Middleweight bout: Yoshihiro Akiyama defeated Alan Belcher via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).
Yoshihiro Akiyama and Alan Belcher were each awarded $100,000 bonuses for Fight of the Night.
Middleweight bout: Yoshihiro Akiyama defeated Alan Belcher via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).
Yoshihiro Akiyama and Alan Belcher were each awarded $100,000 bonuses for Fight of the Night.
I was very excited to see how Akiyma would do in the UFC. Belcher seemed like a good challenge.
The first round was exciting, but the pace really slowed in the second. Fortunately it picked up in the third.
I definitely gave Akiyama the first two rounds, and despite Akiyama appearing so injured in the third, he landed comparable strikes, not to mention scoring the takedown.
Interesting that no one mentioned Akiyama's punch after the 1st round bell.
I think Akiyama is going to have a hard time competing against the UFC middleweights. I hope he can cut down to welterweight.
R:2 A:4 S:3 T:3