Perennial UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort feels he's been waiting on the sidelines for too long and is ready for another crack at UFC gold.
Following 185-pound champ Chris Weidman's hard-fought win by decision over Lyoto Machida at UFC 175 Saturday night, "The Phenom" was quick to make it known on Twitter that he wants the next shot at "The All-American":
Now I want what I deserve, MY TITIE SHOT!!! Don't run away!! No excuses!! Agora eu quero o q eu… http://t.co/wZYj8OBVAT
— Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) July 6, 2014
Belfort was originally set to headline UFC 173 against Weidman in May, but was replaced by Machida shortly after the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced a ban on testosterone replacement therapy in February, per FOX Sports.
The Phenom was later pitted against Chael Sonnen in a light heavyweight contest at UFC 175, but "Uncle Chael" was removed from the card after failing a pre-fight drug test for anti-estrogenic drugs, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com.
The Brazilian slugger was again removed from the card when no suitable replacement could be found on short notice.
Whether or not Belfort was actually going to get his fighter's license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission remains a topic of discussion, since—by his own admission—he failed a random drug test in February for elevated testosterone levels.
Belfort was one of the most well-known users of testosterone replacement therapy prior to the controversial treatment banned by the NSAC.
The legitimacy of the 37-year-old's usage was a hot topic in the fight community due to his winning ways and muscular physique—not to mention that the former UFC light heavyweight champ failed a drug test for an anabolic steroid in October 2006, per MMA Weekly.
For the record, Belfort hasn't fought on American soil since August of 2011 and had a TRT usage exemption for his five fights contested after that date, a fact that isn't lost on fellow middleweight contender Tim Kennedy:
Leave @vitorbelfort out of title contender discussions. He hasn't fought clean in a decade or in the US in 3 years. #PED#TRT#UFC175
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 6, 2014
Is Belfort the most deserving of the next UFC title shot at 185 pounds, or will he be passed up again for someone like Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Kennedy, Luke Rockhold or Gegard Mousasi?
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
