Vitor Belfort
Active 1997–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 86.0
Scouting report
Emerging as a teenage prospect under Carlson Gracie, Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort captured UFC championships in both tournament and light heavyweight formats with speed and knockouts. Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Belfort later reinvented his striking with spinning wheel kicks, his arsenal characterized by a 92 Boxing rating, 90 Kickboxing, and 86 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Belfort authored a resurgence at middleweight between 2011 and 2013, scoring a head-kick knockout of Michael Bisping in Sao Paulo, a spinning heel-kick knockout of Luke Rockhold in Jaragua do Sul, and a head-kick knockout of Dan Henderson in Goiania after dropping a title bout to Anderson Silva. His hand speed, combinations, and spinning kicks are reflected in a 91 Boxing and 85 Kickboxing.
In May 2015 at UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Belfort challenged Chris Weidman for the UFC Middleweight Championship, unleashing an opening flurry before succumbing to first-round ground-and-pound, then rebounded in November with a second head-kick knockout of Dan Henderson in Sao Paulo. His southpaw hand speed, blitz power, and kicking danger anchor his 92 Boxing and 90 Kickboxing.
Between 2016 and 2017, Belfort suffered stoppage losses to Ronaldo Souza and Gegard Mousasi, had a loss to Kelvin Gastelum overturned to a no contest, and then defeated former title challenger Nate Marquardt by unanimous decision at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro. His hand speed, southpaw counter-punching, and finishing instinct are reflected in an 86 Boxing and 82 Kickboxing score.
Vitor Belfort and the hands that arrived before the bell settled
Vitor Belfort entered the top promotion as a teenager, and for years his signature was blazing hand speed. His spinning heel kick knockout of Luke Rockhold is one of the more memorable finishes of the middleweight division. Pick him for the kind of first-round burst that can end a fight in seconds.
Belfort's attributes
Boxing. The top of his card. He throws fast combinations that come in flurries.
Kickboxing. Strong. Head kicks and spinning attacks are part of his arsenal.
Wrestling. Decent. He can defend takedowns, though he does not lean on them.
BJJ. Good. He holds a black belt in BJJ, and it shows when he scrambles.
Strength. Powerful. He hits hard with both hands.
Durability. The chin has been found. He has been knocked out by a variety of opponents.
Cardio. The weak spot. His best work comes early, and he can slow in later rounds.
Fight IQ. Reasonable. He picks his moments and attacks quickly when he sees an opening.
Hands that finish early
Belfort is at his best in the first round, when he can turn a single opening into a knockout. The speed of his combinations catches opponents who plan for a slower fight. Draft him if you like short, explosive outcomes.
Fading late: Cardio
If a fight goes long, Belfort's pace drops and his defense follows. An opponent who survives the opening burst can wait for him to slow. Consider pairing him with a durable teammate.
Keep exploring
Closest middleweight profiles to Vitor Belfort, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Darren Tillbest boxing 87 · weakest bjj 72
- Gregory Rodriguesbest boxing 86 · weakest cardio 76
- Jared Cannonierbest strength 91 · weakest bjj 74
- Wanderlei Silvabest boxing 86 · weakest wrestling 70
- Middleweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Vitor Belfort's strongest attribute, Boxing.
Draft Vitor Belfort into your build
Vitor Belfort enters the pool on any spin landing on middleweight between 2010 and 2017. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Vitor Belfort is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Vitor Belfort's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.