Yoshihiro Akiyama vs Alan Belcher UFC 100 fight booked for July 11

by MMAmania.com on Mar 19, 2009 10:23 PM EDT

Alan Belcher (14-5) will once again have the opportunity to introduce another stand out newcomer to the Octagon, agreeing to face middleweight superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1) to the Octagon at UFC 100 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 11.

"The Talent" is fresh off a comeback victory over Pride FC and Spirit MC standout Denis Kang at UFC 93: "Franklin vs. Henderson" earlier this year. Belcher was taking his lumps before Kang got sloppy and ended up in a fight-ending guillotine.

It was his fourth win in his last five attempts — a surprising technical knockout loss to newcomer Jason Day at UFC 83: "Serra vs. St. Pierre 2" last year is the only blip during that span. He was supposed to challenger Alessio Sakara; however, it appears that the bout has been put on the backburner in favor of this match up, according to MMAWeekly.com.

Akiyama recently signed an exclusive contract with the promotion, signaling that the UFC is serious about gaining a foothold in the Far East. He is fourth-generation Japanese-born Korean and has long been one of Japan’s biggest heels.

That's because Akiyama went Exxon Valdez on Japanese hero Kazushi Sakuraba at K-1 Premium Dynamite!! in 2006. His technical knockout victory over the legend was changed to a "No Contest" after some questions were raised about his pre-fight ritual of getting freaky with a jar of Olay and a Japanese "Grease Gate" was born.

After cleaning the clock of now-UFC middleweight Denis Kang at Hero’s 2007, Akiyama made waves at Yarennoka 2007 when Kazuo Misaki turned his face inside-out with a brutal soccer kick.

While originally ruled a knockout, an Akiyama complaint forced officials to review the tape and reverse the match to a "No Contest" as it was decided prior to the event that kicks to a downed opponent would be considered a foul.

Fans were not pleased.

Still, Akiyama is a talented fighter capable of winning anywhere at anytime — none of his twelve wins have gone the distance. In addition, he can finish in style with either a spinning back kick (Nagata) or an Ezekiel choke (Shibata, Ishizawa).

The decorated judoka has now given the land of the rising sun yet one more reason to loathe him by signing with Zuffa, especially those still bitter by the dissolution of Pride FC.

UFC 100 features two major title fights: Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir will tangle to declare an undisputed division champion and Georges St. Pierre will once again defend his 170-pound strap against number one contender, Thiago Alves.

In addition, TUF 9 coaches, Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping, are slated to meet and determine who earns the right to challenge the reigning middleweight champion later in 2009.

For the latest UFC 100 fight card and rumors click here.

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Comments

I called this fight back when Akiyama was being rumored to possibly sign on with the UFC.

by NameNotRequired on Mar 19, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Oh yea belcher sucks. Who gets a tattoo of Johnny Cash much less a the worst tattoo ever of him?

by NameNotRequired on Mar 19, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

isnt belcher fighting sakara on 99??

by brendan on Mar 19, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

nevermind, just reread… i hope they get him another standup opponent!

by brendan on Mar 19, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That fight was cancelled.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Akiyama is going to whoop on Belcher. I cant wait to see it. I wish it would get bumped back to the Philly card!

Kevin and all the maniacs: Sorry guys, but I will probably be backing out of the trip since UFC 101 will probably be in philly. Let me know if you guys decide to make the trip to Philly for this event.

by john on Mar 20, 2009 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions

akiyama should easily beat belcher …. he looked sloppy in his last fight

NEWS: affliction have come to there senses and are not going to commit suicide by going against UFC 100 for there 3rd event

this is good news because i like affliction and think there last show was brilliant and the fact that it were just there 2nd event makes it even better

by ufcaddict on Mar 20, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Belcher has accused Akiyama of being a roid head! Belcher is going to pay for that remark!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully Akiyama leaves the cage with his head. Belcher is a classless punk.

The tattoo says it all…what a moron.

by Ca$z on Mar 20, 2009 5:58 AM EDT up reply actions

anyone with a famous persons face tatoo’ed on their body is just a clown.

Belcher with Johnny Cash?…give me a break!

