Vitor Belfort ‘Sorry’ For Wanting Reporter Beat Up Over TRT Comments

Vitor Belfort caught many off guard over the weekend when he asked that a reporter be “beat up” for questioning him about TRT after a win over Luke Rockhold.

To all my fans and to all the reporters that was there on the after press conference I would like to ask for forgiveness the way I answer about TRT I RECOGNIZE THAT I ANWSER IN A IMMATURE WAY BUT WAS THE 10 th time that that reporter ask the same question. No excuse!! I made a WORNG call and I am here to ask for forgiveness God bless all you guys love to do what I do and I am keeping moving UP SEEKING GROW AS A MEN OF GOD AND AS A FIGHTER “DONT DOUT ME I WILL PROUVE U WORNG” PEACE

Belfort, the subject of testosterone replacement therapy for the past several months, landed a spinning heel kick that floored the former Strikeforce champion. While he has said that all the testing has been done to keep his levels in-check, the idea that “The Phenom” gets the exemption doesn’t sit well with many.

Several years ago, Belfort tested positive for steroids and was suspended in Nevada. The Nevada Athletic Commission has said he probably wouldn’t be TRT-approved if a fight was scheduled for the state, but so far, Belfort has only fought in Brazil this year.

 

UFC Makes Rashad Evans-Dan Henderson New UFC 161 Main Event

And just like that, UFC 161 and the fine folks in Canada have a new main event, as light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson replace interim UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland.

Barao suffered torn ligaments in his foot and was forced to remove himself from the June 15 card in Winnipeg.

Evans, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, enters looking to snap a two-fight losing skid to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Jon Jones. “Suga” is 17-3-1 in his MMA career.

Henderson, meanwhile, was defeated by Lyoto Machida earlier this year, dropping his overall record to 29-9. He has won four of his last five fights overall.

 

Renan Barao Officially Out Of UFC 161 Main Event

Renan Barao has been forced to remove himself from a planned main event fight with Eddie Wineland next month, as the interim UFC bantamweight champion suffered torn ligaments in his foot during training camp.

UFC president Dana White confirmed with MMAjunkie.com on Tuesday a report dating back to this past weekend that stated Barao would be forced off the card. White added that there are no plans yet in place as far as a new opponent for Wineland.

The event, UFC 161, which goes down June 15 from Winnipeg, currently features light heavyweight bouts between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans.

 

UFC Rankings: ‘Jacare’ Souza Improves Two Spots

Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza climbed to No. 6 in the latest official UFC middleweight rankings, which were released on Monday.

Souza, who submitted Chris Camozzi in the first round in Brazil, improved two slots after his Octagon debut.

The event featured only a handful of ranked fighters, as Nik Lentz and John Lineker each moved up, as well.

Luke Rockhold, who was defeated by Vitor Belfort in the main event, fell twice spots to No. 7 in the middleweight Top-10.

Complete rankings can be viewed by clicking here. They will also be updated next week.

 

James Head, UFC Welterweight, Looking To Help Clean-up Oklahoma

Following the destruction that a tornado left in Moore, Oklahoma, UFC welterweight James Head is looking to lend a hand – and wants his fellow fighters to do anything and everything than can, as well.

“Hey UFC fighters, I would like to help coordinate some kind of relief (debris, clean-up, etc.) for the families affected by the tornado that devastated Moore, Ok.” Head posted on Twitter. “Any and all help will be greatly appreciated by the victims.”

Oklahoma was ripped apart by the devastating tornado on Monday, and the recovery process has already started. Several have been killed in the incident, along with thousands injured.

Head has a 9-3 record, including a 2-2 mark in the UFC. His latest scheduled fight was postponed after Nick Catone was removed due to severe dehydration.

 

UFC Confirms Aldo-Pettis, Koscheck-Maia For UFC 163 In Brazil

UFC officials confirmed a pair of previously reported bouts for the August show in Brazil, as Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title against Anthony Pettis.

Also, Josh Koscheck will try to get back on track in the welterweight division when he faces Demian Maia. The card takes place August 3 from Rio de Janerio, Brazil and will serve as UFC 163.

