UFC on FX 8 in Brazil:
Belfort vs. Rockhold
Date: May 18, 2013
Venue: Arena Jaraguá
Location: Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil

UFC FX 8 Articles

UFC FX 8 Videos

Main Bouts (on FX):
-Vitor Belfort (22-10; #2 Middleweight) vs. Luke Rockhold (10-1)
-Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (17-3) vs. Chris Camozzi (19-5)
-Rafael dos Anjos (18-6) vs. Evan Dunham (14-3)
-Rafael Natal (15-4-1) vs. João Zeferino (13-4)

Preliminary Bouts (on Fuel TV):
-Hacran Dias (21-1-1) vs. Nik Lentz (23-5-2)
-Francisco Trinaldo (12-2) vs Mike Rio (9-1)
-Gleison Tibau (35-9) vs. John Cholish (8-2)
-Paulo Thiago (14-5) vs. Michel Prazeres (16-0)
-Yuri Alcantara (26-4) vs. Iliarde Santos (27-6-1)
-Fabio Maldonado (18-6) vs. Roger Hollet (13-4)

Preliminary Bouts (on Facebook):
-John Lineker (20-6) vs. Azamat Gashimov (7-2)
-Jussier Formiga (14-2) vs. Chris Cariaso (14-4)
-Lucas Martins (11-1) vs. Jeremy Larsen (8-3)

UFC on FX 8 Belfort vs. Rockhold Start Times:
Preliminary Bouts on Facebook: 4:35 p.m. ET / 1:35 p.m. PT
Preliminary Bouts on Fuel TV: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
Main Card on FX: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

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Article source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fx-8-in-brazil-belfort-vs-rockhold

Former UFC light heavyweight titleholder Vitor Belfort rejuvenated his career when he dropped down to the middleweight division in 2008.  Since making the move, “The Phenom” has only been defeated by Anderson Silva at 185-pounds.

His success at middleweight came under recent scrutiny when it was revealed that the 36-year-old Brazilian uses testosterone replacement therapy.

Athletes can request a therapeutic use exemption to use TRT, but what makes Belfort’s use more controversial than others who have been granted the exemption is that he tested positive to the banned substance 4-Hydroxytestosterone in 2006.

Having a previous positive test would rule out a therapeutic exemption by some athletic commissions, but he’s able to use TRT in his home country of Brazil.

Belfort asserts that he isn’t doing anything illegal.

“I don’t have much to talk about it.  It’s the rules.  I’m following the rules and it’s fight time.  TRT doesn’t win fights.  A lot of guys on TRT are losing fights,” he said during the UFC on FX 8 pre-fight press conference on Thursday.  “It’s hard work.  People that know me know how hard I work, and I’m just following the rules and doing everything legal.”

His UFC on FX 8 opponent, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, doesn’t agree with the use of TRT by any athlete, and definitely not by Belfort. But he’s stated that TRT isn’t an issue and he knew about Belfort’s use of it well before signing the bout agreement.

The topic has been brought up so often that Belfort has refused to field questions on the issue and says he’s just focused on the fight at hand.

“I’m focused on winning,” he said.  “I definitely know I’m ready and focused on this fight.”

Rockhold says he’s done his homework on Belfort and knows what to expect when the Octagon door closes behind them on Saturday, but Belfort believes he has changed his fighting style and is ever evolving, making it difficult to know what to expect.

“Those who have known me for a long time and see me today have no idea about what I have changed,” said Belfort.  “It’s as the bible says, a thousand years is as if it were a day.  If you give me one day to improve, I’ll do that.  What’s important in life is to grow, to be humble.

“We never really know what we can learn.  We never know what we can’t learn, so I believe it has to be like a silent storm.  That’s what a fight is. Right when we are in there, that’s when we will decide things,” he added.

“I’m ready and I’ve done everything that I can.  Now I’ve crushed all the grapes and now I just need to drink the wine.”

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Article source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/vitor-belfort-trt-doesnt-win-fights

Courtesy of Damon Martin and official MMAWeekly.com content partner Bleacher Report.

Jon Jones may be healing a mangled toe, but he’s already eyeing the record he so desperately wants to break to be considered the greatest light heavyweight champion in MMA history.

In his last fight at UFC 159 in April, Jones suffered a horrific injury during his victory over Chael Sonnen.  The dislocated toe looked like something out of a horror film, but amazingly enough, the diagnosis wasn’t nearly as bad as the image that showed Jones’ toe dangling from his foot.

Now a few weeks removed from the injury, Jones is healing quickly.  If time permits, he might even surprise a few people with the schedule he keeps this year.

“Everything’s good.  He’s got to be in the boot for about six weeks, about five weeks now left to go and then he gets to take it off and he’ll test his foot and we’ll see what’s next,” Jones’ manager Malki Kawa told MMA’s Great Debate Radio this week.

“For right now, he’s just anxious to get that boot off and make sure his toe is good to go.  As long as he feels good coming off that boot and when he goes to put pressure on it, he can walk without a boot, and his toe is strong and everything’s good there then it shouldn’t (delay his return).  One thing about Jon is he’s not going to take any chances whatsoever.  As long as his foot heals properly and he’s got no issues with it, it shouldn’t delay anything.

