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After Wanderlei Silva posted a fake fight card meant as ‘a fun mockup intended for internal use,’ Vitor Belfort is looking to make the fantasy rematch of their 1998 UFC Brazil bout a reality.
It’s all just fun and games until someone gets hurt.
The MMA community found itself a little confused earlier this week when Wanderlei Silva dropped an advertisement for a combat sports event featuring some of MMA’s biggest stars of yesteryear. Allegedly taking place at the ‘Tyson Ranch’ on November 21st, the event teased bouts between Vitor Belfort & Wanderlei Silva, Tito Ortiz & Rashad Evans, and Fabricio Werdum & Fedor Emelianenko (nevermind that Belfort’s and Evans’ names were both misspelled). It didn’t take long for Silva to delete the post, however, and for the whole thing to be revealed as a hoax.
“While we appreciate the excitement over someday hosting a legendary fight card at Tyson Ranch, the flyer seen on social media is merely a fun mockup intended for internal use,” a spokesperson for Tyson Ranch informed Bloody Elbow. “Contrary to rumors, nobody has been approached and no events are in the works at this time. However, the dream lineup sure has caused some buzz around the MMA community.”
Fake news could still lead to a real fight, though. Especially since Silva’s role in publicizing the fantasy fight card seems to have really gotten under the skin of his advertised opponent, Victor Vitor Belfort.
“I’ll give you an advice, stop posting and start negotiating,” Belfort wrote in a post on Instagram (translation via MMA Fighting). “Your request has been accepted. Stop posting fake news posters and let’s get it done.”
Belfort’s post was accompanied by a video, in which the ‘Phenom’ urged Silva to start negotiations—saying that his manager, as well as ONE Championship president Chatri Sityodtong, have both reached out to Silva in an attempt to book the fight.
“It’s only up to (Silva) now,” Belfort said. “He has to start negotiating with (ONE). He has to start moving for this fight to happen. There’s no other way.
“He wants this fight, so let me give you some advice Wanderlei, get in touch with (ONE) and dedicate, brother. I’m waiting for you. Stop posting fake news and little posters and let’s fight. I’ve already accepted, you have to start moving now.”
The two men met only once in the cage over their long careers, at UFC Brazil back in 1998. Belfort picked up an emphatic first round KO in the fight. And although they both fought often in PRIDE and the UFC in the years following, their competitive paths never crossed again.
Silva last competed in MMA back in 2018, where he lost to another rival from the past, former UFC champ Rampage Jackson at Bellator 206. That fight was just his second since an inglorious exit from the UFC, where Silva was handed a lifetime ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (overturned in 2015) for refusing to submit to a drug test ahead of a planned fight with Chael Sonnen following their TUF Brazil coaching stint. Coincidentally, before a failed drug test ultimately ended Sonnen’s career in the Octagon, the UFC tabbed Vitor Belfort to replace Silva against the ‘American Gangster’ after Silva’s removal from the bout.
Belfort has not fought since officially retiring from MMA in 2018, off the back of a KO loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 224. However, in early 2019, Belfort signed a contract with ONE Championship. While his primary role with the Asian promotion appears to be as something of a brand ambassador, plans for Belfort to return to competition have been brewing for several months. Alain Ngalani has been tabbed as Belfort’s opponent for his MMA comeback, but a rematch against Silva would almost certainly draw more eyes if ONE can make it happen.
