4. Redemption for the Phenom
The story has been told before in the UFC. Fighters that helped build the sport in the early days of the UFC make their return as nostalgic fans get excited. That excitement rarely lasts though as time and again once dominant fighters like Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie, Mark Coleman and Tito Ortiz return to the Octagon and get served with definite proof that elite level fighting has passed them by. One man, a Phenom dared to re-write that story. That mans name was Vitor Belfort. One of the most exciting and well-loved fighters of the early days making his debut back at UFC 12 Vitor now stands alone as the last remnant of an era many fans would love to revisit. What if somehow he managed to pull off the impossible and win UFC gold again? Fellow What Culture writer Chris O'Connell has already explained why Vitor shouldn't be considered as big an underdog as he is
here. Wouldnt the story be that much sweeter with the victory coming against the man who represents not just what the industry has become, but also what it will become, better than anyone? A Vitor victory unlikely as it may be would provide one of the most significant moments in UFC history. Add to that the always-exciting nature of the Phenoms fights no matter the outcome and this is a fight telling a story well worthy of a Pay Per View main event.
The story has been told before in the UFC. Fighters that helped build the sport in the early days of the UFC make their return as nostalgic fans get excited. That excitement rarely lasts though as time and again once dominant fighters like Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie, Mark Coleman and Tito Ortiz return to the Octagon and get served with definite proof that elite level fighting has passed them by. One man, a Phenom dared to re-write that story. That mans name was Vitor Belfort. One of the most exciting and well-loved fighters of the early days making his debut back at UFC 12 Vitor now stands alone as the last remnant of an era many fans would love to revisit. What if somehow he managed to pull off the impossible and win UFC gold again? Fellow What Culture writer Chris O'Connell has already explained why Vitor shouldn't be considered as big an underdog as he is here. Wouldnt the story be that much sweeter with the victory coming against the man who represents not just what the industry has become, but also what it will become, better than anyone? A Vitor victory unlikely as it may be would provide one of the most significant moments in UFC history. Add to that the always-exciting nature of the Phenoms fights no matter the outcome and this is a fight telling a story well worthy of a Pay Per View main event.