UFC 126 Preview: Will The "Old" Vitor Belfort Become Resurrected?

Vitor Belfort is one of the few fighters from the 1990s who has remained relevant in mixed martial arts today.

Since he debuted at 19 years old, Belfort has held victories over some of the best fighters in MMA and has created a legacy along the way. The Brazilian is also regarded as one of the best knockout artists, as 13 of his 19 victories have resulted in a knockout. Holding tremendous power and speed in both hands, Belfort is a threat to any opponent who faces him.

That includes UFC middleweight champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva.

Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Belfort will put his streak on the line to challenge for Silva's middleweight title at UFC 126. While Silva has looked flawless as middleweight champion, some MMA analysts and writers have stated that Belfort could potentially dethrone the longtime champion.

Belfort does present some problems for Silva, as he has very good boxing skills and power to compete with the Curitba native. Although Silva is more technical and holds a reach advantage, Belfort is good at finding openings and getting inside of his opponents.

Once he is inside the pocket he puts on pressure and unloads, getting the better of the exchange and dropping his opponents. He also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo, so he has more options to dictate the fight.

While his BJJ is not as top-notch as Silva's, he still has the ability to submit his opponents. His black belt in judo implies that he demonstrates the ability to grapple and get them to the ground, and we've all seen how Silva's takedown defense is.

The one thing that keeps being questioned is Belfort's mental state of mind.

It's evident Belfort has had his fair share of ups and downs and it eventually causes him to give up and lose. Once his game plan fails, so does he and it's his lack of adapting inside the Octagon that forces him to give up. In a five-round championship bout, Belfort cannot afford to enter with a weak mentality.

Especially with fighter of Silva's caliber, Belfort should close the distance and capitalize on an opening early on in the fight. The longer the fight goes, the more comfortable Silva will become.

That's not implying his plan will be to pressure Silva and look for an early knockout, but rather pick shots wisely and to not waste time; if an opening is there, Belfort should capitalize.

Fans are well aware of what Belfort is capable of and how much potential he possesses.

And if his current five-fight win streak is any indication, Vitor Belfort has learned to overcome adversity and evolve as a fighter. But it is his upcoming bout with Silva that will allow fans to watch Belfort potentially go from contender to champion.