December 20, 1997
Heavyweight Bout
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Predictions and betting recommendations are only available for fights after July 10, 2025
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Total UFC Fights | 2 | 5 |
| Experience Gap | -3 | 3 |
| Experience ELO | 949 | 1 096 |
| ELO Change | -23 | +23 |
Vitor Belfort's 3-fight experience advantage (5 vs 2 fights) held true, but the algorithm limited the bonus to prevent over-rewarding Vitor Belfort for the expected result. Had Joe Charles pulled off the upset, his experience disadvantage would have delivered a modest upset bonus.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Title Fight ? | No | No |
| Title Fight ELO | 964 | 1 060 |
| ELO Change | -17 | +17 |
This was not a title fight, so both fighters received standard ELO adjustments. However, since ELO is a relative system, victories over former champions can have an indirect impact, and Title Fight ELO can differ from Basic ELO.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Fight Outcome | Submission | Submission |
| Last Round | 1 | 1 |
| Time of Finish | 4:03 | 4:03 |
| Win Type ELO | 962 | 1 300 |
| ELO Change | -12 | +20 |
Vitor Belfort earned an early finish with a Submission in round 1 at 4:03, gaining additional bonuses for the first-round submission.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Significant Strikes Landed | 1 | 0 |
| Significant Strikes Attempted | 1 | 0 |
| Total Strikes Landed | 1 | 0 |
| Knockdowns Scored | 0 | 0 |
| Striking ELO | 936 | 1 249 |
| ELO Change | -6 | +6 |
Virtually no striking took place with only 1 total significant strikes exchanged. Both fighters immediately engaged in grappling, making striking analysis irrelevant to this fight.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Takedowns Landed | 0 | 2 |
| Takedowns Attempted | 0 | 2 |
| Ground Control Time | -- | -- |
| Ground Strikes Landed | 0 | 0 |
| Ground ELO | 880 | 1 135 |
| ELO Change | -34 | +34 |
Vitor Belfort controlled Joe Charles on the ground with 2 vs 0 takedowns, earning substantial ground ELO bonuses. The submission finish significantly amplified the grappling rewards.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Days Since Last Fight | 989 | 65 |
| Activity ELO | 985 | 1 309 |
| ELO Change | -6 | +19 |
Vitor Belfort demonstrated excellent fighting frequency with 65 days since his last fight, earning a solid activity bonus for maintaining rhythm. As the winner, Vitor Belfort capitalized on this activity level, while Joe Charles's 989-day layoff didn't factor into the scoring since only winners receive activity bonuses.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Win Streak ELO | 964 | 1 072 |
| ELO Change | -17 | +18 |
Vitor Belfort started a new win streak, earning a momentum bonus. Joe Charles is back at 0 with this loss.
| Metric | Joe Charles | Vitor Belfort |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Heavyweight | Heavyweight |
| Double Championship Fight | No | No |
| Basic/Category ELO | 964 | 1 058 |
| ELO Change | -17 | +17 |
This category provides the foundation ELO scoring without bonuses, except for exceptional multiple division champions.

