It seems that MMA legend Vitor Belfort isn’t willing to hang up his gloves for good just yet after all as he’s just signed for Asia’s leading promotion, ONE FC.
“It is with great pleasure and honor that I welcome Vitor Belfort into the ONE Championship family,” Chatri Sityodtong CEO of ONE FC, said in a press release. “Vitor is hands down, one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. He is a legend across the world, and we are thrilled to have him as ONE expands into South America. A World Champion in multiple weight divisions, Vitor is a massive addition to our ever-growing roster of ONE Championship elite athletes. I cannot wait to see his explosive power and his exciting knockout finishes inside the ONE cage.”
Belfort retired from the sport in May of last year after suffering a KO loss to Lyoto Machida in the UFC. At that point he had won only once in his past five Octagon outings.
However, just shy of his 42nd birthday, ‘The Phenom’ is now excited by the prospect of returning to the sport he loves.
“I have been in this sport since I was 19 years old, and have been fortunate enough to witness its growth and evolution firsthand,” Belfort said. “I am grateful to so many for this incredible opportunity. First of all, I would like to thank my wife Joana and my children, Davi, Victoria and Kyara for their infinite love and support. My management, Lloyd Pierson and Ballengee Group, guided me through this process with unmatched expertise.I would like to of course thank Chatri Sityodtong and ONE Championship, who gave me this great honor to fight in front of the Asian audience. ONE Championship is the Home of Martial Arts, and I plan to become a ONE World Champion in front of some of the best martial arts fans in the world.”
