Report: Belfort's UFC deal won't end after Marquardt bout

Vitor Belfort may not be riding off into the sunset on Saturday after all.

Contrary to an announcement he made himself earlier this year, the 40-year-old's upcoming middleweight bout opposite Nate Marquardt at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro will not be the last of his promotional contract, MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz reports.

"The Phenom" will reportedly have one fight remaining on his existing deal after Saturday's card.

The news further muddies the waters on Belfort's future, as he'd announced he intended to hang up his gloves in his native Rio shortly after falling to Kelvin Gastelum by first-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 106 - even going as far as requesting he face a non-Brazilian - although he's since revealed he intends to keep competing once he's tangled with Marquardt.

Belfort didn't provide much clarity in a Wednesday appearance on "UFC Tonight." The Phenom would not go into details on his contract when asked, but did express his desire to keep calling the Octagon home.

Whether it marks his last fight in the UFC or not, the Brazilian meets Marquardt in dire need of a W, having been finished in each of his last three fights and four of his past five, including the loss to Gastelum that was later overturned to a no-contest.