UFC 212: Vitor Belfort backtracks on retirement talk, expects ‘new beginning’ with ‘more fights in UFC’

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Vitor Belfort has been selling his UFC 212 pay-per-view (PPV) showdown against Nate Marquardt as the final fight of his storied mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

Yeah, about that...

Seems like “The Phenom” has been reborn after switching camps and moving up to Tristar a few weeks back, to the point where his next fight may mark the beginning, not the end, of his run inside the Octagon.

Guess this no longer matters.

"No, I don't feel that way," Belfort told ESPN.com when asked if this would be his final fight in UFC. "I'll be okay if this is my last fight, but it feels more like a new beginning. I feel this can be the beginning of more fights in the UFC."

That may depend on his performance.

Belfort (25-13, 1 NC) has been creamed in four of his last five. While his most recent shellacking was overturned (because of this), there’s no question the Brazilian has not looked competitive in years.

But would a “Great” victory be enough to convince you he’s “back?”