“I’ll just tell you this, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jon fights two more times this year.  That’s very aggressive and I know that’s crazy, but it’s something that he discussed with me and we talked about it.  I told Superman to relax a little bit, you’re injured right now, but he’s got an aggressive timeline in his head. Certain goals and accomplishments that he wants and we’re looking to get that record.”

The record that Kawa is speaking about is the one currently held by Jones and former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz for title defenses in the 205-pound division.  Both fighters defended the belt five times, but with one more win in the weight class, the record would belong solely to Jones.

It’s something the UFC’s reigning light heavyweight champion has talked about numerous times, and that goal is still his top priority.  While there may be a move to heavyweight one day or even the potential for superfights in the future, Jones wants to be defined as the best ever at 205 pounds before moving on to conquer the rest of the MMA world.

“The truth and the fact of the matter is before we can talk any superfight or any move in weight class or anything to that effect, Jon Jones wants to win his next fight at light heavyweight, he wants to break that record, he wants to own that record solely.  He wants to be considered the greatest light heavyweight of all time at this point,” Kawa stated.  “I already think he is the greatest light heavyweight of all time, record or no record.

“That being said, he’s got to win that next fight, after that me and Jon will sit down and we’ll take the next route and see what the next opportunity is for his career.”

While Jones fighting at light heavyweight may seem to squash everyone’s hopes for a potential superfight later this year against middleweight champion Anderson Silva, it doesn’t necessarily eliminate that from happening.  If Jones vs. Silva were to take place, it’s likely the Brazilian legend would be the one moving up to 205 pounds to accept the challenge.

Silva is currently locked up at middleweight for his fight at UFC 162 against Chris Weidman, so Kawa and Jones are looking forward to a challenge in the light heavyweight division and the crop of current contenders.

“His next fight is at light heavyweight and his next fight will be against somebody that’s considered the No. 1 guy,” Kawa stated.  “He’ll get that next defense and once he breaks that record, after that all the speculation can happen.

“I think he really wants to fight Alexander Gustafsson next.  Alexander called him out and I think Jon has said in numerous interviews that he would like to fight him next.  We’re just going to wait and see what happens.”

Despite his foot being in a protective boot, Jones isn’t slowing down in his off time.  The 205-pound champion has been traveling the country with his manager looking at new potential sponsors and endorsement deals while letting his toe heal.  The business of Jon Jones is flourishing just like his fight career, and the sky is the limit for this talented and gifted athlete.

Check out more UFC coverage from official MMAWeekly.com content partner Bleacher Report and Damon Martin.

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Article source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/jon-jones-may-fight-twice-more-this-year-ufc-light-heavyweight-record-foremost-in-his-mind

The 26 fighters participating on the UFC on FX 8 fight card in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, on Saturday, officially weighed-in on Friday at the Arena Jaragua.

Former Strikeforce middleweight titleholder Luke Rockhold will make his UFC debut against former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in the main event. Also making his promotional debut is another former Strikeforce middleweight titleholder Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.  He takes on Chris Camozzi.

Belfort and Rockhold had to be held back when they squared off after stepping off the scale, but both fighters easily made weight. Each man weighed 186 pounds, the limit for their five-round middleweight bout.

Jacare and Camozzi also both hit the mark at 186 pounds for their fight.

The only fighter missing the mark was preliminary card fighter John Cholish, who weighed 156.2 pounds, putting him 0.2 pound over the limit for his lightweight bout. He was given one hour to lose the excess weight.

Main Bouts (on FX):
-Vitor Belfort (186) vs. Luke Rockhold (186)
-Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (186) vs. Chris Camozzi (186)
-Rafael dos Anjos (156) vs. Evan Dunham (156)
-Rafael Natal (186) vs. João Zeferino (185)

Preliminary Bouts (on Fuel TV):
-Hacran Dias (146) vs. Nik Lentz (146)
-Francisco Trinaldo (154) vs Mike Rio (156)
-Gleison Tibau (156) vs. John Cholish (156.2)
-Paulo Thiago (170) vs. Michel Prazeres (171)
-Yuri Alcantara (136) vs. Iliarde Santos (134)
-Fabio Maldonado (205) vs. Roger Hollet (204)

Preliminary Bouts (on Facebook):
-John Lineker (126) vs. Azamat Gashimov (126)
-Jussier Formiga (126) vs. Chris Cariaso (126)
-Lucas Martins (153) vs. Jeremy Larsen (155)

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Article source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fx-8-belfort-vs-rockhold-weigh-in-results

Sam Sicilia is still a UFC fighter.

“He is not cut. He’s actually still on the roster,” Sicilia’s manager, Nima Safapour of Alchemist Management, told MMAWeekly.com on Thursday.

Sicilia was initially reported as being among a number of fighters that were released last week, a list topped by Leonard Garcia and Bart Palaszewski.

Sicilia lost his last fight, to Maximo Blanco at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale on April 13. That gave him back-to-back losses following his win over Cristiano Marcello at the TUF 15 Finale.

His overall record stands at 11-3, but he is just 1-2 during his brief UFC tenure.

Sicilia, however, will live to fight another day. He is currently recovering from a broken hand suffered in the Blanco bout, according to Safapour, who doesn’t expect his fighter to be sidelined for long.

“I anticipate for him to be back in the cage probably in the fall sometime.”

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Article source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/sam-sicilia-is-still-on-the-ufc-roster