Vitor Belfort was once the face of the UFC. Known as the “Phenom” for his fast hands and devastating knock-outs, his early days in the UFC were the start of what legends are made of. However, since losing the heavyweight tournament to Randy Couture at UFC 15, Belfort has turned into something of journeyman fighter. Bouncing around promotions and weight classes, it has seemed at times like Belfort could never really find his stride. After another convincing victory in the octagon last night against Michael Bisping, I’m left wondering where the road will take Belfort next?

Let’s take it from the beginning. Belfort’s first real foray into professional MMA was directly into the early days of the UFC, and he made quite the splash right from the start. In his first tournament at UFC 12 he won the heavyweight tournament in fast and decisive fashion – this fast paced big risk/big reward fighting style would become his trademark throughout the rest of his MMA career. In fact the rest of his fights in his first stint in the UFC would go on as first round finishes – with only one loss to his credit.

It was from this point that Belfort’s career as a journeyman would really start. Belfort left the UFC to join PRIDE FC (where he would experience mixed results), then he would bounce back to the UFC (and briefly reign as LHW champion)… and so it went, Belfort spent the next few years bouncing from promotion-to-promotion: back to PRIDE FC, Cage Rage, Affliction, Stirkeforce… and finally back landing back in the UFC. Since returning to the UFC, Belfort has fought at multiple weight classes and has had mixed results.

Where does leave Belfort today? While, many will disagree with me, I think Belfort is turning into a high-level gate-keeper. The term “gate-keeper” may be kind of a dirty word in MMA, I think it aptly describes Belfort and his position today. Take a look at his match-ups since returning to the UFC:

Rich Franklin: This fight was meant to solidify Franklin’s place at a higher weight class, while also debuting Belfort.

Anderson Silva: Belfort was never considered a serious contender in this fight. He came in on a one-fight win streak, and he was an opponent for Silva in a dwindling talent middleweight class.

Yoshihiro Akiyama: The UFC was desperate to get either Akiyama or Belfort a win, so they could start to beef up the middleweight division. Neither was considered to be back on the road to a title.

Anthony Johnson: This was Johnson’s first fight at 185lbs, again to help beef up a weak middleweight division.

Jon Jones: Belfort was the only fighter who would sub-in for an injured Dan Henderson.

Michael Bisping: Belfort was supposed to be the doormat for Bisping’s title shot (which backfired for Bisping).

When you look at this, it’s not exactly a hard pill to swallow that Belfort is a high-level gate-keeper. Even when Belfort has had his title shots in his most recent stints in the UFC he’s never been looked at as a serious contender, he’s been a pinch-hitter. He’s an exciting fighter to watch, and can bang with any of the best of any division he has fought in, but he just doesn’t have that “pound-for-pound best quality” that separates the best in the world from everyone else.

So, what does the road hold for Belfort? Well, if Belfort wants to make a true stand and establish a legacy as he moves into the twilight of his career he needs to find a place and stick it out there. Stop jumping around weight classes.

In my personal opinion Belfort should settle in 205lbs. I think Belfort can stand and bang against almost anyone in middleweight or light heavyweight. However, I don’t honestly think he has a chance against Anderson Silva again, as he was embarrassed in their last match-up. He actually looked pretty good against Jones and almost submitted him; and a lot of the top contenders at light heavyweight have shown some weakness to Belfort’s swarming-style of fighting (Shogun, Evans, Machida).

I don’t know if Belfort can make an honest run at another title at this stage in his career, given that he is 36 in a few months. That said, if plays it smart and there is a need for another substitute fighter for a championship then Belfort could fill that role quite well! I do hope the man keeps fighting and fights like he is ready for a title, because there is one thing you can never take away from “The Phenom” and that is that at any given time he can end a fight in style (just ask Michael Bisping).

… and that is the last word.

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