Despite plenty being on the line this Saturday night at UFC 198 between Vitor Belfort and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, the former UFC champion isn’t looking to add any fuel to the fire.
Instead, Belfort was only complimentary of Souza during an interview with MMAjunkie following open workouts in Brazil recently.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with him,” Belfort said. “Our rivalry is healthy, we were never disrespectful towards each other. He’s a great fighter – a compatriot of mine that I think is the toughest in the division.”
Belfort (25-11) has won four of his last five, but was finished inside of the first round vs. then-UFC champion Chris Weidman last May. He rebounded in November, delivering a head-kick KO of Dan Henderson.
While another spectacular victory would go a long way in getting “The Phenom” back into the mix, he is only looking at “Jacare” for the time being.
“I’m focused on my next opponent,” he said. “To me, that’s the title fight.”
