Michael
Bisping hoped one final win would get him his long-awaited shot at UFC
middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Vitor Belfort, though, had other
plans.
The 17-year vet, who returned to the middleweight division after a failed shot at light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones' title, cost Bisping a shot at the belt with a violent head kick that set up a second-round TKO victory.
The bout headlined Saturday's UFC on FX 7 event at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Belfort, fighting in his home country, entered the bout in what appeared to be remarkable shape. Even the 19-year-old version of Belfort who made his UFC debut in 1997 would have been jealous of the chiseled physique.
After a feeling-out process, the 35-year-old did damage to Bisping late in the first round, and he continued the assault in the second. Early in the frame, Belfort (22-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) perfectly timed a head kick that caught Bisping (23-5, 13-5) flush. The British fighter fell to the mat and was forced to turtle up as Belfort rained down a quick storm of hammerfists that forced a TKO stoppage at the 1:27 mark of the round.
Despite a significant win in the middleweight division, Belfort instead turned his attention to light heavyweight. With champ Jones scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen in April, Belfort called out the challenger and campaigned for a rematch with the champ, who submitted him back in September.
"Take that punk Chael Sonnen -- I don't even know your name -- get out!" Belfort screamed after the fight, directing his attention to UFC President Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta. "Kick him out. Give me Jon Jones. I need that rematch. Take that clown away!"
Bisping, who had fallen short in two previous title eliminators, took his third failed opportunity in stride. A victory over Belfort would have set up a very lucrative title fight with Silva, but the 33-year-old assured he hasn't given up on his title hopes.
"It was a beautiful kick, and he caught me," Bisping said. "Listen, he was a better man than me tonight.
"You win some and you lose some, but I am not going away. Trust me, I'm going to be back. I'll be back at the top of this pile before you f---ing know it."
Full UFC on FX 7 results:
Vitor Belfort def. Michael Bisping via TKO (head kick and punches) -- Round 2, 1:27
CB Dollaway def. Daniel Sarafian via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Gabriel Gonzaga def. Ben Rothwell via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 2, 1:01
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Thiago Tavares via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 1:55
Godofredo Castro def. Milton Vieira via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ronny Markes def. Andrew Craig via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Nik Lentz def. Diego Nunes via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-26)
Edson Barboza def. Lucas Martins via submission (punches) -- Round 1, 2:38
Yuri Alcantara vs. Pedro Nobre ruled a no-contest (accidental punches to back of head) -- Round 1, 2:11
Ildemar Alcantara def. Wagner Prado via submission (kneebar) -- Round 2, 2:39
Francisco Trinaldo def. CJ Keith via submission (arm-triangle choke) -- Round 2, 1:50
Source: www.usatoday.com
The 17-year vet, who returned to the middleweight division after a failed shot at light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones' title, cost Bisping a shot at the belt with a violent head kick that set up a second-round TKO victory.
The bout headlined Saturday's UFC on FX 7 event at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Belfort, fighting in his home country, entered the bout in what appeared to be remarkable shape. Even the 19-year-old version of Belfort who made his UFC debut in 1997 would have been jealous of the chiseled physique.
After a feeling-out process, the 35-year-old did damage to Bisping late in the first round, and he continued the assault in the second. Early in the frame, Belfort (22-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) perfectly timed a head kick that caught Bisping (23-5, 13-5) flush. The British fighter fell to the mat and was forced to turtle up as Belfort rained down a quick storm of hammerfists that forced a TKO stoppage at the 1:27 mark of the round.
Despite a significant win in the middleweight division, Belfort instead turned his attention to light heavyweight. With champ Jones scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen in April, Belfort called out the challenger and campaigned for a rematch with the champ, who submitted him back in September.
"Take that punk Chael Sonnen -- I don't even know your name -- get out!" Belfort screamed after the fight, directing his attention to UFC President Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta. "Kick him out. Give me Jon Jones. I need that rematch. Take that clown away!"
Bisping, who had fallen short in two previous title eliminators, took his third failed opportunity in stride. A victory over Belfort would have set up a very lucrative title fight with Silva, but the 33-year-old assured he hasn't given up on his title hopes.
"It was a beautiful kick, and he caught me," Bisping said. "Listen, he was a better man than me tonight.
"You win some and you lose some, but I am not going away. Trust me, I'm going to be back. I'll be back at the top of this pile before you f---ing know it."
Full UFC on FX 7 results:
Vitor Belfort def. Michael Bisping via TKO (head kick and punches) -- Round 2, 1:27
CB Dollaway def. Daniel Sarafian via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Gabriel Gonzaga def. Ben Rothwell via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 2, 1:01
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Thiago Tavares via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 1:55
Godofredo Castro def. Milton Vieira via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ronny Markes def. Andrew Craig via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Nik Lentz def. Diego Nunes via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-26)
Edson Barboza def. Lucas Martins via submission (punches) -- Round 1, 2:38
Yuri Alcantara vs. Pedro Nobre ruled a no-contest (accidental punches to back of head) -- Round 1, 2:11
Ildemar Alcantara def. Wagner Prado via submission (kneebar) -- Round 2, 2:39
Francisco Trinaldo def. CJ Keith via submission (arm-triangle choke) -- Round 2, 1:50
Source: www.usatoday.com
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