Vitor Belfort might have been handed a decisive loss in his title fight against Chris Weidman at UFC 187, but he wants another shot at the gold immediately after his rubber match against Dan Henderson. Belfort is scheduled to meet “Hendo” for the third time at UFC Fight Night 77 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 7.
“Getting past Dan Henderson, I want the winner of this fight, either Weidman or the trash talker Rockhold,” Belfort said during an interview to TV show “Revista Combate” in Brazil. “We’re on the race. You go to your goal, or you ask to leave. It’s important to have a goal, a focus in your life. The fun thing about the next chance you have is that you earn it today. I’m focused on Dan Henderson now, on my training, focused on going there and doing my job.”
(Transcription via MMA Fighting)
Belfort lost to Henderson on points 2006 in Pride and avenged that loss seven years later with a headkick knockout at UFC Fight Night 32. Since the Henderson loss, Belfort only tasted defeat in UFC title fights against Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and Chris Weidman.
Weidman will defend his title against Luke Rockhold December 12 in the co-main event of UFC 194. It is highly unlikely that Belfort — should he win against Henderson — will get the next shot, since multiple contenders are awaiting their chance in the packed middleweight division, including Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Yoel Romero Palacio.