You won’t hear former UFC champion and upcoming middleweight title challenger Vitor Belfort talking about how he’s going to beat reigning titleholder Chris Weidman at UFC 187. That would be focusing on the outcome rather than the process, which is precisely what he’d like to avoid at this point in his career.

Belfort (24-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC), 38, headlines the May 23 pay-per-view event against champ Weidman (12-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. It’s his third chance to win a title after a short-lived reign as light-heavyweight champion in 2004.

Belfort is the sole link to the UFC’s no-holds-barred days, and yet he feels his nickname, “The Phenom,” is still as applicable as it was when he started fighting in the UFC as a teenager.

“I think I’m getting younger, actually,” he said.

In an extended video interview with MMAjunkie, Belfort spoke about his upcoming fight with Weidman and his thoughts about longevity and success in the sport.

Belfort has aged over one year as the result of delays to the title fight – first when the testosterone therapy-replacement he used was banned from the sport and then via multiple injuries to the champ – and remains adamant he will emerge with a title.

“I see me getting my game on and being ready to apply,” Belfort said. “They say, you have plan A, plan B – I have one plan, and my plan is win.

“If you start getting too much like, ‘I have plan A, plan B,’ it’s not like I’m a magician. I’m a fighter. I go there to win. We have head kicks, front kicks, right hooks, combinations. We’ve got everything, and when I think about it, I’m always in the winning position.”

Check out the condensed version of the interview above, or watch the full version below.

For more on UFC 187, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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