Bitter rivals Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort are set to rematch 27 years after their classic UFC fight, once again in Sao Paulo, and they’re gunning for each other’s heads on Sept. 27.
The MMA veterans headline Spaten Fight Night 2 and confirmed to MMA Fighting that they have both added a clause to their contracts guaranteeing a bonus in case of a knockout victory. Globo first reported the bonus.
According to Belfort, the addition of the clause is to “make it clear that this is not an exhibition match,” especially after the backlash from the first Spaten Fight Night event in 2024, when Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen delivered a disappointing showing.
“I know many people are talking about that last match and the way it went,” Belfort told MMA Fighting. “I don’t like to talk about what other people do, I like to do what I have to do, so it’s important to focus on what we do. I want to make it very clear — I don’t think we needed to put that in there because Wanderlei and I, we know it’s a rivalry, but I think we both wanted to make it clear for the fans and people that watch fights, this is going to be a great experience. Not always people have the same experience, of course, but you’ll always have an experience with Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei. The fight is for real and I’m happy to be part of this project.”
Belfort declined to say how much money he’s getting paid in case of a knockout finish, but jokingly said “it’s less than I deserve but more than I need.” Silva also confirmed he has the same clause in his contract.
“I don’t even know how much that is,” Silva told MMA Fighting. “But I want the belt and I want the bonus because I’m going there to knock him out. Every fight I’ve ever fought, I’ve always went for the knockout, and this will have a special taste.”
Silva met Belfort in the first card of the UFC in Brazil back in 1998, losing in just 44 seconds. He has asked for a rematch multiple times since then, and finally has another chance against “The Phenom”.
That alone means “The Axe Murderer” will not be playing around come Sept. 27, but he wants to make it clear that he won’t underperform like Silva and Sonnen.
“I know of my responsibilities,” Silva said. “I know we’re here to show that Spaten Fight Night is a great promotion, a credible one, and this is for real. Unfortunately, the first edition had a match that — I didn’t watch it, but those who did said it wasn’t the way it was supposed to. I’m a different athlete, a professional. I love rivalries, I really go there for a knockout. There’s no other way with me, no such thing like going there to lick each other and bla bla bla. No way. It’s punch to the face. I go for the knockout. I go to really hurt.”
Silva and Belfort will wear 12-ounce gloves and face off in an eight-round match, with two-minute rounds.
“It’s going to be the greatest win [of my career], no doubt about it,” Silva said. “This victory is very important for me. This is stuck [in my throat] for a long time. Every [anniversary] he posts the replay of the fight with some speech, a bunch of nonsense. There’s no other option for me [but to fight for real]. You can’t calm me down. I want to show why I’m the Axe Murderer, and I’m going there to knock him out. I’m going there to win.”
