With the new WME-IMG UFC owners, fight fans have noticed some changes coming to the promotion since the purchase of the UFC back in 2016.
For Vitor Belfort, who has been competing professionally in MMA for 21 years, with 20 of those years spent in the UFC, he has a rather interesting proposition for the new UFC owners, one that could see him earn a UFC title very quickly.
He spoke to MMAJunkie:
“I have even one idea I want to present for the UFC: It’s creating a new league inside the UFC,” Belfort told MMAjunkie. “We need something new – I can see now. These new owners, they want to create something new. There is a lot of changing. What I want to propose to them is creating a league inside the UFC, the Legend League, so we can bring back these retired people – bring them back to the game and sell more tickets – give more opportunities so they can make more revenue.
“I can lead that. We can make a title fight between me and one of the legends, and that can be a new program in the UFC.”
“I have brains; I still have some left,” Belfort joked. “I want to be able to make the fans happy and give them what they need. Not just entertain them, but give them the pleasure to see legends. I think that’s what they love to do. Why just retire them? Bring them back.”
Belfort’s idea sounds similar to what Bellator MMA has done in recent years, with the promotion bringing in marquee fighters such as Royce Gracie, Chael Sonnen, Tito Ortiz, and Ken Shamrock to name just a few.
With the new UFC owners looking for new ways to increase revenue, do you think they will be open to Belfort’s idea?
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/9/2017.