UFC Quick Quote: Luke Rockhold 'more of a man' than Vitor Belfort, who Brazilians don't like because 'cheating ways'

"I think my advantage is everywhere, really. Vitor will always have fast hands, he has good power, but I pose a lot of problems myself. I'm a longer fighter, I have better kicks than him. I believe my advantages are on the ground, in wrestling, in the distance in the stand up. I have plenty of ways to win this fight. And most of all, I got more heart than Vitor. I think I’m more of a man than Vitor.... I’m fired up about [his testosterone replacement therapy, TRT]. It just fuels me even more. It just motivates me to train and it just puts a little chip on my shoulder. I’m pushing myself like nobody else. It sounds like I’ve got lots of fans out there and once I beat Vitor, obviously, I’ll bring everybody to my side. From what I hear, a lot of Brazilians don’t like Vitor. They don’t like his cheating ways and I’m getting a lot of support on social media from Brazilians. So, I’m excited. I get a free trip to Brazil, I get paid, and I get to kick someone's ass."

-- Former No. 1 Middleweight Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contender, and recent 205-pound title challenger, Vitor Belfort, has been catching a significant amount of flak lately for his testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which is apparently monitored weekly by medical officials associated with the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion. "The Phenom" claims it is a medical issue, but other fighters -- even UFC President Dana White (read more here) -- feel the treatments provide an unfair competitive edge. Luke Rockhold, who Belfort fights in the main event of UFC on FX 8, which takes place at Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on May 18, 2013, is among the chorus of discontent. The last man to hold the Strikeforce Middleweight belt went from "getting satisfaction" out of beating up TRT users to now, less than one month from fight night, telling MMAFightCorner.com that it inspires him to kick ass even harder. Rockhold also called for uniformity, referring to comments from Nevada State Athletic Commissioner (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer, who suggested that Belfort would probably not be approved to compete under his jurisdiction with TRT because of a failed steroids test back in Oct. 2006. Is Belfort a cheater who deserves a beat down from a better man or is the Brazilian merely playing within the inconsistent rules of the sport?

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