Vitor Belfort Nearly Became UFC's First Three-Division Champion at UFC 187

In 2015, Vitor Belfort was so confident of defeating Chris Weidman at UFC 187 that he had commemorative T-shirts printed proclaiming himself a future middleweight champion, which would have made him the first three-division titleholder in UFC history. Belfort entered the fight on a strong run of finishes and drew attention for a testosterone reading of 1,200 ng/dL, but Weidman absorbed his early pressure, secured a takedown, and finished him by ground-and-pound. The piece draws a parallel to Alex Pereira's current pursuit of a third UFC title at the same age of 38, though Pereira enters his bid as the favourite.