UFC legend proposes Jon Jones vs Anthony Joshua showdown with novel rule adjustments
Unconventional Combat: Vitor Belfort Pitches His Hybrid Glove and Epic Showdown
Former UFC champ Vitor Belfort is shaking up the fight world with a fresh concept: a revolutionary gloves design, and a dream match that'd break records.
Belfort, famously known for his stint in the UFC octagon, is fixated on a unique combination of mixed martial arts (MMA) and boxing. He's confident that his new patent—a glove with traditional boxing padding on top and finger-exposed grips for clinching—will revolutionize pay-per-views, ought to impress UFC CEO Dana White.
Whether it's Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, Belfort dreams of pitting them against boxing heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, in a fight like no other.
"I'd challenge Jones to box Joshua with these gloves. It wouldn't be dirty boxing, he'd just use his hands," beams Belfort on The Ariel Helwani show.
Box-MMA Hybrid Dream Match
Belfort previously urged Jones to steer clear of a tussle with Aspinall for UFC unification. Now, he proposes a more spectacular option: a hybrid box-MMA event.
The rules? A dozen three-minute rounds, traditional boxing for striking, but clinching allowed, with a twist: fighters can grab their opponent's hand and head and punch while in the clinch. This dynamic blend, the Brazilian believes, would shatter PPV records and go viral.
The Visionary's Legacy
Not one to shy away from audacious plans, Belfort prefers to spur things forward. UFC President White leaped into boxing promotion earlier this year, alongside WWE chief Nick Khan and Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. Still, Belfort advocates for a merger of MMA and boxing, leaving boxing versus MMA face-offs behind.
"It's time to level up and fuse. Jones should be the man to try my gloves, for a potentially unsurpassed pay-per-view showdown," emphasizes Belfort.
Acknowledged as a pioneer in MMA, Belfort has traded bruising blows with legends like Jones, Silva, and Bisping. The Brazilian fought in MMA for 22 years, racking up a record 13 first-round victories in the UFC (most in UFC history), before hanging up the gloves in 2018 against Lyoto Machida.
The unparalleled UFC 12 winner, now an UFC Hall of Famer, is now reemerging to shine spotlights on his ambitious plan.
MMA and Boxing Reforged
"The boxing clinch won't trouble MMA fighters. However, the MMA clinch is different. Let's set aside kicks, takedowns, and elbows. Instead, let's see who's got better technique and endurance", states Belfort dreamily.
Belfort plans to propose his vision to Dana White, urging him to abandon boxing versus MMA matches, and instead, promote unified contests like the proposed Jones vs. Joshua showdown. Eyes on the future, Belfort has big dreams stirring, and he isn't ready to hang up his gloves... yet.
Vitor Belfort envisions a unique, unified contest between MMA and boxing, proposing a hybrid event that combines both disciplines in an alternative pay-per-view showdown. In this proposed bout, he dreams of seeing fighters like Jon Jones employing his patented gloves in a match against boxing heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, breaking traditional boundaries of combat sports. Belfort also suggests that the rules of this contest would be distinct, featuring traditional boxing striking and allowed clinching with a twist, allowing fighters to grasp their opponents' hands and head while punishing them. The aim of this innovative fusion, as Belfort sees it, is to surpass current pay-per-view records and gain widespread viral attention.
