Vitor Belfort Says Seagal Kick Saved Anderson Silva from Ending Up Like Akiyama

Vitor Belfort is back with a vengeance, and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is still in his crosshairs.

The legendary knockout artist was at it again in the co-main event of his UFC 133 bout against Yoshihiro Akiyama, who was put out cold in the first round after Belfort followed a hard straight with a flurry of punches.

The bout merely seemed like a tune-up for Belfort, who is only six months removed from his championship letdown in the UFC 126 headliner against Silva.

In one of the most spectacular knockouts of 2011, Silva put Belfort away with a massive front kick allegedly taught to him by personal mentor and Hollywood action star Steven Seagal.

"If Anderson hadn't thrown that kick, [what happened to Akiyama would've happened to him]. He knows that in his mind," Belfort said at the UFC 133 post-fight conference.

"I was so hungry [heading into UFC 133]. It was hard to find sparring partners because I was so mentally focused. I think I'm faster than before. People say I look like the 'vintage' Vitor. In this weight division, whatever I hit, I make sure it goes down. Nobody is going to stop me."

Belfort is open to face whoever the UFC puts in front of him, but he hopes to be next in line to face the winner of the UFC 134 title bout between Silva and Yushin Okami.

Regardless of the future, Belfort is just happy to be fighting in the UFC again. This is a second opportunity to right past wrongs in his life and he hopes to prove to the world that he is the best 185-pound fighter out there.

To do that, he has to let go of the past and look towards the future.

"Everything in the past is gone. I'm looking for the future," said Belfort. "I feel like I accomplished a mission. People confuse dreams with desire. I had a dream when I was 13 to be world champion, and when I was 19, I conquered it. I made a bad move when I was young and left the UFC. Now I'm back, and I'm part of the past, present, and future."

Does that future include a UFC title?

Soon, every fan will know the answer to that question, or they'll continue to watch middleweight hopefuls served up as snacks to a man seeking a full-course meal.