don’t remember it, either, but it’s as ‘Fake News’ real as it gets — Mandela effect be damned.

I’m not going to suggest that Lyoto would have an easier time competing for a title in Bellator, but perhaps it would be best for Machida to seek a Tito Ortiz-like retirement run outside of the UFC sooner rather than later.

Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping (30-9)

Notable Wins: Chris Leben, Jason Miller, Brian Stann, Cung Le, Alan Belcher, Anderson Silva, Luke Rockhold, Dan Henderson

Bisping’s known the writing has been on the wall for some time now, though he’s holding out hope that he can return to the Octagon for one final victory in Manchester before he calls it a career.

After getting submitted by Luke Rockhold back in November 2014, ‘The Count’ went on one of the most improbable runs in combat sports history and avenged his loss to Rockhold at UFC 199 – becoming the Middleweight King himself in the process.

King Bisping only defended his belt once, avenging his UFC 100 knockout loss to Dan Henderson in Manchester back at UFC 204 before losing the belt 13 months later. That loss came to a returning Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217 in Madison Square Garden last November. The scene looked set for The Count to end a miraculous UFC career by losing to arguably the greatest fighter of all-time in the most profitable fight of his career, but he wanted a retirement fight in London.

Bisping then took a fight against Kelvin Gastelum in Shanghai, China on short notice after ‘The Golden Snitch’ Jeff Novitzky nailed Anderson Silva for the second time after ‘The Spider’ failed yet another drug test. Unfortunately for Bisping, he lost that fight via knockout in the first round, and for the first time in his career dropped two straight fights. Worse still, he ultimately lost the opportunity to retire at UFC Fight Night 127 in England as he had originally planned.

At 39, Michael Bisping has nothing left to prove and has accumulated enough damage in his career to justify retirement after nearly 40 professional bouts.

When it’s all said and done, Count Bisping won TUF Season 3 under coach Tito Ortiz, defeated Anderson Silva, avenged his loss to Luke Rockhold to become the UFC Middleweight Champion and win Upset of the Year (2016), got a huge payday against GSP in MSG, avoided the Cuban Missile Crisis that is Yoel Romero and got a lot of publicity in doing so, defended the UFC Middleweight title against Dan Henderson on a Pay-Per-View in Manchester, England, and made the moderators of /r/MMA look like clowns.

He should fight one more time on home soil once he regenerates past 65%, and end his career on a win in England. (Shout out to my man Kamaru Usman with 30% health).

Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort (26-13-1)

Notable Wins: Wanderlei Silva, Heath Herring, Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, Anthony Johnson, Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, Dan Henderson (x2)

Victor Gracie Belfort has been fighting in the UFC since 1997, the year he became the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Champion. Hell, that famous scene where Vitor destroys Wanderlei Silva didn’t even happen until his SIXTH fight inside the octagon, that’s how long he’s been at it. He’s had three separate runs in the UFC, and he’s a former UFC Light Heavyweight champion that injured Jon Jones permanently.

https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/GlumHealthyBirdofparadise

It looked as though ‘The Phenom’ would end his career on a win against Nate Marquardt at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but he apparently had one fight left on his contract, which he was willing to fight out against Uriah Hall — before Hall nearly died making weight for the bout scheduled January 14.

Now Belfort is expected to face Lyoto Machida at UFC 224 in Brazil, which makes for an excellent ‘loser leaves town match.

Ahem.

Speaking of which, matches with more stipulations would be interesting in MMA. Not Vince Russo-like stipulations, but something more akin to ‘loser leaves town’ matches, fights with a lengthy contract on the line, hair vs. hair matches, or the like — that oompf would be nice once in a while and would potentially serve as a headline act on a Champion-less card.

Just a thought — now back to Yoel’s Playground.

‘Suga’ Rashad Evans (19-7-1)

Notable wins: Stephan Bonnar, Michael Bisping, Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Rampage Jackson, Tito Ortiz, Phil Davis, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen

I have written extensively about Rashad Evans in the past, but as a former champion on the decline, it’s time for him to retire. The whole CTE saga aside, his fighting skills just aren’t there anymore to compete with the top 30 at middleweight. It can’t quite be said for certain that Rashad wouldn’t be able to compete with the top 30 at light heavyweight, because Shogun is ranked in the top 5, but he shouldn’t. He would get B.J. Penn’d against the top 4.

My Inner D.C. says, and I quote: “No disrespect to Smilin’ Sam, but, YOU LOST TO SAM ALVEY.”

Four straight losses should be enough for Rashad to call it a career before he really does become the CTE poster boy for MMA.

