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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=301043" target="_blank">
Vitor Belfort: That kind of kick is hard to catch
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=301043" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=100&q=75&x=27&y=42&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=anderson-silva-vitor-belfort-02-06-11-19-8-36-510.jpg" /></a>
<strong class="ArticleSource">[tatame.com]</strong>
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Tatame.com: Anderson Silva used that kick against Dan Henderson. Did you prepared yourself for that kind of kick or were you caught by surprise?
Vitor Belfort: Look, that kind of kick is very hard to catch, it’s also hard to land it too, but he did it. He can use this kick, but the way he did is pretty difficult too, but he did it. I believe you only get lucky if you train. He trained and got lucky. But I think it’s something that if he tried to do in ten fights he would only be succeeded once (laughs). He deserved it.
I was doing fine in the fight, I was winning it, but I wasn’t lucky to land that punch, I missed it, that punch on the ground was really powerful. If it hits him… But it didn’t and his kick hit me hard, it was his night, I can’t help it.
Everything I promised to do, I did. I didn’t get the win, but it’s part of the sport. I’ll get my chance. We’ll work now so I get it the next time.
Tatame.com: Before the fight, there was much harsh talk, but at the end of the fight he complimented you. How was the meeting after the fight? Do you think that the trash talk was to promote the fight or do you really thing you had unsolved business and that it finished as the fight ended?
VB: Everyone acts under pressure on a different way. I always act the same way, independently of the pressure I’m under, of the moment I’m living in. Some people don’t, some people try to use the pressure when they’re nervous differently, they get anxious and want to do something with that. I don’t.
Many people ask why he did that, and I come here to say that I think that he tried to act like a character when he’s under pressure, but the real Anderson is a good guy. Many people don’t really like it, they get upset, don’t like the way he speaks… But I think it depends on the people around him, it depends on what they tell him to do, his values, these things. Sometimes he says something and people see it pejoratively, I don’t.
I know Anderson, I know he’s a good guy, I like him, he’s to be congratulated for his attitude at the end of the fight. If he’s a champion, he has to act like one: to be humble and, at the end of the fight, he showed it. He’s a champion, he won that fight, but I use to say: the competition goes on.
One win isn’t one moment. I’m sure that, soon, I’ll get my chance again. But we can’t take Anderson’s credits, he is to be congratulated, he’s the champion and he acted like one when it was over. He and all his camp, Joinha (Jorge Guimarães) and Ed Soares called me later to check out how I was doing… So, people are respectful, they got my message about respect. It was good for the sport,
Brazil grew a lot with it, we were part of history in Brazil with this fight. Me and Anderson grew a lot as people, it’s a joy. In the end, this fight marked the history of the country and now the sports is seen on a different way. Congratulations for him, and for all Brazilian that stopped the country to watch the fight, and that’s it. I’ve lost this fight, I’ve lost a battle, but not the war.
Tatame.com: In August there’ll be an edition of UFC in Rio, and you’re one of the greatest names in Brazilian MMA and one of the most expected names to be on this card. Do you think of fighting on this event, even if it’s six months from now, or do you want to fight before that?
VB: No. I want to fight before that. Of course I’ll fight in Brazil, but I want to fight earlier. I’ll talk to Lorenzo this week, then I’ll take a two-weeks-vacation and let’s move one because the war continues.