Filho with Mike TYson…. a lunatic with a tatoo of another lunatic

Only portraits that should ever be tatooed on someone’s body is portraits of family members…that I can understand, al this other crap is just silly!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

John,

At least Filho makes sense in the lunatic sort of way. Not to mention I really looking forward to this fight.

by Jeff on Mar 20, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

*I’m

by Jeff on Mar 20, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

hahaha I guess… Hell yeah I am looking forward to this fight. especially now that Belcher has called Akiyama a roid head. I hope Yoshihiro uses his judo to throw belcher around like a little bitch!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s better than a “Brown Pride” tattoo anywhere on your body.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 21, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

you dont know what your talking about fag

by remixmma on May 1, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Sakara had no chance and yoshi has no chance you people are stupid to underestimate Alan Belcher

by James on Jun 16, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome. This card is a must-buy.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

not a huge akiyama fan but this will be a good fight for his first in the ufc,belcher is no can.

by NM on Mar 20, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I think they’re also making Belcher a gatekeeper.

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Mar 21, 2009 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Belchers the 185 version Elvis Sinosec!

by Machine on Mar 21, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

This better be on the main card ahead of Fitch.

by Stephen Shamrock on Mar 19, 2009 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

I saw that Bonnar vs Coleman is slated as one of the undercard fights that might not be televised. How sad is that? Mark Coleman, the man who once dominated the UFC heavyweight division, the man who invented the ground and pound, the most recent inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, is not subjected to fighting on a card where his fight may not even be seen. Pathetic.

by ScissorSweep on Mar 19, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

is subjected*

by ScissorSweep on Mar 19, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Did you see his fight with Shogun?

If there was an undercard underneath the undercard, he belongs on it.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly!! Coleman doesn’t belong in the Ufc anymore.

by Del Boy on Mar 19, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know he looked like if he got some cardio he could be an actual force. He’s got Lesner like size and strength for his division and if he gets on top of you he can def pound your face into the mat. Also he didn’t train properly for that fight. Now that he got cash from that event he will be able to train well.

Also Bonnar deserves to be televised. You know for sure with these two it will at least be entertaining. If this wasn’t the biggest card ever this could be the third fight on a PPV or the second fight on an UFN

by EazyEismydad on Mar 19, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

“if he got some cardio he could be an actual force”

Coleman never had cardio. Even in his younger days (when he was still old) he still gassed if the fight went more than 5 minutes. Maurice Smith exposed his suspect cardio back at UFC 14, and since then the key to beating him has been to let him wear himself out and take it to him later in the fight.

by GregC on Mar 20, 2009 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions

JJ….He could be The Ultimate Fluffer for all the warm up acts.

Only kidding, but on a stacked card such as this he will deservedly be demoted to the undercard for sure.

Hopefully the UFC will take this milestone event a step further and get the undercard to air live on spike. That would be the shit.

by Ca$z on Mar 20, 2009 6:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Ca$z, I like that idea! Affliction has been throwing a bone to the dogs by putting their undercards on FSN & HDNet. That would be sweet if the UFC did that with the undercard on Spike. Even if it was just this once for the monumental event. Maybe we just need to get it circulating that Affliction did something better than the UFC like this. Dana couldn’t handle that and would look to rememdy.

by PJJ on Mar 20, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

remedy

by PJJ on Mar 20, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Alot of people might think tht Akiyama is just gunna walk right through Belcher, i dont. I think this is going to be a close fight to call. Im actually goint to call it balcher via tko rd 2.

by belfort_fan on Mar 19, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions

yeah i dont expect much from sexyama hasnt fought the same since the misaki fight but if he wins ill be on the sexyama war wagon, still a fan i just dont know if hell beat belcher

by Jared on Mar 19, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

what are you talking about he submitted both of his opponents in dream

by brendan on Mar 19, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

One of the guys he submitted has a 1-2 record and the other one has a 2-6 record so what are you talking about!!!

by belfort_fan on Mar 20, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

/sexyama hasnt fought the same since the misaki fight/ what does that have to do with his opponents records?

by brendan on Mar 20, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m with Akiyama all the way. Belcher didn’t win his last fight, Kang beat himself which means Alan is still the same ole’ Alan. Even in winning the guy has never impressed me but I’ll still admit he’s no can.

