Trent Reinsmith
- Date & Location: Saturday, September 11 at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida
- Odds: Vitor Belfort (-115) vs. Vitor Belfort (-115) via BetOnline
- Prediction: Belfort via decision.
Vitor Belfort was scheduled to face Oscar De La Hoya on September 11 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. That fight was scrapped after De La Hoya tested positive for COVID-19. Evander Holyfield agreed to step into the open spot.
The entire fight card was then moved to Florida when the California State Athletic Commission would not approve Holyfield with a license to fight in the state.
Belfort has not fought in MMA since he retired after a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida in 2018. The former UFC champion ended his MMA career with a 26-14-0-1 record. He went 1-3-0-1 in his last five fights.
Holyfield has not fought since 2011. In his last contest, Holyfield defeated Brian Nielsen by TKO. Holyfield began his boxing career with a 28-0 record. He suffered his first loss in 1992 when Riddick Bowe defeated him via decision. Holyfield’s record after the Nielsen fight was 44-10-2 with one no contest.
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BELFORT vs. HOLYFIELD PREDICTION & PICK
This fight was an unexpected one. Yes, Holyfield was training for a proposed Triller debut against Kevin McBride, but that bout was postponed on several occasions. Few would have predicted that the 58-year-old former two-division champion would have stepped in to face the 44-year-old Belfort, but he is.
The rules of the fight are that it is eight rounds of two minutes each.
The odds on the Belfort vs. Holyfield fight have been fluid. Belfort opened as a favorite over Holyfield on September 3, but those numbers had shifted in the hours after the fight was announced and Holyfield moved to the favorite. Things have moved again as fight night approaches and the fighters are now even.
As I said, Holyfield has been in the gym, but he is still soon to be 59 and there have been concerns about his boxing fitness since New York state suspended his boxing license when he was 42. At the time the commission cited, “”poor performance and diminished skills.”
My pick is Belfort based on having more knowledge about his recent career, training and fitness.
Prediction: Belfort -115 via SportsBetting
BETTING VALUE WITH BELFORT
When Belfort made his MMA debut, he was one of the most feared strikers in the sport. He was fast and powerful and had a swarming style that resulted in five first-round knockouts in his first seven MMA bouts. He still had power and the ability to score knockouts late in his career, as he went 4-1 with four first-round knockouts between 2013 and 2015.
Belfort has the power to knock out Holyfield, bu t Holyfield’s boxing skills, even if they have fallen off with age, should be enough to keep him from hitting the canvas for a 10-count. That and the two-minute rounds.
Pick: Belfort via decision -115 via BetUS.
TALE OF THE TAPE: BELFORT vs. HOLYFIELD
| Vitor Belfort | Category | Evander Holyfield |
| 44 | Age | 58 |
| 26-14-1 (MMA) | Record | 44-10-2 |
| 18 | Knockout Wins | 29 |
| 5 | Decision Wins | 14 |
| 0 | DQ Wins | 1 |
| 6′ 0″ | Height | 6′ 2″ |
| 74″ | Reach | 77.5″ |
| Southpaw | Stance | Orthodox |
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
This fight is an important gauge for Holyfield. If he can pull out a win, the door could be open for him to fight in another more lucrative boxing match. If Holyfield loses to Belfort, it could be back to retirement for the former champion.
A win from Belfort could keep him in the boxing ring and might set up a bout with the winner of the Anderson Silva vs. Tito Ortiz fight, which is also on this card.
Let’s have a look at the top sportsbooks, like MyBookie, for this fight.
