Gilbert Melendez has criticized UFC stars like Vitor Belfort, who he believes were allowed to compete with an unfair advantage due to PED use during the UFC’s earlier years.
In an episode of the Jaxxon podcast, Luke Rockhold specifically called out Belfort as a “science project,” particularly during his run in Brazil.
“Vitor, in all seriousness, was a science project, and they were hiding him in Brazil,” Rockhold said. “He could only fight—he went on this run in Brazil. He beat AJ, he beat Bisping, he beat Dan Henderson.”
Rockhold noted how Belfort’s physique would dramatically change between bouts, saying, “He morphed when he fought Dan Henderson at light heavyweight. He looked nasty as hell at middleweight, and then he went up a weight class—he’s just like, ‘what the f*** is this thing,’ and then he fought Jones after that and he just got even bigger.”
While acknowledging that many were “doing some TRTs and different things” in the sport’s earlier days, Rockhold emphasized that Belfort’s case was particularly egregious in terms of the physical advantages he was allowed to compete with.
Solutions for Aging Fighters
During the same podcast appearance, Rampage offered an intriguing solution to help take care of aging UFC stars—suggesting either an “over 40s” division or better pension and benefits for the sport’s pioneers.
Melendez highlighted how the UFC’s growth has led to younger stars earning substantial incomes through endorsements and broader exposure, while many of the early pioneers who helped build the sport are struggling financially.
“A lot of our pioneers and stuff, they’re not doing well financially,” Melendez noted during the conversation with hosts Rampage Jackson and Luke Rockhold.
“Think about the NFL before they started making all their money—they still have a pension,” Melendez explained. “Even though inflation messed them up, they still have a pension where they still get paid.”
Insights Into Strikeforce’s Signing of Fedor
Melendez discussed how Strikeforce managed to sign Fedor when the UFC couldn’t, explaining that it involved Scott Coker’s strong relationships in Japan and complex business arrangements. Luke Rockhold added that Strikeforce had to give up approximately half of their revenue share to bring in the Russian legend.
“They gave half the company, basically. They basically gave him half the revenue share—like, it was literally about half the revenue share to bring in Fedor,” Rockhold revealed.
