Christian UFC Fighter Vitor Belfort to Release Book About His Faith and Success
Brazilian Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, Vitor Belfort, who recently had his rematch against Wanderlei Silva canceled because of an injury to his hand, will launch a motivational book this month through Thomas Nelson Brazil. The book talks about his faith, success and remarkable experiences inside and outside the octagon.
"Vitor Belfort: Lessons of Guts, Faith and Success" is not a biography as such, but is a motivational book that aims to inspire readers to pursue personal success just as Belfort has done in his career.
The book will also detail notorious episodes in Vitor's life, such as the disappearance of his sister Priscila Belfort in 2004. According to him, the tragic event brought him immense pain but eventually brought him to Christ.
Amid the anger and bitterness he was feeling, Belfort began to pray, and it was at this point of despair that he testifies he heard God's voice: "Son, it doesn't matter how you look, how you think about your life, your sister belonged to me," he has said.
"I think there is two ways to get to God, through love or through pain. Mine was through pain," stated Belfort.
The chapters of the book will be named with terms related to the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sport such as "Take Down," "Inverted Triangle Choke," "Cartels," and "Low Blow." In "Low blow" he will tell the sad story of his sister.
Vitor will also talk about controversies in his career such as the historical fights against Wanderlei Silva e Anderson Silva. Wanderlei is cited in the book as Vitor recalls his victory over "the Mad Dog" in 1998.
Recently, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion decided to add an extra chapter to the book at the eleventh hour to express his sadness about the injury to his left hand. The injury happened in training and put him out of the UFC 147 that will take place on June 23 in Belo Horizonte, southeastern Brazil.
"They were two sad days for me. Days that I was prostrated. I woke up, prayed, heard the voice of God, listened to Joana (Prado, his wife). I'll tell a little of this, accepting the stones that are placed in our way," he said, according to Leia Já publication.
In an excerpt from the book, Belfort also tells of his "adventure" moving to the United States in his early career. "One of the best adventures of my life was moving from my home and country in 1995. I was 17 years old and had almost no money."
Belfort came to United States with Carlson Gracie, his coach, who opened the Carlson Gracie Academy. "Do you think it was easy? It was not. Carlson didn't speak a word of English, so I had to be ahead of everything. We didn't have money to rent another space to live. We lived inside the gym."
Belfort, who is currently in Brazil, promoted a Christian service in the octagon ring of the training center in Rio de Janeiro last Saturday. He organized for American pastor, Mark Shubert, who speaks Portuguese, to preach to fans and professionals of his sport.