It appears that Shaquille O’Neal has Vitor Belfort to thank for shutting down a “crazy” person at a party that could have gone south! Fans of basketball and MMA were in for a treat as the NBA legend was a guest on a recent episode of the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast with former UFC champions,  Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo. An insightful affair for fans of both sports, the conversation touched upon a number of topics including O’Neal’s history of MMA fandom, his childhood, and a storied NBA career that saw him become a 4-time NBA champion.

However, an interesting anecdote from the conversation has caused a frenzy online. O’Neal revealed how Belfort, one of the biggest names in the early days of the UFC, stepped up for the basketball star at a party. And the story ended with a shocking twist as the person who was bothering ‘Shaq’ was left regretting his decision on the night. Let’s take a look at what went down!

Shaquille O’Neal shares how Vitor Belfort came to his rescue at a party

While there is no debating his place in the world of basketball and media, Shaquille O’Neal is an avid MMA enthusiast too. Talking on the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast, he shared how a chance encounter with Vitor Belfort led to his love for the sport of MMA and a friendship with the former UFC light-heavyweight champion.

Recalling the moment, with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, O’Neal vividly described an incident during a training camp in Hawaii. Belfort approached him on the street, leaving O’Neal ready to defend himself until Belfort clarified his intentions. Instead of getting into a fight with the giant, Belfort handed O’Neal tickets to his fight, a gesture that ignited O’Neal’s interest in the sport.

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But that was only the beginning of their friendship. Later in the conversation, Henry Cejudo stated, “It’s ironic too Shaq because Vitor Belfort he has that ‘American Dream Story’. I mean, he was telling me actually, how you and Kobe would sit there and actually watch him fight. This was back in, this was in Beverly Hills man, used to go to these crazy parties”

O’Neal then revealed, “He knocked somebody out for me in the Burrow for me one time.”

When Cejudo asked for clarification, ‘Shaq’ continued the story, “Yeah. Dude was talking crazy and Vitor just came out of nowhere, bing, bing! And I’m looking at the dude on the floor like, “Vitor, go”. “No, man”… I said, “Mothef**ker get out of here, go, I got it.” And then the cops came… yeah…”

And this is just one of the few interesting encounters the NBA legend has had with the MMA world. According to a play-by-play commentator for the UFC, O’Neal’s presence at a UFC event catalyzed what he called “one of the greatest deliveries” of his life!

‘Shaq’ hyped up Jon Anik before a UFC event

Jon Anik, the UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator, recently shared a remarkable encounter with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal during a UFC event. Anik was preparing to deliver an intro during the event when he found himself unexpectedly face-to-face with O’Neal, a moment he vividly remembers.

In an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Anik stated, “I’ve had one moment like that, and I will never forget it because he’s one of my all-time favorite athletes… ”. He further explained that he often does on-camera standups where he engages with the crowd and delivers memorable lines before throwing to a feature.

But this time, things were different. Anik recounted, “I look down, and there’s a big hand reaching out to, like, give me a fist bump. It’s Shaquille O’Neal. If that doesn’t fire you up to fist bump that dude and then deliver to camera, right? I’m not sure how I delivered. It was probably one of the greatest deliveries of my life…”

In conclusion, Shaquille O’Neal’s passion for MMA has made him a beloved figure in the sport as evidenced by Anik’s story. And with his long-term fandom going back to Vitor Belfort’s early days in the UFC, ‘Diesel’s love and support for MMA continues to captivate fans and fighters alike. Do you think Shaquille O’Neal could have been a UFC heavyweight champion if he had chosen a different route in his athletic career? Share your thoughts in the comments below!