Belfort

By FCF Staff

The bizarre week is continuing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as just one day after Dana White announced that Jon Jones would fight Lyoto Machida on September 22^nd, instead of Dan Henderson next weekend, that bout is no longer happening either.

The UFC announced over night that Machida has reportedly turned the opportunity to rematch Jones at UFC 152, and that former light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort has agreed to take the fight.

The news comes as a surprise, not only because Belfort hasn’t fought at 205 pounds in over five years, but also because according to the trainer of Jones, Greg Jackson, the camp was willing to fight Chael Sonnen on September 22^nd.

Jones turned down a bout with Sonnen next Saturday, after the former middleweight offered to step in for the injured Dan Henderson. The light-heavyweight champion’s decision prompted the UFC to cancel the September 1^st event.

When Full Contact Fighter spoke with Jackson yesterday, the trainer acknowledged that he had advised Jones to not fight Sonnen on such short notice, but said they would be willing to fight the outspoken fighter at UFC 152.

Speaking via his Twitter account, Belfort stated:

“I will fight jones I want to thank he`s camping and him to accept this big challenge for me I am so happy to deliver a big show for the whole world.”

Belfort (21-9) is coming off back-to-back wins over Yoshihiro Akiyama and Anthony Johnson after being stopped by middleweight champion Anderson Silva last February.