Vitor Belfort will be the next former-UFC star to fight on Triller’s Triad Combat show after agreeing to go up against decorated boxing veteran Chad Dawson in February.
The 44-year-old Belfort headlined a previous Triller show back in September, decisively winning an exhibition bout against legendary boxer Evander Holyfield by way of TKO at the 1.49min mark of the very first round.
It’s an accomplishment that flatters to deceive however given that the 59-year-old Holyfield really had no business being allowed to fight at his age and stage as though he at first glance have appeared physically in shape to fight, his labored, unsteady movement and inability to take a punch made the bout tough to watch for as long as it lasted.
That shouldn’t be an issue against Dawson however as though he may no longer be the fighter he once was at 39-years-old, he is only two-years removed from his last boxing match, which saw him claim a unanimous decision win over Denis Grachev to win the vacant WBC-USNBC light-heavyweight title.
While he was never a major draw in the boxing ring, Dawson does hold wins over the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver (twice) and Glen Johnson (twice) and holds an overall 36-5 (+2nc) record.
So this will be a tougher test for Belfort, who appeared to be heading into retirement following a KO loss to Lyoto Machida in the UFC back in 2018, but has since been lured back into fighting via the boxing ring.
However, Triad Combat isn’t a pure-boxing event as the rules have been slightly modified and takes place in a triangular ring, enabling MMA fighters to utilize moves such as superman punches and spinning backfists as well as being able to strike from the clinch, though many other hallmarks of mixed martial arts such as kicks, elbows, takedowns, wrestling and jiu-jitsu are still illegal.
