The clamoring for the "old" Vitor Belfort has been going on for the better part of this decade. Well, it looks like the "old Vitor" is gone......and good riddance. What people seem to fail to realize is that the old Vitor Belfort was not as good as the current Vitor Belfort. The older, wiser, more mature Vitor Belfort. Beating up 2 fat guys with a punchers chance in Scott Ferozzo and David "Tank" Abott is not the same as knocking out Terry Martin, Matt Lindland, and Rich Franklin. Tonight's win against Franklin has proven, to this blogger at least, that the Vitor of 2009 is the one that is going to make a legit title run in the UFC.
Belfort TKO'd a game Rich Franklin tonight at UFC 103 in Dallas, TX. In doing so, he showed a vastly more mature style and mentality than he has ever shown in the past. The first 3 minutes of the fight were fairly lackluster, eliciting obvious fan annoyance. Belfort did not care. Employing patience and elusive footwork, Belfort let Franklin make the first move and deftly countered a body kick with a grazing left hand that put "Ace" on his knees. From there, 4 more punches ensued prior to Yves Levine calling the bout and declaring Belfort the winner.
What was most impressive to me was not the physicality that "The Phenom" showed, as we have always known what Belfort is capable of. What was most impressive and intriguing to see was the mental game finally coming together for Vitor Belfort. The patience he showed when the fans got restless was a testament to his new found mental fitness. If this was the Vitor that had been fighting over the last 10 years, who knows where he might be now?
Belfort TKO'd a game Rich Franklin tonight at UFC 103 in Dallas, TX. In doing so, he showed a vastly more mature style and mentality than he has ever shown in the past. The first 3 minutes of the fight were fairly lackluster, eliciting obvious fan annoyance. Belfort did not care. Employing patience and elusive footwork, Belfort let Franklin make the first move and deftly countered a body kick with a grazing left hand that put "Ace" on his knees. From there, 4 more punches ensued prior to Yves Levine calling the bout and declaring Belfort the winner.
What was most impressive to me was not the physicality that "The Phenom" showed, as we have always known what Belfort is capable of. What was most impressive and intriguing to see was the mental game finally coming together for Vitor Belfort. The patience he showed when the fans got restless was a testament to his new found mental fitness. If this was the Vitor that had been fighting over the last 10 years, who knows where he might be now?
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