Former UFC champions Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva served notice at the Triller Fight Club event Saturday night in Hollywood, Florida.
Belfort scored a first round knockout of boxing legend Evander Holyfield in the main event, scoring two knockdowns before the referee waved the fight off.
Holyfield, 58, was coming in on short notice, replacing Oscar De La Hoya who contracted COVID-19. His media workout video in which he looked slow and robotic concerned fans who thought he might get hurt in the ring.
“The Real Deal” looked good physically, but it was clear once the match started that Belfort, 44, was too much. After eating a Holyfield left hook, a Belfort right hand stunned Holyfield which Belfort pounced on to get the first knockdown.
Holyfield got up, but was quickly stormed by Belfort resulting in the second knockdown. After several more shots by Belfort that went unreturned the referee waved the fight off at 1:49.
Holyfield protested the stoppage, saying it was a “bad call” in the post fight interview.
Belfort called out Jake Paul in the post fight interview.
Meanwhile in the co-main event, former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva dispatched Tito Ortiz in 1:21. After covering up in the corner Silva evaded the slow and ice hooks of Ortiz and unleashed caught Ortiz coming in with a big right hand, followed up by two left hands that rendered Ortiz unconscious into ropes and face first onto the canvas.
All the action was watched by former president Donald Trump who was in the building. He congratulated Vitor Belfort as a “great patriot” that reminded me of a 2024 election campaign run.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
In case you missed the prelims:
ANTHONY CHAVEZ DEF. DIUHL OLGUIN VIA MAJORITY DRAW
ELIEZER SILVA DEF. TERRY ROSCOE VIA UD
ANDY VENCES VS. JONO CARROLL
.@AndyVences and @jono_carroll go the distance!
How did you score it?#TRILLERFIGHTCLUB LIVE RIGHT NOW ON #FITE!
[ #HolyfieldBelfort | https://t.co/jpCvXLI1j3 ] pic.twitter.com/zHNPDQR6GH
— FITE (@FiteTV) September 12, 2021
WINNER: JONO CARROLL VIA MD (95-95, 97-93, 97-93)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JONO CARROLL VIA UD
Andrews: It was a close fight but Carroll did enough late despite not being able to see to get the win.
DAVID HAYE VS. JOE FOURNIER
Do you agree with the scorecard going into the 8th?
LIVE RIGHT NOW ON #FITE!
[ #HolyfieldBelfort | https://t.co/jpCvXLI1j3 ] pic.twitter.com/CQWqc5Vjm1
— FITE (@FiteTV) September 11, 2021
WINNER: DAVID HAYE VIA UD (79-72, 80-71, 79-72)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DAVID HAYES VIA UD
Andrews: Hayes had enough in the tank to get the win against his friend. But he could be out of his mind calling out Tyson Fury.
TITO ORTIZ VS. ANDERSON SILVA
ANDERSON SILVA KOs TITO ORTIZ IN THE FIRST ROUND 🤯
(via @FiteTV)pic.twitter.com/qb4Z1v6k7s
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 12, 2021
WINNER: ANDERSON SILVA VIA KO R1 1:21
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDERSON SILVA VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! I thought Ortiz would go the distance but Silva sent him packing with one more vintage performance.
MAIN EVENT
EVANDER HOLYFIELD VS. VITOR BELFORT
VITOR BELFORT DEFEATS EVANDER HOLYFIELD IN THE FIRST ROUND 😱
(via @FiteTV)pic.twitter.com/Y85dCHPRp6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 12, 2021
WINNER: VITOR BELFORT VIA KO R1 1:49
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VITOR BELFORT VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Holyfield was indeed too old to compete. Oscar needs to fight him so we can see what’s up.
