• UFC on FX 7

Belfort: UFC fights are based on politics not merit

ESPN staff
January 14, 2013
Vitor Belfort lost to Anderson Silva at UFC 126 in February 2011 © Getty Images
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Vitor Belfort says he does not expect to get a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, even if he beats Michael Bisping.

Bisping has been told he will get a title shot if he wins at UFC on FX 7 in Sao Paolo this weekend.

The Brit has evidently got one eye on a fight with Silva, claiming Belfort is the "perfect warm-up" for 'The Spider'.

But Belfort, who lost to light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones in September, has aimed a swipe at UFC president Dana White, claiming that title fights are decided by politics rather than merit.

"There's not much I can say about what qualifies you for a shot at the title in the UFC," he told Brazil's O Dia newspaper. "It hasn't been happening much by merit, but by politics.

"I can't answer you that. The one who can is Dana White. I just do my job, which is to fight and win. My right is to train and represent my country."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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