Vitor Belfort is preparing to headline UFC Fight Night 106 next month, where he will be taking on TUF champion Kelvin Gastelum.
Belfort has also been taking a better look at the different fighters unions that have popped up in the last year, something he’s starting to support.
"I’m a smart guy, and the smartest thing in the world is to not side (with something) if you don’t know who's the leader and what are his motivations,” Belfort said to MMA Fighting. "I’m glad that fighters that are part of the history of the sport see me this way, but it’s important for fighters to realize that it’s time to have a fighters’ union. There’s unions for everything, there’s an union even for prostitutes, and we won’t have one for fighters? It’s time for the athlete to have his union.”
Belfort, who has fought the majority of his professional MMA career in the UFC, thinks that the UFC isn’t the only promotion that unions should be focusing on.
"And it’s not only the UFC,” he continued. "There are several promotions. People talk about the UFC, but it’s wonderful for the sport. We are grateful, but there should be a law that benefits every combat sports athlete. I think there should be a health insurance for fighters, they should allow sponsors like the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) does, and they should create a league of legends, to bring back fighters fans love. Those would be my three changes. And get rid of elbows so there would be no blood. Big companies want to be associated with fights if there are no bloody fights."
UFC Fight Night 106 takes place on Saturday, March 11 from the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil with Kelvin Gastelum and Vitor Belfort headlining, the main card airs live on Fox Sports 1.
