Both Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson granted TRT exemptions ahead of UFC Fight Night 32 rematch

Part-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Vitor Belfort said he wanted a level playing field.

Well, now he's got one.

"The Phenom," who puffed up from middleweight to settle an old score from PRIDE 32 back in 2006, will rematch Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 32 on FOX Sports 1, which takes place this Saturday night (Nov. 9, 2013) at the Goiania Arena in Goias, Brazil.

And just like his Brazilian counterpart, "Hendo" has been granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), according to MMA Junkie, the controversial treatment that has enabled aging combat sports veterans to keep pace with the young lions.

So, why all the hullabaloo?

In Belfort's defense, he's taken more criticism from the mixed martial arts (MMA) community than any other fighter on TRT, a list that includes not only Henderson, but also Frank Mir, Forrest Griffin, Shane Roller, Todd Duffee and Chael Sonnen, among others.

It might have something to do with his place of employment.

Since (finally) announcing his admission to the TRT club, Belfort has not competed stateside, preferring to do work outside the scope of athletic commissions who may not be willing to grant him a TUE based on a failed drug test, which ironically, came after his first fight against Henderson in Las Vegas, Nevada.

:Hendo" has never failed a drug test and has even stopped TRT when the commission has asked him to.

But for this weekend's fisticuffs, both fighters will be taking the T-train into the Goiania Arena, so we can expect them at their respective peaks. Whether or not that has any bearing on the outcome in their network-televised headliner, remains to be seen.

Stay tuned.