About Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort, one of the greatest fighters of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in the world, moved to Belo Horizonte in July 2005 bringing his family - Joana Prado, his wife and son David.
The athlete who has won 14 world titles in two MMA main events on the planet, eight times winner of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in the United States, five times winner of the Pride in Japan and champion of Cage Rage in London in December 2005, and in 2006 began his professional boxing career winning the first victory in the heavyweight event in Salvador Minotauro Fight III.
He started practicing martial arts for 8 years old, and already at age 16 became a best Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the blue stripe in the categories of weight and absolute, where athletes compete in all weights. A year later moved to the United States with his then coach, Carlson Gracie. It was the Jiu-Jitsu youngest planet to receive the black belt, at seventeen.
In 1996, only 19, won his first MMA tournament (then MMA) in Hawaii - the Super Bowl - to defeat John Hess, an opponent with more than 2 feet tall and 150 kg in just 17 seconds fight. In the same year he won the Main Event of the World: the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) at heavyweight by defeating knockout fighters Tra Telligman (105kg), and Scott Ferrous (160kg) on the same night. The two fights were completed in about 1 minute each. In addition to large and heavy, both were more experienced with a respectable cartel. Vitor came to be called since then "The Phenom" - the phenomenon - the name by which it is known today. He is considered the athlete with the fastest hands in the world in this sport.
In October 1997, the athlete knocked out in 53 seconds one of the most famous and respected fighters in the MMA world, David Tank Abbott (140kg) on one of the most-watched fights of all time. In December of that year, the athlete was UFC champion XVI - event held in Japan - when he beat Joe Charles (115kg), using techniques of jiu-jitsu.
On October 16, 1998, the UFC was held in Brazil. Vitor Belfort faced one of the greatest fighters of today, another Brazilian Wanderlei Silva, who came from string several victories. Vitor won the fight in 53 seconds in one of the most spectacular knockouts seen before, an extraordinary sequence of 26 punches in 19 seconds. Until the current date Vitor remains the only fighter in the world to knock out Wanderlei Silva.
In 1999, Vitor fought in Japan with the Japanese Kazushi Sakuraba. In that match, he broke his hand at the beginning of the fight, which led to the first defeat of his career. Back in Brazil, had surgery to rebuild the ligaments of his left hand.
On June 4, 2000, has recovered from surgery, Victor returned to the MMA to join the fight again on another major event, the Pride IX, held in Japan won the battle for points in a match of 20 minutes, which left without action the Dutch Gilbert Yvel, 105 kg in August of that year he fought against the Japanese Daijiro Matsui, again in Japan, and also won on points in 20 minutes, divided into two rounds.
In March 2001 Vitor returned to Pride in Japan, and fought against American Bobby Southworth, returning to win in spectacular fashion by finishing with a stroke of strangulation in just three minutes and ten seconds. In May of that year Vitor fought in Pride XIV against American Heath Hering and once again won the title by points in a hard struggle, lasting 20 minutes.
In June 2003, Las Vegas, Vitor won the American Marvin Eastman by KO in less than 1 minute, surprising everyone with blows of MuayThai, sport hitherto unknown to the public in the athlete's arsenal.
In January 2004, Victor left for Las Vegas to compete for the championship belt of the world against American Randy Couture. Vitor won the fight again in less than 1 minute.
In December 2005, the biggest MMA event in Europe, held in London: Cage Rage. In the main battle, Vitor faced Frenchman Antony Rhea, considered a great promise, since after a call to fight in Japan's presence in the Brazilian event sold for the first time, all available tickets. In a show that can be considered perhaps the most beautiful fight of his career, Belfort defeated Rhea at the beginning of the second round by knockout. In April 2006 Vitor debuted in professional boxing event in Minotauro Fight III in Salvador, where in less than 1 minute knocked the experienced Bahia josemario Neves.
On 1 July 2006 Vitor returned to the ring with the Pride victory over Japanese veteran TAKARASHI in a fight that lasted less than 40 seconds.
The image of the athlete Vitor Belfort goes far beyond the area of sports: Beauty, Health, Victory, Overcoming, Garra, Youth, Courage, Perseverance, Happiness, Discipline, Faith, and more features are always linked to Vitor. The athlete aims to preach peace, dedicated to social campaigns, making a point to separate the image of the fight, fights and reprehensible attitudes.
