Vitor Belfort Believes He’s a Better Fit to Fight Jon Jones Than Chael Sonnen (Video)

There has been a whirlwind of speculation, blame and condemnation since UFC 151 was cancelled a couple weeks ago.

A lot of the flack on the social media scene has been aimed at Jon Jones for declining a short-notice fight with Chael Sonnen, but running a close second is a flurry of talk about who really deserves to get a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title.

When it comes down to the situation that the UFC finds itself in now, in need of an opponent for its 205-pound champion, little time, and few fighters willing to take the bout on short-notice, it’s almost a case of beggars can’t be choosers.

But when it comes down to the handful of fighters willing to take the fight on the UFC’s timeline – none of which were immediate contenders – the situation now becomes more a case of what is the best fit for the circumstances.

At least that’s the way that Vitor Belfort, who will step up to fight Jon Jones in the UFC 152 main event on Sept. 22, sees it.

“Not that I deserve (a title shot),” Belfort said while a guest on Fuel TV’s UFC Tonight. “I have history on UFC. I been a champion in the light heavyweight division and my scenario, my case, that’s what I think. I think the event should continue.

“It doesn’t matter Chael Sonnen or whatever, but I think it’s a better fit. Jon Jones and Belfort makes sense because the way (Sonnen) got beat by (Anderson) Silva his last fight, he doesn’t deserve to go for a title shot.”

For his part, Belfort is now three fights removed from his own defeat at the foot of Silva. Belfort bounced back with finishes over Yoshihiro Akiyama and Anthony Johnson, and appeared back on track for a return to Silva, but when the opportunity to fight Jones came up, the old-school phenom couldn’t pass up the challenge of his new school counterpart.

Check out Vitor Belfort’s comments on accepting the fight in place of Sonnen from his recent stint on UFC Tonight…