RIO DE JANEIRO — Vitor Belfort revealed that two concussions suffered in coaching pressured him out of a boxing conflict with Wanderlei Silva on Sept. 27 in Sao Paulo, however Silva’s longtime coach Andre Dida doesn’t purchase his excuses.
Belfort was changed by former boxing world champion Acelino Freitas in the principle occasion of Spaten Combat Night time 2, and Dida informed MMA Combating after an open exercise session Sunday in Rio de Janeiro that he wish to see proof of the injury.
“Should you take any fighter 20 days earlier than competitors and have him bear a bunch of exams, you’ll discover he’s sparring, one thing will present up — a shoulder irritation, small accidents to the hand, there’s all the time one thing,” Dida mentioned. “It’s onerous for a fighter to struggle at his one hundred pc. In my view, Vitor needed to current a medical report, extra exams. Not simply [say], ‘the physician mentioned this and that.’ It’s too backstage, proper?
“I work with high-level UFC fighters and when one thing occurs you need to ship all of the exams to the promotion,” he continued. “And present it to the followers. ‘Look, right here’s the damage.’ Publish it on Instagram. Make folks really feel your ache. Vitor hasn’t made anybody really feel his ache so it’s all too doubtful. I believe Vitor ought to come out and make clear issues for his followers as a result of I don’t consider what was posted. I believe he actually chickened out, he give up. And it’s not a great search for him. .. I believe Vitor didn’t need it as unhealthy as Wanderlei.”
Brazilian neurosurgeon Dr. Jorge Pagura was quoted on a press launch despatched by Spaten Combat Night time on Sept. 4, after information broke of Belfort’s withdrawal, stating that the veteran fighter “developed a concussion throughout coaching, with important signs over the past episode, related to abnormalities in his imaging research. As a result of incident, there is no such thing as a estimate for his return in time to take part within the struggle on Sept. 27.”
Silva, who questioned Belfort’s hand damage when “The Phenom” was pressured off their UFC 147 rematch again in 2012, says his rival must work on his confidence after one other struggle cancellation. They met for the primary time underneath the UFC banner in 1998, and Belfort gained by knockout in simply 44 seconds.
“He must do what he’s all the time speaking about,” Silva mentioned on a press convention Sunday. “He’s all the time speaking about energy, perseverance, optimism, after which does that. That reveals how necessary is the psychological half for the athlete. An athlete must be assured, to consider in himself. He should know what he can do. He ought to stand in entrance of the mirror and say, ‘I’m a lion! I’m a lion!’ Something, proper? Rent a psychologist, do remedy, proper? However this struggle is scheduled for subsequent yr. Like I mentioned I’d be right here on the 27, I’m right here. I’ll be right here subsequent time, too. And that point, I hope he doesn’t run.”
His coach agrees and Dida believes Belfort solely comes out wanting worse after this newest struggle cancellation.
“I’m pals with Wanderlei for a very long time,” Dida mentioned, “I understand how a lot he wished to run that again and say, ‘You realize that one was luck and your luck is over. I’m right here to indicate I’m higher than you.’ This isn’t the primary time Vitor is out of a struggle with Wanderlei. There have been others earlier than, and now he’s out once more. It’s not a great search for Vitor. Vitor has all the time talked about that win, however everyone knows how scared he was backstage earlier than that struggle. And now he had the struggle in entrance of him and give up once more.”
“Popó” Freitas, the alternative opponent, is a 41-2 skilled boxer and one of many all-time nice Brazilians within the sport. Dida mentioned his plan is for Silva to beat Freitas on Saturday and provides him a speedy rematch, then face Belfort sooner or later. Nevertheless, Dida jokes that Belfort would possibly by no means struggle once more after watching Silva go 2-0 towards such an skilled boxer.
“It will not look good for him, however I consider Vitor wouldn’t let his followers down. We observe Vitor, he is aware of that,” Dida mentioned. “It’s an excellent truthful struggle. Two MMA fighters, identical age, they’ve a historical past, a rivalry. It’s one of the best state of affairs potential. Wanderlei would struggle him within the streets, wherever, with no coaching. Put a hat on the bottom, deposit the cash, and let’s struggle. That is private for Wanderlei.”
