Not many fighters wanted to step into the cage in Toronto against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones, according to UFC boss Dana White.
But while others only saw a high possibility of defeat, veteran fighter Vitor (The Phenom) Belfort saw a chance to test himself.
"Now I fight not for the fame, not for the money, not for the position, I fight for pleasure," said the 35-year-old Brazilian who made his pro debut in October 1996 when Jones was nine.
"It's a joy ... I'm like a young dinosaur. I'm an old lion in the midst of these young lions. So I'm enjoying this jungle."
"I love challenges and this is another challenge in my life," he added.
That was good news for White, who admitted he had a hard time finding an opponent after Dan Henderson withdrew due to injury.
"No one's too excited to jump around and fight Jon Jones right now," White told a media conference call Tuesday.
"Vitor stepped up and took the fight," he added. "Guys that were next in line for the fight wanted nothing to do with it."
Jones and Belfort face off Sept. 22 at UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre.
It's a matchup of phenoms.
Belfort was nicknamed The Phenom after winning the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament in February 1997, becoming at 19 the youngest fighter to win in the Octagon.
Jones became the UFC's youngest ever champion when he dethroned Mauricio (Shogun) Rua at the age of 23 years 242 days.
Jones (16-1) was slated to meet Henderson at UFC 151 on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas. But the UFC was forced to shelve the event after Jones refused to accept middleweight contender Chael Sonnen as a replacement opponent, saying it was too short notice.
