Belfort: Top Fighters Should Be Willing to Fight Anyone

Vitor Belfort (left) | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Belfort will challenge fellow Brazilian and former training partner Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title Saturday at UFC 126. Although Silva has been critical of Belfort’s loyalty in the past, Belfort thinks the fight will be worth it.

“This is a sport,” Belfort said recently on Bruce Buffer’s “It’s Time” show on the Sherdog Radio Network. “After this fight, I really think Anderson is going to look back and say, ‘Man, this fight [made history] in the sport.’ We’re proving this is a sport. … I believe after this fight, many fighters many years from now, they’re going to see how it was important that this fight happened for the sport.”

Belfort expects the matchup to influence future generations of mixed martial artists. The message: take on all comers regardless of affiliation.

“Pretty much people are going to start changing their perspective because this is what people want to see,” he said. “People want to see the best fighters fighting the best fighters. It’s hard. I know a lot of people take it personal, but what’s personal? People don’t recognize that. What’s loyalty? Loyalty is you taking care of your family. You being the guy that you preach that you are. Living the words that you say.”

A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Belfort emphasized that his fight with Silva is not about getting another title or even winning. He said it’s about putting on a show.

“In the past it was all about, ‘I cannot lose.’ Now I don’t care,” Belfort said. “I really don’t care what’s going to be the result as long as I … bring the best out of me. I think that’s what Dana’s expecting. ... Win or lose, I’m going to leave the Octagon wanting people to go back home and say, ‘Man, that was the best fight I’ve seen in my life. It was worth it.’”

Certainly both Belfort and Silva have the firepower to put on a classic. Silva is 12-0 in the UFC and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Belfort hasn’t lost in more than four years. In his September 2009 return to the UFC, “The Phenom” stopped Rich Franklin in 3:02.

“I respect Anderson Silva’s skills a lot, as a person too,” Belfort said. “It’s a competition. It’s going to be a battle. I hope I can leave with a victory. I’m going to fight for that, but I can promise you guys one thing: that I’m not going to back down. I’m going to do my best.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at :40) with Belfort.