• UFC

Belfort tells Wanderlei to back up the big talk

Vitor Belfort wants to fight at UFC Rio © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Akiyama and Belfort to wage war at UFC 133 - official
  
• News: Belfort wants rematch with 'insecure' Anderson Silva
  
• News: Vitor tips 'new Belfort' to conquer UFC in two years
  
• News: Shogun Rua labels Griffin a 'complete fighter'
  
• News: England's Winner named on UFC 132 card
  
• News: Shogun v Griffin II targeted for UFC Rio
  
• News: Anderson Silva v Yushin Okami set for UFC Rio
  
• News: Leben and Silva to face off at UFC 132
  

Vitor Belfort has accused Wanderlei Silva of being full of talk but lacking in action after the Axe Murderer pulled out of a potential middleweight collision.

According to Belfort, the UFC was ready to make the all-Brazilian showdown a reality, but Wanderlei then turned his attention to Chris Leben, whom he will face at UFC 132. Silva's coach later explained that it would be senseless to enter into a high-profile clash with Belfort without having a sharpener first following a 14-month absence from the Octagon.

As two legends of the sport, Belfort v Silva would have been one of the most highly-anticipated bouts of the year, and The Phenom insists he was not to blame for the fight failing to materialise.

"They've offered me Wanderlei and I accepted it, but it seems that he didn't want to fight me after all, so I'm waiting now for an opponent," Belfort told Tatame.

"What can I do? He needs to learn to talk less and fight more. But, what I can do, right? That's life, I don't care about it, I'm focused for my next challenge. I don't care about names, I don't pick my opponents, and I always focus 100 per cent on my next fight, independently of who I'll fight with.

"I'm the kind of guy who likes to do what I say, I don't like saying and don't keep up with it."

Belfort is now hoping he is selected for the UFC Rio card in August, which is expected to feature MMA Godfather Royce Gracie, as well as being headlined by Anderson Silva v Yushin Okami.

"That's everything I want. That's the dream, to fight in Rio de Janeiro, in my country," Belfort said. "Fighting for my people has always been my dream. Since I was one of the first in the sport in Brazil, it's a kind of reward for me for everything I have done."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.