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Vitor Belfort Keeps Karate Love Alive in UFC 103

September 29, 2009 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: MMA, Martial Arts, Recent Events, TV Shows, karate, modern arts

“After UFC 103, Vitor Belfort gave credit to karate (and Jesus– a natural pairing) for his immaculate victory over former UFC champ, Rich Franklin. No surprise there, since “The Phenom” has been training in karate for years and has close ties with Lyoto Machida, the mixed martial arts Messiah of karate.” – Dom Velando

A couple of months ago I wrote a post about Lyoto Machida, wherein I explained my fanhood for him, and how it wasn’t just me – Machida’s popularity has been consistently growing over the past 8-9 months. One of the main reasons why is Machida’s karate-inspired fighting style. His traditional background (along with a black belt in BJJ) is making big waves throughout the MMA community. How could it not – the guy has yet to lose a round.

These days it seems that karate is branching out, and the latest person to do the branching is Vitor Belfort. Belfort is a recently returned UFC fighter who has been studying karate for years. Many analysts are remarking at Belfort’s excellent control of distance and timing, and how he seems to have a natural sense of space. People are also commenting on the speed and directness of his counterattacks after making other fighters waffle and miss.

This may all sound familiar to UFC fans because those are the exact qualities that are granting Machida so much success.

To watch the Belfort fight (it only lasts one round), click here or below:

Due to his impressive win, Belfort is slated to fight Anderson Silva, aka, the guy so good that he makes champions look like raw beginners. Although UFC fans are pining for a Machida-v-Silva matchup, it looks like Belfort is going to have to do instead (both Machida and Silva have declared friendship with one another and a strong desire not to fight).

The most interesting thing to come out of these recent events is a raised eyebrow about karate from MMA fans and fighters. We’ve all been so overexposed by crappy, watered-down karate that seeing good karate in action is both intriguing and confusing. Fighters like Machida and Belfort are also doing karateka a service because they are showing the value of arts like BJJ, and how it isn’t a sin to be well-rounded and open to outside concepts.

Very interesting developments! Pay attention everyone because these are the things that slowly shape the martial arts realm right underneath our noses.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 and is filed under MMA, Martial Arts, Recent Events, TV Shows, karate, modern arts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

xygoxen
  • Great post.
    Belfort vs. Silva, Shotokan vs. Muay Thai, interesting.
    Honestly, what we usually see in UFC isn't just one style
    against another style, but as we all know a blend of several.
    The match-up, compelling nevertheless.
    Thanks, TheMartialArtsReporter.com
  • wimde
    I'd love to see Vitor fight Silva. That'll make for a pretty explosive fight. Let's hope politics doesn't get in the way and it comes around fast enough.

    Wim
  • agreed wim. that would be a pretty sweet matchup.
  • I agree that Belfort's composure and movement seemed very 'karate' and it is good to see but his strikes were certainly less classical and more Queensbury than Karate. Sure Furiko zuki is sometimes covered in class but this guy was most certainly packing boxing style hook punches. I guess what I mean is that this guy gives off a karate aura (especially some nice trailing leg redressing) but he's mixing it up in the ring...surely?

    Good comment from Remo: "not a bit of wasted movement"

    Good post Matt.
  • Remo1366
    So good to see some actual martial arts come into the mma.Ground fighting is all good but gets old real quick.I actually got an Ali flash back watching Belfort just lay back and feel out his opponent.Good to see a fighter who can use his mind as well as his hands.Not a bit of wasted movement in what he does,beautiful.Thanx for the post.
  • Good post! I think there was an article on sherdog.com not long ago about how Vitor states his secret weapon is Karate training. His influence training with Lyoto was very obvious during the rich franklin fight. Along with his other martial art background, his experience and sheer explosivness, I think a fight with Anderson Silva would be one of the best in the history of MMA.
  • Ohh cool, I hadn't seen that article on sherdog. I'll definitely be interested in the Silva fight as well.
  • Hey Matt, Thanks for pointing this one out... yet another example of how a fighter can lay back and explode with those back hand punches. I like to see fighters who don't think they have to go toe to toe all the time and employ strategy!
  • Agreed john. I think a lot of fighters were getting complacent to just tuck their jaw and swing it out.
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