At times, injuries can force some of the sport’s best competitors to the shelf for extended periods of time. And being away from the cage has been shown to be detrimental to fighters when they finally do make their comebacks. One fighter who faces such a situation is 27-year-old Alan “The Talent” Belcher.
Before Belcher went down to an eye injury in 2010, he was well on his way to surging towards the top of the middleweight division. He was scheduled for his first main event, in a bout against Demian Maia, but had to withdraw due to emergency eye surgery. With his potential return set for the latter part of 2011, here are a few names that would provide interesting opponents for Belcher when he steps back into the Octagon:
Michael Bisping
Before Belcher went down, he was becoming more known for the confidence in his abilities that he exudes. This confidence knows no bounds, as Belcher says whatever he wishes to create prefight hype. Matching Belcher against Michael Bisping would once again put “The Count” in an uncomfortable position. We all saw how he reacted to what Jorge Rivera said and did leading up to their fight; he would be in for more of the same when facing Belcher, and would likely react similarly.
In the cage, Bisping–Belcher would be an action-packed battle. Both fighters are more apt to stand and trade with their opponents, looking to score with multiple combinations. Just look back at the battles both fighters had against Yoshihiro Akiyama recently for an illustration of their styles in action. Fans are consistently clamoring for fighters to stand and bang in the cage; Bisping versus Belcher would help satisfy those expectations.
Vitor Belfort
After Belfort defeated Patrick Cote at UFC 113 he began to call out some of the fighters at the top of the middleweight division. One of those fighters that he called out was Vitor Belfort, who at the time was lined up to face Anderson Silva. Now the air of opportunity is the only thing that separates the two.
Belfort–Belcher would be a back and forth battle that I’d be willing to guarantee would not go the full three rounds. Both fighters attack with the intention of putting their opponents out for the night, and that’s how this fight would end. With his superior quickness and hand speed, plus his devastating power, Belfort would have the striking advantage. But Belcher’s grappling abilities would allow him to control any action on the mat. However, I do not see this fight going to or staying on the ground very long. With these two fighters in the cage, I wouldn’t recommend going to the bathroom or trying to refill your drink.
Court McGee
Ultimate Fighter winner Court McGee is also facing a comeback from injury. A knee injury forced him to pull out of his fight on the upcoming UFC 131 card. After he recovers, however, I would like to see him face off against Belcher. Both of these fighters have the potential to become major contenders to the middleweight crown.
With 11 UFC fights under his belt, Belcher has an experience advantage in this matchup. He has been in the cage with some of the biggest names that the UFC has to offer in the division, and that would likely help him defeat McGee. That being said, the McGee–Belcher matchup would be a great reintroduction bout for both fighters as they come off of their respective injuries. They would be able to showcase their abilities in a high-energy bout, and the winner would announce his reentry to the ranks of the middleweight contenders with a resounding win, and add a well-known name to his resume.
