Bitter rivals Wonderray Silva and Vittle Belfort are set to rematch again 27 years after the classic UFC battle in Sao Paulo, aiming for each other’s heads on September 27th.
MMA Veterans Headline Spaten Spaten Fight Night 2 confirmed that MMA fights have added clauses to the contract that guarantees bonuses in the 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,” especially after the backlash at the first Spaten Fight Night event in 2024, when Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen performed a disappointing show.
“I know a lot of people are talking about that final match and how to do it,” Belfort told MMA Fighting. “I don’t like to talk about what other people are doing. It’s important to focus on what we’re doing because I want to do what we have to do. I want to make that very clear. Wonder Ray and I know it’s a rivalry so there’s no need to put it there. Belfort and Wonder Ray.
Belfort refused to say how much money he was being paid for in the case of a knockout finish, but jokingly said, “I’m less than I deserve, but more than I need.” Silva also confirmed that he had the same clause in the contract.
“I don’t even know how much it is,” Silva told MMA Fighting. “But I want a bonus because I want a belt because I want the belt. Every fight I’ve fought so I’ve always gone to knockout, and this would have a special taste.”
Silva met Belfort on the first card of Brazil’s UFC in 1998, losing in just 44 seconds. He has been seeking rematches multiple times since then, and finally has another chance against the “genius.”
That alone means that “ax Murderer” won’t play on September 27th, but he wants to make it clear that he doesn’t perform as poorly as Silva and Sonnen.
“I know my responsibility,” Silva said. “I know that Spaten Fight Night is a great promotion, a reliable promotion and I’m here to show that this is authentic. Unfortunately, I didn’t see it in the first edition, but I didn’t see it, but I didn’t see it in the way it was supposed to be. I punch it in the face.
Silva and Belfort will face off in eight rounds in two minutes, wearing 12 ounces of gloves in the eighth round match.
“It’s going to be the biggest win (of my career), and there’s no doubt about it,” Silva said. “This victory is very important to me. It’s been stuck (at my throat) for a long time. Every anniversary, he posts replays of the fight with a few speeches, a bunch of nonsense.