Vitor Belfort: I am not training with UFC champ Jon Jones

At first, it appeared UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and ex-titleholder Vitor Belfort were going to do a tried-and-true endeavor for former foes: train together.

However, Belfort, who suffered a title loss via submission to Jones at UFC 152 in 2012, said that’s not necessarily the case.

After Jones told Globo’s Combate that he and Belfort spoke on the phone and made plans to train together in Miami on Friday, the Brazilian released a statement.

Downplaying any official partnership, Belfort posted the following on Twitter:

I want to clear the air that on the rumor of me training with Jon Jones. The office that represent me wanted to use Jon for a commericial in brazil so I called Malki. He was with Jon at the time and Jon got on the phone to talk with me. We had a friendly talk and he said let’s train one day and I said sure one day let’s train. It wasn’t a serious talk about training. I am a Blackzilian and I am not training with Jon. He is a great guy and I admire him but the media taking to far.

Belfort, of course, has bigger things to worry about, anyway.

On Wednesday UFC officials confirmed Belfort (24-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC) is expected to replace Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) at UFC 175 and fight Chael Sonnen (28-14-1 MMA, 7-6 UFC) at the July 5 pay-per-view event. According to Sonnen, the 205-pound fight will determine a No. 1 contender at 185 pounds.

Following the title loss to Jones, Belfort dropped to middleweight and won three straight fights, all courtesy of head kicks and all in his home country of Brazil. It earned him “Fighter of the Year” consideration in 2013 and shot him up the 185-pound rankings.

Belfort subsequently scratched from a planned middleweight title fight with champion Chris Weidman after the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned testosterone-replacement therapy earlier this year. However, the TRT-less fighter is now slotted for a return to the cage on the UFC’s annual Independence Day weekend event, which is subject to the fighter getting licensed at an upcoming NSAC hearing.

For more on UFC 175, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Jon Jones)