If you’ve ever witnessed a Vitor Belfort fight, you know that one thing that he usually does not concern himself with is pace. Belfort is famous for coming out fast and looking to wrap up his fights early with a blistering assault of strikes. He’s only gone the distance in nine of his 33 professional bouts, winning four of those and losing five.
The last time a Belfort (23-10) fight ended in decision was 2007 when he defeated James Zikic to win the Cage Rage light heavyweight title. The last time Belfort went the distance as a member of the UFC was February 2005, when he dropped a split decision to Tito Ortiz.
Belfort’s next fight will be on November 9 when he faces Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 32. According to Belfort he’s going to be looking to take that fight the five round distance, something he has never done during a professional career that began in 1996.
According to MMAFighting.com, Belfort said of the upcoming bout:
It’s going to be intense. I have 14 weeks until the fight, and preparation requires dedication and sacrifice. I’ll focus on winning the fight. I’m preparing myself for a five-round intense fight. That’s the way I predict the fight going.
Belfort and Henderson have met before, fighting under the Pride FC banner in October 2006. Henderson won that fight via unanimous decision. In addition to the loss on his record, Belfort received an asterisk next to his name after the fight, when he tested positive for 4-hydroxytestosterone, a banned PED.
The prior loss to Henderson has Belfort looking forward to the fight:
It gives me more motivation. He’s a tough fighter, but I’ll be ready to dominate him for five rounds.
The longest Belfort has gone in a fight is 54-seconds into the fourth round. His UFC 152 bout against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones being Belfort’s lengthiest effort. Prior to that fight, Belfort had five consecutive contests that didn’t leave the first round. Since the loss to Jones he has gone 2-0, TKO’ing Michael Bisping in the second round and KO’ing Luke Rockhold in the first round. Both of those fights earned Belfort Knockout of the Night bonuses from the UFC.
Henderson (29-10) has gone the distance 21 times in his career (don’t forget the old moniker “Decision Dan”). Three of those decisions went the five round distance, with his most recent five-rounder being his UFC 139 victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, a bloody scrap that many feel was one of the best fights in UFC history.
UFC Fight Night 32 will take place at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil.
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