Aldo accepted the fight with Pettis after “Showtime” asked to move down from 155 pounds and face the long-time champion.

The card will mark the fourth UFC event in Brazil in 2013, as the promotion recently held UFC on FX 8 with a headliner fight between Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold.

Do you think Pettis can stop the run of Aldo, or will the ex-WEC champ just become another victim of “Scarface?”

 

Daniel Cormier Remains Interested In FOX Sports 1 Debut Card

Daniel Cormier made his Octagon debut on cable television. And, the former Olympian is hoping to secure a second UFC fight on “free” TV, as well.

Cormier, serving as an analyst over the weekend on FUEL TV, continued his push for a fight on the August FOX Sports 1 debut card. The event takes place in Boston from the TD Garden on August 17.

“I want to fight on the first card on FOX Sports 1,” said Cormier, who defeated Frank Mir earlier this year. “I hope my man Chael Sonnen is fighting Wanderlei Silva next to me. Put us on the card, boss!”

“DC” is undefeated in his MMA career and was crowned the winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. He remains interested in a potential move to light heavyweight, but said he can take heavyweight division fights on his way down to 205.

 

Matt Riddle Officially Signs With Bellator MMA, Added To Upcoming Tourney

Former UFC fighter Matt Riddle has officially signed with Bellator MMA, and will compete in the upcoming welterweight tournament this fall.

Riddle was released from the UFC following a failed post-fight drug test. He had a win – what would have been his fourth in a row – over Che Mills changed to a no-contest after failing the post-fight drug test.

“I had so many options after I left the UFC, but knowing that I was able to compete in a tournament against guys like Paul Daley, Ben Saunders, and Douglas Lima, signing with Bellator was an easy decision,” Riddle said. “This division is just so stacked, and being able to fight in a tournament makes it even better. Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now, and I want to be a part of it.”

Bjorn Rebney, Bellator CEO and chairman, added “Matt’s got all the tools to be a force in our welterweight division. When I saw Matt get released from the UFC coming off 4 straight wins including his dominant win over Mills in February, we took notice. We both realize that Matt will have a target on his back for his past indiscretions. But having discussed it with him, I’m comfortable that he’s in the right place to enter the Bellator cage this fall in what will be the most loaded Bellator Welterweight Tournament in the promotions history.”

Riddle is an interesting name for Bellator to use, as his UFC-following was noticeably strong. He had previously been linked to Legacy FC immediately after his UFC release.

 

Vitor Belfort Continues To Hammer Home ‘T-Rex’ Remarks

Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold

Vitor Belfort landed one swift spinning heel kick to the face of Luke Rockhold over the weekend in Brazil, finishing the former Strikeforce middleweight champion for his second victory of 2013.

In doing so, “The Phenom” cemented his place as a top contender to the 185-pound belt, and earned the praise of his Brazilian faithful in the process.

Despite the constant talk of TRT use, Belfort shied away from any of that, instead focusing on his ever-improving-training with the Blackzilians – and being a dinosaur after UFC on FX 8.

“I was a part of two jungles,” said Belfort on FUEL TV. “I’m the T-Rex surviving this new young jungle. I’m rebuilding myself. I think it’s that burning inside me that said ‘you didn’t accomplish what you did.’ I made many mistakes and Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta] gave me the chance and I promised them my best to finish as strong as I can finish.”

Belfort has been referring to himself as a dinosaur since taking the fight with Jon Jones last year for the UFC light heavyweight title.

Photo credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

 

Mark Hunt Cleared To Fly To U.S., UFC 160 Fight With Junior Dos Santos A Go

Mark Hunt will make his way to Las Vegas and Saturday’s UFC 160 card after all, as “The Super Samoan” was granted his visa to travel to the U.S. late last week.

Hunt had been stuck in New Zealand awaiting clearance to fly from the country. He set a self-imposed deadline for obtaining his visa early last week, but the UFC continued to work hard to help get him on a plane.

Hunt will be trying to move his way closer to a potential UFC heavyweight title fight when he faces former champion Junior dos Santos in the co-main event.