Vitor Belfort, my opponent, kept screaming yesterday and today at the weigh-in that he’s “ready”. “I’m READY! I’M READY!” Sounds like he’s trying to convince himself, to be honest. He’s been saying he can do the full 25 minutes and then do a training session right after.
Really? I can do 25 minutes standing on my head but, afterwards, win, lose or draw, I’m not interested in doing a training session. I’m interested in eating, hanging out with my mates and a couple of cold beers.
What does he mean that he’s going to do a training session right after the fight? Sound like bravado to me. He’s never had much in the way of stamina and lying to himself won’t make it any better. You don’t hear me predicting first-round one-punch KOs, because that’s not what I am known for in my career. I’d like to end this early – and I think I will stop Belfort in three rounds – but I see weakness in Vitor’s words.
After he got off the scales, I told him: “I’m in your head”.
[Also: Vitor Belfort fighting for pride with no more title shots in foreseeable future ]
He showed weakness yesterday at the press conference, too. I showed up wearing a suit, like a professional athlete attending a major sporting press conference. And UFC MD Marshall Zelaznik showed up looking dapper in a sports jacket. But of course, we were all let down as Vitor bowled up dressed like a NASCAR gift shop had exploded in his face. What was he dressed like, seriously? He looked like something out of Toy Story 2.
Then we had a bit of an incident at the head to head. Vitor put his fist in my face. He’s not allowed to touch me and he was trying to bitch me out to see if he could get away with it. He couldn’t. I swatted his arm away, twice.
It is a photo opportunity, sunshine. The ladies and gentlemen of the press who were kind enough to attend needed a picture of us together to go along with their stories on our fight. They can’t very well do that if we are literally standing at arms length apart, can they?
[Also: Eddie Alvarez stuck in limbo as promotions fight over him]
Like I said before, he’s a bully and for all his skills and punching power – and I do not discount his ability to end this fight in his favor for one second. I don’t really go for psychological warfare, and even though I told Vitor I was in his head, really, the build-up is the build-up and tomorrow night all of that counts for nothing. I’ve had a little fun, spoken my mind on some things like him dancing around TRT questions, and I’ve used his little slights to motivate myself to perform to the best of my own ability.
I’ve got a chance to become the undisputed, no questions asked, No. 1 contender tomorrow night. I’ve had two of these before and, bottom line, didn’t get it done. I have worked so hard to get back here, and I’m very grateful my hard work has been rewarded by the UFC.
Love me or love hating me, tune in tomorrow. I always show up to fight and I’m putting a beating on Belfort on FX.
Hit me up on Twitter @bisping, trolls eat free.
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