The athlete who has won 14 world titles in two MMA main events on the planet, eight times winner of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in the United States, five times winner of the Pride in Japan and champion of Cage Rage in London in December 2005, and in 2006 began his professional boxing career winning the first victory in the heavyweight event in Salvador Minotauro Fight III.
He started practicing martial arts for 8 years old, and already at age 16 became a best Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the blue stripe in the categories of weight and absolute, where athletes compete in all weights. A year later moved to the United States with his then coach, Carlson Gracie. It was the Jiu-Jitsu youngest planet to receive the black belt, at seventeen.
In 1996, only 19, won his first MMA tournament (then MMA) in Hawaii - the Super Bowl - to defeat John Hess, an opponent with more than 2 feet tall and 150 kg in just 17 seconds fight. In the same year he won the Main Event of the World: the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) at heavyweight by defeating knockout fighters Tra Telligman (105kg), and Scott Ferrous (160kg) on the same night. The two fights were completed in about 1 minute each. In addition to large and heavy, both were more experienced with a respectable cartel. Vitor came to be called since then "The Phenom" - the phenomenon - the name by which it is known today. He is considered the athlete with the fastest hands in the world in this sport.
In October 1997, the athlete knocked out in 53 seconds one of the most famous and respected fighters in the MMA world, David Tank Abbott (140kg) on one of the most-watched fights of all time. In December of that year, the athlete was UFC champion XVI - event held in Japan - when he beat Joe Charles (115kg), using techniques of jiu-jitsu.
On October 16, 1998, the UFC was held in Brazil. Vitor Belfort faced one of the greatest fighters of today, another Brazilian Wanderlei Silva, who came from string several victories. Vitor won the fight in 53 seconds in one of the most spectacular knockouts seen before, an extraordinary sequence of 26 punches in 19 seconds. Until the current date Vitor remains the only fighter in the world to knock out Wanderlei Silva.
In 1999, Vitor fought in Japan with the Japanese Kazushi Sakuraba. In that match, he broke his hand at the beginning of the fight, which led to the first defeat of his career. Back in Brazil, had surgery to rebuild the ligaments of his left hand.
On June 4, 2000, has recovered from surgery, Victor returned to the MMA to join the fight again on another major event, the Pride IX, held in Japan won the battle for points in a match of 20 minutes, which left without action the Dutch Gilbert Yvel, 105 kg in August of that year he fought against the Japanese Daijiro Matsui, again in Japan, and also won on points in 20 minutes, divided into two rounds.
In March 2001 Vitor returned to Pride in Japan, and fought against American Bobby Southworth, returning to win in spectacular fashion by finishing with a stroke of strangulation in just three minutes and ten seconds. In May of that year Vitor fought in Pride XIV against American Heath Hering and once again won the title by points in a hard struggle, lasting 20 minutes.
In June 2003, Las Vegas, Vitor won the American Marvin Eastman by KO in less than 1 minute, surprising everyone with blows of MuayThai, sport hitherto unknown to the public in the athlete's arsenal.
In January 2004, Victor left for Las Vegas to compete for the championship belt of the world against American Randy Couture. Vitor won the fight again in less than 1 minute.
In December 2005, the biggest MMA event in Europe, held in London: Cage Rage. In the main battle, Vitor faced Frenchman Antony Rhea, considered a great promise, since after a call to fight in Japan's presence in the Brazilian event sold for the first time, all available tickets. In a show that can be considered perhaps the most beautiful fight of his career, Belfort defeated Rhea at the beginning of the second round by knockout. In April 2006 Vitor debuted in professional boxing event in Minotauro Fight III in Salvador, where in less than 1 minute knocked the experienced Bahia josemario Neves.
On 1 July 2006 Vitor returned to the ring with the Pride victory over Japanese veteran TAKARASHI in a fight that lasted less than 40 seconds.
The image of the athlete Vitor Belfort goes far beyond the area of sports: Beauty, Health, Victory, Overcoming, Garra, Youth, Courage, Perseverance, Happiness, Discipline, Faith, and more features are always linked to Vitor. The athlete aims to preach peace, dedicated to social campaigns, making a point to separate the image of the fight, fights and reprehensible attitudes.