Back to the MMA Newsfeed

Two decades later, Vitor Belfort's career still glints like gold

Vitor Belfort was just a little kid when jiu-jitsu master Carlson Gracie first heard about him. Gracie, one of the best trainers in the history of vale tudo and jiu-jitsu, saw some potential in this Rio de Janeiro native -- potential enough to call him Vitor Belfort Gracie.

With fast hands and slick a ground game, Belfort was selected to compete at one of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments at age 18. And 18 years later, "The Phenom" looks for his third UFC gold belt against undefeated middleweight kingpin Chris Weidman at UFC 187.