A former Ultimate Fighting Championship great believes
that boxers have too many advantages when MMA fighters cross over
to the sweet science, and he wants to fix that.
“The Phenom” Vitor
Belfort spoke on Wednesday with ex-UFC fighter Carlos
Barreto and Sherdog about MMA’s past, present and future. When
the 46-year-old born in Rio de Janeiro discussed the early years of
the sport along with fellow Carlson Gracie student Barreto, he
presented a hybrid glove he created. This glove, similar to a
training glove from a traditional martial art like karate, contains
padding on top like a boxing glove but adds finger holes to allow
for grappling. The weight of the glove will depend on the weight of
the combatants, ranging from eight to 12 ounces. According to
Belfort, it would even improve the odds for MMA fighters who
traverse to boxing.
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“The confrontation between boxing and MMA is already a huge
success, but the time for boxing fighters to make some concessions
has come,” Belfort declared. “And I’m not talking about takedowns,
kicks, elbows and submissions, my proposal is the glove where you
can grab, clinch [around the neck] and do hand-fighting, but it
doesn’t permit [a] finger in the eye. That’s the legacy I want to
leave for the sport, [making a hybrid] boxing martial art would
join boxing and MMA allowing hand-fighting [and] clinches. I have
no doubt that the fight would be much more dynamic for the fans and
with risks for both sides.”
Barreto quickly agreed and pitched that more obstacles should be in
place so that MMA fighters have other avenues to victory beyond
punching.
“I’m talking about more hybrid challenges a long time,” Barreto
noted. “If they don’t want kicks and ground fighting, at least
takedowns.”
Belfort interrupted, fired up about how boxers seemed stuck in
their traditions.
“Forget about that I tried the use of that glove with Oscar De La
Hoya and Roy Jones Jr. only allowing hand fighting and they denied
immediately,” Belfort complained. “But it must change. [Conor]
McGregor, myself, Anderson
[Silva], [Francis]
Ngannou, we all accept to fight 100% in their rules; it’s time
for boxers to take some risks too.”
When the topic of Ngannou came up, as the former UFC heavyweight
kingpin will face Anthony
Joshua on March 8 in a boxing match, Belfort suggested that his
glove idea would make a huge difference.
“I have no doubt that if Ngannou fought Anthony
Joshua with that glove, allowing hand-fighting, he [would] win
via knockout with an uppercut,” the Brazilian guaranteed.
Belfort plans on continuing his push to get his glove design
accepted or approved by the boxing community, and he will be
getting back in the ring soon whether he can use that glove or not.
He would not reveal who his opponent would be but promised a huge
name.
“Unfortunately, I can’t give the name yet,” Belfort stated. “All I
can say is that he is one of the biggest boxing legends of all time
and also that we are negotiating to fight in the world fighting
capital [of Las Vegas].”
While he could not say who his upcoming foe would be, he did rule
out the name Wanderlei
Silva, one of his bigger rivals throughout his career. Silva
was recently named as an upcoming inductee into the UFC Hall of
Fame, and even “The Phenom” had to give it up to “The Axe
Murderer.”
“Totally fair,” he remarked. “I [was] moved to see Wanderlei being
recognized for all he did for the sport. We have to face the fact
that if it was not for me, Anderson and Wanderlei, the sport would
[not have reached] the current [point where it is] in Brazil.”