Tag: Alan Belcher (Page 2 of 2)

      Top 10 Middleweight Rankings

      June 15, 2011 /

      nullThis week the rankings move back to the middleweight division.

      The 185-pound weight class had some interesting developments over the last few months as Chael Sonnen has had his return to the UFC pushed back and one of the top fighters, Nate Marquardt, is moving down to 170 pounds.

      Nonetheless, here is what the top 10 in this weight class looks like.

      1. Anderson Silva (28-4) – Silva is not only No. 1 on this list, but also on my pound-for-pound list. I think he has a tough test ahead of him in Yushin Okami at UFC 134, as Silva has shown a weakness against big wrestlers. Still, many of Silva’s opponents show him too much respect, which plays right into his hands.

      2. Yushin Okami (26-5) – I am moving Okami up to number two because Sonnen’s future is in question and he seems to be losing steam with each passing day. Okami has beaten many of the best in the UFC, but he now has a chance to face the very best in Silva. Okami is a grinder, and that is what will be the most dangerous opponent for Silva to face.

      3. Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) – Sonnen has a good skill set, but his mouth and his poor choices have caused him to have a questionable future. Despite the fact that he pushed Silva to his limit, Sonnen still was unable to come through with a win. Sonnen has a clear weakness against submission specialists, but he has easily handled some of the top fighters in this division.

      Continue reading »

      Events, Fighters, Rankings, Strikeforce, UFC

      Belcher to return to the octagon on Sept. 17

      May 26, 2011 /

      nullIt has been a long road for Alan Belcher to get back into the octagon, but it appears that that road has ended.

      Sherdog.com announced on Thursday that “The Talent” will make his long-awaited return at UFC Fight Night Live on Sept. 17 in New Orleans when he takes on UFC veteran, Jason MacDonald.

      Belcher, 27, has not competed in the Octagon since May 8, 2010. “The Talent” has been recovering from a detached retina that put his fighting career in doubt. Now back to full strength, Belcher looks to continue his two-fight winning streak that he began in December 2009 by knocking out Wilson Gouveia before submitting Patrick Cote six months later at UFC 113.

      Like his opponent, MacDonald was also shelved for an extended period of time following an injury. “The Athlete” suffered a gruesome broken leg in his UFC 113 bout against John Salter, taking nearly a year off before returning at UFC 129 to submit Ryan Jensen with a triangle choke.

      Belcher had fought his way into the top 10 of the UFC middleweight division after beating fighters like Denis Kang, Gouveia, and Cote while also losing a controversial decision to Yoshihiro Akiyama.

      Belcher was scheduled to fight Demian Maia last fall but his eye injury forced him away from competition. He will now look to get back into the top 10 picture with a win over MacDonald.

      Events, Fighters, News, UFC

      UFC 130 Preview: Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago

      May 26, 2011 /

      nullSomething has to give.

      Brian Stann and Jorge Santiago are both on the rise in the middleweight division. But, at UFC 130, one fighter will continue to make the climb up the ladder, while the other will fall back.

      Here is a look at both fighters heading into this key contest for Saturday’s PPV.

      Brian Stann (10-3) – Not much was known or expected of Brian Stann when it was announced that he was moving from light heavyweight to middleweight after a loss to Phil Davis at UFC 109. But, Stann has won his first two bouts at 185 pounds, both by finish. He really broke onto the scene with his first round KO of Chris Leben at UFC 125 and is now being considered a legitimate threat in the division. Stann has big power in his hands and is under rated on the ground. As a former member of the Naval Academy and Marine Corps, Stann is a fighter that won’t panic, as he has faced much greater danger in his life than being inside the octagon. Stann is still developing his style in MMA and has not really faced a fighter with the muay thai ability that Santiago has. Stann’s grappling and clinch game will be very important in this contest if he hopes to win.

      Jorge Santiago (23-8) – Santiago had a stint in the UFC back in 2006, but he went 1-2 with losses to Leben and Alan Belcher, both by KO. Since that time he has went 11-0 with five knockouts and five submissions. Santiago is slick on the ground as he is a great jiu-jitsu fighter, but he also has a lot of power with his hands, knees, and kicks. Santiago likes to throw some crazy knees and has the ability to be very explosive. Where Santiago will have to be careful is to not sit in the pocket and trade punches with Stann. It is things like that that caused him to go 1-2 in the UFC before. Santiago will also have to keep Stann from putting his weight on him and slowing him down.

      Who Will Win: I like Stann in this fight. Santiago is a skilled and exciting fighter, but I like the poise and focus that Stann has. I look for Stann to weather an early storm from Santiago before hitting a big right hand in the second round that will lead to a TKO finish for the “All American”.

      Events, Fighters, UFC

      Maybe this is why GSP couldn’t see

      May 2, 2011 /

      Well, I knew while I was watching Georges St. Pierre take on Jake Shields on Saturday night that St. Pierre’s eye issue didn’t come from a rabbit punch jab by Shields.

      Here is clear video evidence of a pretty ugly eye poke during the fight.

      Let me just state for the record that I don’t think this was intentional, but it was a pretty sloppy way of striking in a title fight at the UFC level. It almost looks as if Shields was trying to lay down an infamous Nick Diaz “Stockton slap.”

      But, given the troubles Alan Belcher has had getting back into the octagon due to an eye injury, you hope that this won’t plague St. Pierre for a long time and he will be able to get back to training soon.

      Events, Fighters, UFC, Videos

      Top 10 Middleweight Rankings

      April 20, 2011 /

      nullThis week I turn my rankings to the middleweight division.

      Really, the field is Anderson Silva and everyone else.

      Still, here is my take. If you need to go back and find my pound-for-pound, heavyweight, or light heavyweight rankings, click on the links.

      1. Anderson Silva (28-4) – Silva is my top fighter in any weight class, let alone middleweight. “The Spider” is like an artist in the cage. He rarely throws a strike that doesn’t land and he doesn’t waste energy while fighting. Everything he does has a purpose and thought to it. Chael Sonnen may have found a small hole in his game with his takedown defense, but he still managed to submit Sonnen and then bounce back with a devastating front kick to Vitor Belfort in the first round of his last title defense. Up next is Yushin Okami, had poses the right skill set to give Silva problems.

      2. Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) – Sonnen is almost here by default. The other top guys in the group have either lost to him, or lost to someone that he has beaten. Sonnen is a grinder and a tremendous wrestler, but he has a clear weakness in his submission defense. Eight of his 11 losses have come by submission. Sonnen is also coming off a long layoff from a steroid suspension and legal issues. We will see if he can get back to being the fighter that nearly dethroned Silva.

      Continue reading »

      Fighters, Strikeforce, UFC

      Newer posts »

      © 2026 MMA Blitz

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