Vitor Belfort is close to finding his next promotion.
“The Phenom” is currently in serious negotiations with ONE Championship to sign a multifight deal, sources told ESPN.
ONE has extended an offer and, according to sources, the final details are being worked out, though the deal isn’t finalized just yet. An announcement is expected this week, if all goes to plan.
Belfort recently traveled to Singapore to meet with ONE about signing with the promotion. He met with Bellator last month, sources say.
The 41-year-old Belfort (26-14, 1 NC) last fought in May 2018 when he lost his final UFC fight to Lyoto Machida via knockout. Immediately following the fight, Belfort strongly suggested he would never fight again, though he never fully committed to the idea of ending his legendary career. In December, Belfort announced on “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show” that he had decided to keep fighting and was hoping to sign with a new promotion in 2019.
Enter Asian-based ONE, which in the past four months has signed notable fighters such as Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson, Sage Northcutt, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Yushin Okamoto.
If Belfort signs with ONE, it will mark the seventh organization he will have fought for since he debuted in 1996.
Belfort is a former UFC and Cage Rage light heavyweight champion.