Bad Blood Continues: Michael Bisping Can’t Forgive Vitor Belfort Despite UFC Hall of Fame Induction

The age-old saying that time heals all wounds clearly doesn’t apply to Michael Bisping when it comes to Vitor Belfort. Despite the UFC recently announcing Belfort’s induction into the 2024 Hall of Fame class at UFC 315, Bisping isn’t exactly sending congratulatory flowers.

And honestly? I don’t blame him one bit.

(Insert image: Michael Bisping pointing to his damaged eye during commentary)

The Eye-Opening History Between Bisping and Belfort

For those who might have forgotten (or newer fans who never knew), Bisping’s beef with Belfort isn’t just typical fighter rivalry. It’s deeply personal and permanently visible every time “The Count” appears on UFC broadcasts.

Back in 2013, Belfort delivered a devastating head kick to Bisping during their fight in Brazil. That single strike ultimately led to Bisping developing a detached retina, multiple surgeries, and permanent vision loss in his right eye. Yes, Bisping fought his way to a UFC championship while essentially blind in one eye.

As if that wasn’t enough, this was during the TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) era, when Belfort was among the fighters granted therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone – what many critics called legalized performance enhancement.

Bisping’s Raw Response to Belfort’s Hall of Fame Nod

On his “Believe You Me” podcast, Bisping didn’t mince words about Belfort’s induction:

“Look, I acknowledge what Vitor Belfort did in the sport. He was there from the early days. He was a champion. He’s had some great knockouts… But let’s be honest, he was roided to the gills for a lot of it.”

Bisping continued with the kind of honest assessment only someone who lost an eye to an opponent could deliver:

“That version of Vitor Belfort in Brazil, when he was on the TRT… that wasn’t a level playing field. That was a 45-year-old man with the testosterone of a 15-year-old boy.”

The “TRTor” Legacy That Can’t Be Erased

While Belfort’s career achievements are undeniable (former UFC light heavyweight champion, knockout victories over multiple champions), his legacy is permanently complicated by what many fans refer to as the “TRTor” era – a period where Belfort’s physique transformed dramatically and his knockout power seemed almost superhuman.

During this controversial phase, Belfort demolished not just Bisping but also Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson with spectacular head kicks. After TRT was banned in 2014, Belfort’s performances were noticeably different.

Can We Separate the Fighter from the Controversy?

This is where things get tricky for MMA fans. Belfort’s impact on the sport is significant – he was a teenage phenom who grew into a multi-division threat across multiple decades. His highlight reel is undeniably spectacular.

But when those highlights came at such a cost to opponents like Bisping, and under such questionable circumstances, should we just shrug and say “that’s fighting”?

I’ve been covering this sport for years, and I still don’t have a perfect answer. What I do know is that Bisping’s reluctance to forgive isn’t just bitter grudge-holding – it’s a legitimate response from someone who paid a permanent physical price.

The Hall of Fame Question

Does Belfort deserve his Hall of Fame spot? Probably, if we’re looking purely at career accomplishments and impact on the sport. The UFC Hall of Fame isn’t exactly known for moral purity tests.

But Bisping’s perspective adds an important counterbalance to what would otherwise be simple celebration. His willingness to acknowledge Belfort’s importance while still holding him accountable speaks volumes about Bisping’s character.

(Insert image: Vitor Belfort during TRT era next to post-TRT era for comparison)

What This Means for Modern UFC Fighters

Today’s UFC operates under USADA testing, making the kind of TRT exemptions Belfort enjoyed impossible. But the legacy of that era still affects how we view accomplishments and “legendary” status.

For younger fighters coming up, there’s a lesson here about how your actions in the present might be judged differently as time passes and standards evolve. What’s celebrated today might be criticized tomorrow.

The Final Word

Bisping doesn’t have to like or forgive Belfort. That’s his right as someone who paid a permanent physical price for facing “TRTor” in his prime. At the same time, the UFC is acknowledging Belfort’s undeniable impact on the sport’s history.

Both these things can be true simultaneously, and that complexity is what makes MMA such a fascinating sport to follow. Nothing is ever just black and white in the fight game.

What do you think? Does Belfort deserve his Hall of Fame spot despite the TRT controversy? Should Bisping try to forgive and move on? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – I always enjoy a good debate about MMA’s complicated heroes and villains.

Source: UFC 315 Hall of Fame announcement and Michael Bisping’s “Believe You Me” podcast