Vitor Belfort :: TATAME
With three punches in 37 seconds, Vitor Belfort knock Matt Lindland out and celebrated his second victory in Affliction, which took place, in California, USA, last Saturday (24). Still in the United States, the fighter spoke with TATAME.com about his future in the event and revealed: his plans, now, also involve the professional Boxing. "It was perfect. I trained hard, was so focused that nothing was going through my min. Now I’ll start to fight professional Boxing. I’ll have a meeting with Oscar de La Hoya and we’ll see that. It has no mystery", said Vitor, who also celebrated the victory over Matt, Renato "Babalu” and Rogério Nogueira’s victories, the dream of fighting against Fedor Emelianenko and more.
What did you think about the victory over Matt Lindland? Were you surprised that it was so fast?
It was perfect. I trained very hard, was so focused that nothing was going through my mind. The way the victory would come we would only know at the time, but the best way to show that was with my fists, with skill. That didn’t surprise me, I expected that.
Unfortunately, Matt was out in the ring for a while and left everybody concerned. Did you spoke with him after the fight?
We were worried. I called Dan Henderson yesterday and he’s well now, he took head exams and everything is good. Now I'm here with my wife and daughter... She is here breastfeeding her and sending kisses for all children (laughs). Now I’ll enjoy a little vacation in Hawaii, this week we have many meetings here, I’ll work a bit and then enjoy with my family.
What do you expect for you in Affliction?
I was thinking yesterday... I want to make a fight against Fedor (Emelianenko), because my category doesn’t have anyone in Affliction yet. I think it’d be quite interesting, as well as Matt (Lindland) fought him. I never thought he was unbeatable, but he’s very strategic and the way to beat him is striking up and then go to the ground. (Andrei) Arlovski lost that fight for puerility. A man with a good catch and good hands can win Fedor. He doesn’t like to take a punch and showed that against Mark Hunt, and now he won luckily. Arlovski lost to himself.
Did you talk with Tom Atencio (vice-president of Affliction) about this fight against Fedor?
No, I didn’t. I thought about this yesterday. It doesn’t need to be for the belt, it can be a normal fight, simply for the challenge, I like that... Although I have to lose 20 pounds to the category (middleweight), I see that I’m very strong and technical, I think it’d be a challenge to fight Fedor, an opportunity, as we are in the same event. I’m a fast guy. Although he has a strong hand, I train with hard guys and it wouldn’t be a surprise. He’s a great fighter, but there are ways to beat him and I believe that.
What did you think about Rogério Nogueira e Renato Babalu’s victories at the same night?
I thought they were wonderful. I was up there watching Rogério’s fight and I was very happy, I cheer a lot for him. He’s a great friend and, when he, Rodrigo (Minotauro), Anderson (Silva) and Paulão (Filho) fights, I’m very tense, because we train together and we like each other a lot. We know the sacrifice that is the life of fighter and I was very emotional. Babalu’s fight was one before mine, and when I saw he was putting together and going down, I saw that was already won. Babalu is very good, complete.
Do you think of fighting for light heavyweight while Affliction has no names in your category?
It seems that Tito Ortiz is coming too, is a fight that I also want to do... It has many options, but I’m also happy in this weight. Let's see, is a question for my manager, Fabiano, and the promoters... Now I will start to fight professional Boxing. I will have a meeting with Oscar de La Hoya and we will see that. It has no mystery. I won Matt Lindland, a top fighter, so I’ll wait the opportunities to appear.
Vitor Belfort Wants Fedor Emelianenko 
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