Just like Kang (if he pulls himself together and gets focused), I see Akiyama making a run for the title.

by Machine on Mar 21, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

WAR SEXYAMA!

by dn99 on Mar 19, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

I hope your a chick.

by belfort_fan on Mar 19, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

so true jeremy, so true

Coleman has now become a mere shadow of himself. I gotta go with Bonnar on this one. Hope he can rebound from his last fight, Jones really did a number on him.

by Homslice on Mar 19, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

i think belcher has alot of talent and i like watching him fight but i dont see him holding a belt. has anyone heard anything more about a possible event coming to louisiana this year??

by tuffguy01 on Mar 19, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Well the card looks set then. I was hoping for a Maia vs Marguardt fight but they can add that to the Aug card hopefully. I guess Heath Herring is healthy because Cain was rumored to fight Dos Santos on this card. I havn’t heard anything but is the UFC 99 card free or are they going to have it on PPV.

by Kilby on Mar 19, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

PPV.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

God dammit Dana. They are both coming off of losses.

by Kilby on Mar 19, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

channelsurfing.net is always free :)

by brendan on Mar 19, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Or have lunch at BW3 and watch it there live. They generally show it at either time.

by PJJ on Mar 20, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Kilby, I think Maia vs Marguardt should be for the next shot at AS so it wouldnt really make sense to have it on the same card as a fight that is billed as a #1 contender battle (Bisping vs Hendo). I was even thinking it could be a co-main on the 102 card; 101 already has Randy vs Nog, and Forrest vs Thiago Silva.

Though I like this fight and think it will be a good scrap, I had such high hopes for 100! 3 solid fights yes, a MEGA-CARD no doubt! But Dana was billing it legendary! IMHO Alan Belcher does not deserve to be on “the greatest card ever”.

by WB on Mar 20, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah its a great card….but its not close to being a greatest card in mma history. It still doesnt even compare to how stacked an average Pride Shockwave card used to be!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

the post says Akiyama was a Pride fighter, he never fought in Pride.

by shogun90 on Mar 19, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

Akiyama is a stud (to paraphrase Guida), he’s finished his opponent in each of his 12 wins, and his lone [legitimate] loss is too the heavyweight K-1 fighter and WGP finalist, Jerome Le Banner. His last two wins in DREAM were against cans before jumped ship, avoiding a rumoured title shot against Mousasi, so I hope he can pull up his socks when he faces Belcher, who is a decent MW. I hope Akiyama does to Belcher what he did to Kang, an eye-opening KO (the KO’d face of Kang was priceless).

by Belisarius on Mar 19, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

Iw would have been pretty rad if they’d signed Ishii and brought him in for this card. I can’t wait to see what Judo skills at that ridiculously high a level can do in the UFC.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

nah man id rather see a well prepared and properly trained ishii. if he gets into the fight game before he has some decent skills his career could possibly go downhill

but ufc 100 is shaping to be good. im kinda dissapointed that the herring fight is still on as i wanted to see dos santos vs cain bad. ah well that fight should be booked soon enough

by Jared on Mar 19, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point Jared. Guess I’m just impatient to see what this cat can do in a cage.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah man me too, and by the looks of his noggin i expect the dude to be able to take a punch

by Jared on Mar 19, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

was he in negotiation with the ufc?? id like to see him in there

by tuffguy01 on Mar 19, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe he has stated that it his intention to join the UFC and that he was/is in negotiations with them.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 20, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

You see the sweet judp throw in the Oklahoma-Morgan State game in the tourney that got the guy ejected? At about the 40 second mark.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Morgan-State-player-takes-down-Blake-Griffin-?urn=ncaab,149352

by PJJ on Mar 20, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, he took Griffin for a ride, Karo style!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Just as a heads up, Akiyama fought in K-1, not PRIDE.

by Champage on Mar 19, 2009 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

