Belfort proposes 'Legend League' for retired UFC fighters

His days of competing for a title may be in the rear view, but Vitor Belfort can still dare to dream.

At 39, "The Phenom" knows he's not long for the Octagon, and he's begun channeling his competitive drive elsewhere, most notably toward a sub-promotion of sorts dedicated to fellow luminaries who've passed their primes, but whose craving for a good scrap has not yet waned. Belfort intends to present the UFC's brass with the concept, convinced the venture promises far too much profit to be passed up.

"I have even one idea I want to present for the UFC: It’s creating a new league inside the UFC," Belfort told MMAjunkie's Fernanda Prates and John Morgan.

"We need something new - I can see now. These new owners, they want to create something new. There is a lot of changing. What I want to propose to them is creating a league inside the UFC, the Legend League, so we can bring back these retired people - bring them back to the game and sell more tickets - give more opportunities so they can make more revenue.

"I can lead that. We can make a title fight between me and one of the legends, and that can be a new program in the UFC."

The legends participating in these clashes would be accommodated with modified rules, including bigger gloves and longer rest periods between rounds, Belfort said, while adding that if the Chuck Liddells and Brian Stanns of the world are still capable of putting on quality fights, why keep them on the couch?

"I have brains; I still have some left. I want to be able to make the fans happy and give them what they need. Not just entertain them, but give them the pleasure to see legends. I think that’s what they love to do. Why just retire them? Bring them back," he said.

Belfort, for one, isn't ready to call it a career just yet, as he takes on Kelvin Gastelum in the middleweight main event of UFC Fight Night 106 in Fortaleza, Brazil this Saturday.