Evans will turn 39 in September.

Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva 34-8-(1)

Notable Wins: Carlos Newton, Chris Leben, Rich Franklin (x2), Dan Henderson, Demian Maia, Chael Sonnen (x2), Stephan Bonnar, Derek Brunson, Yushin Okami, Forrest Griffin

“The UFC organization was notified today (Nov. 10, 2017) that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Anderson Silva of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 26, 2017. As a result, Silva has been provisionally suspended by USADA. Due to the proximity of Silva’s upcoming scheduled bout at UFC Fight Night, Shanghai, China on November 25, 2017 against Kelvin Gastelum, Silva has been removed from the card and UFC is currently seeking a replacement.”

https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/bowedcluelessichidna

“USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Silva. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”

What a legacy.

Johny ‘Big Rigg’ Hendricks (18-8)

Notable Wins: Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Martin Kampmann, Robbie Lawler, Matt Brown, Hector Lombard.  We can even acknowledge the GSP fight, though Hendricks lost.

It’s almost unbelievable that Hendricks is even listed here, on the growing list of aging middleweights. The welterweight knockout/wrestling machine that took Georges St-Pierre to the limit in November 2013 would only win three of his next nine fights.

Hendricks did manage to win the UFC Welterweight Title against Robbie Lawler at UFC 171, but lost just nine months later in a rematch via split decision at UFC 181. Then, he came out and beat Matt Brown via unanimous decision – all before July 1, 2015.

That’s when the UFC and USADA partnership went into effect.

Since then he’s lost to Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Kelvin Gastelum, Neil Magny, Tim Boetsch, and most recently was defeated by Paulo Costa via TKO at UFC 217 in November to complete his UFC deal. The only bright spot in that stretch was his middleweight debut, in which he defeated Hector Lombard… the only thing is, that debut was forced because Hendricks had missed weight in his previous two attempts at welterweight, and then he even missed weight in the subsequent fight.

That should be it for Johny, though he might find success elsewhere against lesser competition.

I guess we can ‘never say never’ after Andrei Arlovski’s return to the UFC after losing four straight outside of the organization, but Hendricks needs to do something differently if he wants to continue his mixed martial arts career. He looks slow, doesn’t seem to have that knockout power, or the will to compete anymore.

Perhaps Bellator would be a good fit, but if he’s going to take the Roy Nelson approach at middleweight, then it would be best to just hang up the gloves now.

Hector Lombard (34-8-1, 2 no contests)

Notable Wins: Alexander Shlemenko, Rousimar Palhares, Nate Marquardt, Jake Shields

Before Lombard entered the UFC, he looked unstoppable, accumulating a 31-2-1 record before signing with the organization in 2012. Lombard was the first Bellator Middleweight Champion, the Bellator Season 1 Middleweight Tournament Winner, and holds the fasted recorded knockout in Bellator history at just six seconds. Lombard was also world champion in several smaller organizations at middleweight and light heavyweight, as well as an accomplished judoka.

Then a split decision loss to Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 made him seem all too human. In his next few fights he would pick up big wins over Rousimar Palhares, Nate Marquardt, and Jake Shields, but he lost to Yushin Okami after he beat the Palhares, and now he’s lost his last four straight to Neil Magny, Dan Henderson, Johny Hendricks, and Anthony Smith. Two of those have come by knockout, and Dan Henderson murdered him with elbows at UFC 199 in one of the most vicious stoppages in UFC history.

He outworked Anthony Smith in their fight, but that doesn’t matter when you’re on the receiving end of a knockout.

Hector is expected to face C.B. Dolloway at UFC 222, but a loss there most definitely spells the end of his time in the octagon.

Demian Maia (25-8) 

Notable Wins: Chael Sonnen, Dong Hyun Kim, Jon Fitch, Neil Magny, Gunnar Nelson, Matt Brown, Carlos Condit, Jorge Masvidal

Consider this one a bonus; despite Demian Maia fighting at welterweight most recently, he made his name as a middleweight.

Maia has beaten some of the best names in the sport at both 185 and 170 pounds and will likely beat anyone ranked below him that’s not a complete stud in either of those divisions. That being said, his road back to the title is a long one. Last time, it took him seven wins against big-name welterweights to earn a shot at Tyron Woodley’s championship.

At 40 years old and one loss removed from his failed title shot, it seems as though Maia at the twilight of his career. It would be ideal if he could end his UFC run on a big win in Brazil. Before he hits the inevitable decline.

The post End of the Line: UFC Middleweights Who Should Call It A Career appeared first on Cageside Press.