Belcher is a descent opponent who get mauled around by Kang, until Kang got sloppy (and over confident of his ground skill) on R2 and get choked. Akiyama stalked and punished Kang during the fight until the KO. So I think it’ll be a very hard fight for Belcher, Akiyama won’t get sloppy and he’s really good on ground and good on stand up with KO power(and he’s focusing and training on his striking skills now).

by moka on Mar 19, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions

Good points moka. Have you seen Akiyama vs Manhoef? That fight took place when Akiyama had ZERO striking ability. He weathered that tornado of a kickboxer named Manhoef who’s more natural disaster than human being and he still survived to pull off a submission win. Belcher’s done in this fight its just a matter of when & how.

by Machine on Mar 21, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Akiyama was scared of Gegard but its all good the UFC has the best MW division so he can run from Gegard hes still gonna run into a Nate/Silva/HEndo/Rich/Wandy/Maia/Palaharas even thought i seriously think he is capable of beating everyone i listed we will see soon enough.

by Khaos_Warrior on Mar 20, 2009 3:15 AM EDT reply actions

I think it was more of a contract dispute with Dream about his renew contract than he was scare…That’s why he did fight Gegard and end up with the UFC instead

by moka on Mar 20, 2009 3:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Belcher is a very flashy fighter n i cant wait 4 this fight certainly he s not goin 2 walk through him but its gona b a war.
Dos and cain r my 2 fav HW there gona b able 2 make that a headliner soon that would b a warr.

by Beast300 on Mar 20, 2009 3:23 AM EDT reply actions

this fight will be on the main card as well as the fitch fight

by bryant on Mar 20, 2009 7:42 AM EDT reply actions

besides Joe Silva, do you guys want to know who has the greatest job on earth?….lol that dude from the new VH! show "tough love"…greatest job EVER!!! He gets to call girls out and be BRUTALLY HONEST with them on National TV…blaze somethin, watch that, and you will never laugh so hard in your life!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

why all the belcher hate? if you guys really knew him you would realize he’s not that person you see fighting that looks to be a cocky douche. he does what he has to to hype himself up for the fight, and none of you can say you would do different.

by bj pencil on Mar 20, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

If I were him, I wouldnt proclaim to be a contender! Thats for sure! Yes I would market myself but I would do so in a non-delusional manner!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

a huge picture of Johnny Cash tatood on his arm doesn’t exactly help his case either! lol

C-level fighter at best!

by john on Mar 20, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed people forget he got his ass handed to him by jason day, hes not a contender hes more like the guy below contender and above gatekeeper

by Jared on Mar 20, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i beg to differ. the day fight was bad for him. he had a hard cut and couldn’t replenish before the fight. totally fatigued and almost went to the hospital because of it. the tat…well, no arguements there, but doesn’t in any way describe his character. C-level fighter? maybe in some peoples eyes, but he’s young, and gets better with every fight, no? the ufc obviously sees something in him cuz hes been on the main card for the past 5 shows he’s fought. give him a chance guys, he’s a GREAT kid and does a lot for the community here in mississippi…

by bj pencil on Mar 20, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Akiyama better watch out. Kang was dominating until Belcher called on the powers of his Johnny Cash tattoo.

by Tanner on Mar 20, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

lol!!!

by bj pencil on Mar 20, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone know a source for all of Akiyama’s fights including some of his big international judo championship wins? I think he is one hell of a fighter…sort of like a middleweight version of Bas Ruttan but with more “refined” grappling skills ( not that Ruttan needs to refine anything he does, but imagine Ruttan and Akiyama kicking thug ass in a bar or on the street…oh, my, god! I used to say that I only grapple with women…heh, heh, heh…but after seeing a clip of Akiyama doing a number on some pretty tough dudes, I am going to study GOKOR and SYSTEMA grappling at the age of 62! Oh, yeah, Bas Ruttan is the coolest…funny as hell too!

by Herb on Mar 21, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

All i got to say to all of you Akiyama suck ups bring your non fightin a— to Alan Belchers RemixMMA anytime they will be able to hand your a— to ya after they wipe the cage with it..

by MMAFIGHTER1 on May 27, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions