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Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1-0) vs. Alan “The Talent†Belcher (14-5-0)
Yoshihiro Akiyama will be making his UFC debut in this fight, despite having a long run competing overseas in the K-1 promotion. Yoshihiro Akiyama fought twelve times in the K-1 promotion, most notably against Jerome LaBanner, Kazushi Sakuraba and Denis Kang. Yoshihiro Akiyama also spent time in the DREAM promotion, defeating Masanori Tonooka in the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Finals. Yoshiro Akiyama is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with all twelve victories coming by knockout and submission. Alan Belcher has had a long run in the UFC, with victories over Jorge Santiago, Sean Salmon, Kalib Starnes, Ed Herman and Denis Kang, with losses coming to Yushin Okami, Kendall Grove and Jason Day. Early in his career, Alan Belcher won the Extreme Fight League 3 Middleweight Tournament by defeating Travis Fowler, Roger Kimes and David Franks. 2006 was the biggest year thus far in Alan Belcher’s MMA career, fighting nine times that year and winning eight of those fights. Alan Belcher is another fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with all twelve victories coming by knockout or submission.
My Prediction: Yoshihiro Akiyama
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
“Hollywood†Dan Henderson (24-7-0) vs. Michael “The Count†Bisping (17-1-0)
Dan Henderson is the only fighter in the history of the PRIDE organization to hold the PRIDE Middleweight Title and PRIDE Light Heavyweight Title at the same time. Upon returning the UFC in late 2007, Dan Henderson lost two straight fights to former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson and current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. After those two losses, Dan Henderson rebounded by acquiring victories over Rousimar Palhares and Rich Franklin, the latter victory gave Dan Henderson the opportunity to become the coach on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 9. Dan Henderson will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with ten prior victories coming by knockout. Ever since winning the UFC Ultimate Fighter 3, Michael Bisping has been on a tear in the UFC with victories over Josh Haynes, Eric Schafer, Elvin Sinosic, Matt Hamill, Charles McCarthy, Jason Day and Chris Leben, with his only loss coming to former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans. Following his victory over Chris Leben at UFC 89, Michael Bisping went onto become a coach on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 9 and has two members of his team win in the finals. Michael Bisping will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with eleven wins coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Michael Bisping
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Jon Fitch (18-3-0) vs. Paulo Thiago (11-0-0)
Jon Fitch has had a dominant run in the UFC thus far with victories over Brock Larson, Josh Burkman, Thiago Alves, Kuniyoshi Hironaka, Luigi Fioravanti, Roan Carneiro, Diego Sanchez, Chris Wilson and Akihiro Gono, with a lone loss coming to current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. The loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87 snapped a fifteen fight winning streak for Jon Fitch that had lasted over five years. A victory over the undefeated Paulo Thiago, especially after defeating Akihiro Gono, could put Jon Fitch into title contention. Jon Fitch is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with nine victories coming by knockout and submission. Paulo Thiago is an undefeated fighter who made his UFC debut at UFC 95 by defeating Josh Koscheck by TKO. Paulo Thiago is a longtime veteran of the Jungle Fight promotion, where he defeated Leonardo Pecanha, Ferrid Kheder and Luis Dutra. Early in his career, Paulo Thiago won the Grand Prix Planaltina Tournament by defeating Marcone Marcone, Diego Almeida and Igor Pakoto. Paulo Thiago will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with seven victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Jon Fitch
UFC Welterweight Title Fight
Georges “Rush†St. Pierre (18-2-0) *Champion* vs. Thiago “Pitbull†Alves (16-3-0)
Georges St. Pierre is a two time UFC Welterweight Champion and once was the holder of the UFC Interim Welterweight Title. Georges St. Pierre defeated Matt Hughes at UFC 65 and Matt Serra at UFC 83 to reign twice as UFC Welterweight Champion, while defeating Matt Hughes at UFC 79 to win the UFC Interim Welterweight Title. In his other UFC appearances, Georges St. Pierre has defeated Karo Parisyan, Jay Hieron, Jason Miller, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, BJ Penn, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. Georges St. Pierre has also fought in his home country of Canada’s most popular MMA promotion, TKO, where he defeated Pete Spratt and Dave Strasser. Georges St. Pierre will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with eight prior wins coming by knockout. Thiago Alves started off his UFC career by defeating Ansar Chalangov and Derrick Noble, while suffering defeats to Spencer Fisher and Jon Fitch. After the loss to Jon Fitch at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5, Thiago Alves has gone on a seven fight winning streak with victories over John Alessio, Tony DeSouza, Kuniyoshi Hironaka, Chris Lytle, Karo Parisyan, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. Before coming to the UFC in late 2005, Thiago Alves defeated UFC veteran Jeff Cox at King Of The Cage: Payback in 2005 and also defeated UFC veteran Marcus Davis at Hardcore Fighting Championships 2 in late 2003. Thiago Alves will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with ten wins coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Thiago Alves
UFC Heavyweight Title/UFC Interim Heavyweight Title Unification Fight
Brock Lesnar (3-1-0) *UFC Heavyweight Champion* vs. Frank Mir (12-3-0) *UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion*
Brock Lesnar is the only MMA fighter to have ever won the UFC Heavyweight Title after competing in less than five fights. In his first meeting with Frank Mir at UFC 81, Brock Lesnar was defeated in under a minute via heel hook after a controversial referee stoppage. Following the loss to Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar went on a two fight win steak with victories over Heath Herring and Randy Couture. In his lone MMA fight outside of the UFC, Brock Lesnar defeated Min Soo Kim by submission at K-1 Hero’s Dynamite USA. Brock Lesnar will be looking to use his ground and pound to gain the victory, with two previous victories coming by knockout and submission. After this encounter between Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar concludes, it will be the first time there has been one official UFC heavyweight Champion since UFC 74. Frank Mir is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who never actually lost the title, but was stripped of the title after suffering career threatening injuries after a motorcycle accident. During his UFC run, Frank Mir has defeated Roberto Traven, Pete Williams, Tank Abbot, Wes Simms, Tim Sylvia, Dan Christison, Antoni Hardonk, Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, with losses coming to Ian Freeman, Brandon Vera and Marcio Cruz. Of his fifteen career fights, Frank Mir has only had four go past the opening round, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Frank Mir will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with seven career victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Frank Mir
(Note: I will be doing live coverage of UFC 100 at PWInsiderXtra on Saturday July 11th at 10pm EST.)
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
