Now onto the main card, in a fight, for different reasons than Bonnar and Coleman, I'd never thought I'd see. Most stars in large Japanese promotions, Asian or otherwise, will spend their careers fighting in Japan/Korea.
Akiyama seems to want to really test his mettle after dismantling his past competition, with the exception of a Jerome LeBanner who came in an excess of eighty pounds heavier than Akiyama. Akiyama, a decorated judoka, has proven to be just as dangerous on the feet as he has on the mat since his transition to mixed martial arts. He holds a submission victory over one of the premier kick boxers and stand up fighters in mixed martial arts, Melvin Manhoef. I see this fight as being similar with the style match up, though Belcher has proven to have a more active guard and a better ground game than Manhoef, though he's not as proficient in the stand up. Akiyama wants this fight to go to the ground, which should prove no problem for him, seeing as how Kang took Belcher down at will. I see him going for the clinch and working trips and throws. He looks poised in this fight to make a mark on the UFC middleweight division and perhaps take a step forward with a dream fight with Anderson Silva.
Alan Belcher is proving it hard for the UFC to market Asian middleweights, thanks to his guillotine victory against a frustrated Denis Kang. Belcher was losing the fight all three rounds, but what I think won him the fight was a body kick he landed toward the end that seemed to hurt Kang. Belcher is proving to be pretty good on the feet as we saw against Ed Herman, though many believe he lost that fight. For me, the only way I see Belcher winning this fight is using his reach and keeping Akiyama at bay, which is very plausible, but for me highly unlikely.
My guess is that within the first round and a half that Akiyama will gain a very dominant top position and work an armbar.
Result: Yoshihiro Akiyama by 2nd round Submission.
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