UFC 126: Anderson Silva Tries To Set Example For Younger Fighters, Build A Legacy

For UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, he’s not concerned that Vitor Belfort will be the man standing across the Octagon from him at UFC 126. He’s more concerned with setting an example for younger fighters and building a legacy of what he has been able to accomplish in mixed martial arts.

Check out the UFC’s promotional interview with Anderson Silva below…

Dana White: Georges St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva Could Happen in 2011

FORT HOOD, TEXAS – UFC president Dana White on Friday told a small group of troops at the Fort Hood military post in Killeen, Texas, that a long-discussed superfight could come to fruition this year.

Speaking at a question-and-answer session that was closed to the public and attended only by enlisted military personnel, White said a fight between welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and middleweight champion Anderson Silva might take place in 2011.

Both fighters' dominance in their respective divisions would lead to the matchup, though White cautioned that both need to win their upcoming title defenses.

"If (Silva) wins that fight (against Vitor Belfort at UFC 126), then Georges St-Pierre needs to beat Jake Shields in Toronto (at UFC 129)," White said. "If that happens, then we're probably going to do that fight (between St-Pierre and Silva). If they both win, that fight makes all the sense in the world."

White also said in that scenario, he believes St-Pierre would move up from welterweight – and possibly even make that his new home. White did not elaborate on what would happen with St-Pierre's 170-pound title if that scenario indeed played out.

"Georges St-Pierre – he would move to 185 (to fight Silva) and stay at that weight and not go back to 170," White said. "Should (they) win (their next) fights, that fight will probably happen this year."

On most pound-for-pound rankings lists, Silva and St-Pierre alternate between the No. 1 and No. 2 positions and both have been at the top of most lists for years.

White has said on many occasions he believes Silva is the best fighter in the world. He has defended his middleweight title seven consecutive times, plus a win over Travis Lutter that was a non-title fight when Lutter couldn't make weight. In addition, he has two wins at light heavyweight against James Irvin and Forrest Griffin.

With a record 11 consecutive wins in the UFC, Silva (27-4, 11-0 UFC) was never truly tested until his title defense in August against Chael Sonnen. Sonnen dominated the first four rounds and the first half of the final round and was on his way to what would surely have been a unanimous decision victory. But Silva was able to work from his back for a submission, the only chance he had to win the fight, and forced Sonnen to tap with a triangle-armbar combination.

After the fight, Silva and manager Ed Soares said the champion was fighting with a bad rib injury, which they said explained Sonnen's dominance throughout the fight. In September, it was announced Sonnen had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. He was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission, effectively nixing a likely rematch between the two. Silva next defends his title against Belfort at UFC 126 on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas.

St-Pierre (21-2, 15-2 UFC) has not lost since a TKO against Matt Serra at UFC 69, regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of MMA. That was St-Pierre's first defense of the welterweight title he had taken from Matt Hughes at UFC 65, ending Hughes' long reign in the division. St-Pierre got his belt back at UFC 83 in his home city of Montreal and has gone on to defend it five straight times – winning every round in the process with four unanimous decisions and a TKO against former lightweight and welterweight champ BJ Penn from a corner stoppage before the fifth round.

St-Pierre is scheduled to defend his title against former Strikeforce middleweight champion and recent UFC signee Shields at UFC 129 in Toronto, the promotion's debut in Ontario, on April 30. Shields beat Martin Kampmann by split decision at UFC 121 in his UFC debut to earn the title shot.


Source: mmafighting.com

Vitor Belfort Parts Ways With Trainer Shawn Tompkins Ahead of UFC 126

Vitor Belfort has worked with striking coach Shawn Tompkins since mid-2008, when Belfort first walked into the gym of longtime rival Randy Couture in hopes of training with him.

The union between coach and fighter has been productive. Belfort earned three knockouts in three fights while under Tompkins' watch. But with Belfort in the midst of preparation for the biggest match of his career a UFC 126 title shot against champ Anderson Silva the partnership is apparently over.

On the Tuesday edition of The Fight Show with Mauro Ranallo, Tompkins briefly addressed the situation, as well as the recent story that Belfort was training with former boxing great Mike Tyson.

"Well, you know, Vitor's done this before. Vitor sometimes, he gets a little clouded in his head," Tompkins said. "It's not that he brought in Mike Tyson or anything like that. Vitor just wanders, you know, and he goes where what's happening, what's famous, what's popular and he'll go over there. Mike Tyson isn't teaching him anything. Neither is the other eight gyms that he's training at. Just because he's over at Couture's and not with me doesn't mean he's with Couture. Vitor isn't loyal to anybody. We've seen it before."

The middleweight star hasn't fought since a Sept. 2009 knockout over Rich Franklin at UFC 103.

Since then, two dates with divisional champion Silva have been postponed by injuries. Belfort and Tompkins were still working together in the fall of 2010, but now, Belfort's gone in another direction, much to the chagrin of his former trainer.

"I hope for the best for him, but you know, for a guy who told me about respect, loyalty, and God and all this stuff for so many years, he sure did prove the opposite," Tompkins said. "So, we'll see. Best of luck to him. Best of luck to Anderson, as well."

Belfort is reportedly training his striking under Xtreme Couture coach Gil Martinez, a well-respected trainer who most recently prepared Gray Maynard for his title shot against Frankie Edgar.


Source: mmafighting.com

Vitor Belfort Dreams Of Fighting On The UFC Rio Card in August

The UFC’s return to Brazil later this year will undoubtedly have a host of fighters on the promotion’s roster hoping to compete in their home land in August. One fighter who was fortunate enough to be a part of the first UFC Brazil event also wants to go back.

Vitor Belfort, who is currently training in Las Vegas for his Feb. 5 showdown with fellow countryman Anderson Silva, made quite an impression during the UFC Brazil show back in 1998.

Belfort blasted through Wanderlei Silva, scoring the knockout win in only 44 seconds. The Brazilian is hopeful to have a return performance of similar nature later this year.

“I think everybody wants to fight on that card. I’m dreaming to fight on that card. I hope I can be there,” Belfort said in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio.

The last trip the UFC made to Brazil was over a decade ago, but the country was excited back then and, according to Belfort, everyone is anticipating the return even more now.

“It was good, exciting, and this time I think it’s going to be more exciting,” Belfort commented.

Before even thinking about returning to fight in his home country, Belfort has to get past Anderson Silva at UFC 126. If he’s successful, however, he’d have no problem making his first middleweight title defense at UFC Rio.

“If this is what God foresees, I will see it,” Belfort said about being champion and fighting in Brazil. “I will receive that prophecy for sure.”

If he wants to have a better shot at fighting there, he will need to beat Silva in February, so that’s exactly what Belfort plans on doing.

“Now, it’s just time to conquer the dream.”

Source: mmaweekly.com

UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort Video Preview

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, at UFC 126 on Feb. 5, will continue to try and make his case to be considered the pound-for-pound best fighter int he world. He face Vitor Belfort, one of the most explosive fighters in the sport, in the UFC 126 main event in Las Vegas.

Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin, both former UFC champions, are slotted in the evening’s co-main event, each trying to find his way into title contention in the UFC light heavyweight division.

Not the veterans that Griffin and Franklin are, rising contenders Jon Jones and Ryan Bader will square off in another light heavyweight bout at UFC 126. Like Griffin and Franklin, Jones and Bader are fighting for the next rung on the ladder leading up to the UFC light heavyweight championship.