Updated: Vitor Belfort Teases Retirement, Says ‘The Phenom’ Is Back

It appeared as if the 20-year-long MMA career of former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort had come to a close earlier today after back-to-back losses to Gegard Mousasi and “Jacare” Souza.

Belfort made the following statement in an Instagram post, making it seem that he may have decided to end the fighting chapter of his life:

“Who does not recognize your own mistakes it is not worthy to lead yourself, even less the people around him.
I recognize that I am far from perfect, I am only human; a human being.
Once a poet in Brazil wrote:
” – may love be eternal while it lasts.
It is a beautiful fragment of a poem, but a truly consider it naive.
If I may and with all do respect, I would re write it like this:
” – may love be eternal while we nurture it.”
I confess that I need to nurture my competitive will inside the Octagon. I must cherish that fire inside of me again.
Having recognized that to myself;
I DECIDED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BURN THAT FLAME AGAIN!
Thanks a lot for all the support and advices. But I decided that I will end this chapter of my life looking at the mirror and recognizing myself.”

However, it appears that is not the case, as Belfort told MMA Junkie he was not retired and actually wants a fight soon:

“I’m not retired,” Belfort said emphatically. “I want to fight again soon.

“I am driven to get back on my feet and honor the nickname I so proudly carry. ‘The Phenom’ is back.”

Belfort is supposedly back and ready to return to his hard-charging days as the 19-year-old “Phenom” who took the UFC and the sport of MMA by storm with his 44-second KO of Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil.

With less-than-competitive losses to top competition piling up, Belfort will face an uphill climb to accomplish that.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLmKMKljBqv/?taken-by=vitorbelfort