UFC 133 Evans vs Ortiz Previews Part Six: Vitor Belfort vs Yoshihiro Akiyama

Columns, Previews, Top Story

In a contest which now shares co-main event status, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort (19-09) faces Japanese MMA superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-03-2nc).

This duel looks destined to provide fireworks in a town known to favor warfare of the pugilistic variety, as these warriors are considered two of the most potent and explosive strikers currently plying their trade in the UFC middleweight division.

Both men have been beset with problems leading up to the fight, with Belfort contracting Hepatitis A back in April, but has since stated he has made a full recovery, and Akiyama having first seen a fight with Chael Sonnen scrapped due to Sonnen’s suspension following his federal conviction for fraud and then having to withdraw from UFC 128 altogether following the disastrous events in his homeland of Japan.

‘The Phenom’ has fought a veritable who’s who of past and present champions, both in the UFC and beyond, including Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Siva, man of the moment Dan Henderson and his head trainer at Xtreme Couture, Randy Couture, to name but a few, before stepping down to the middleweight mark. The thirty-four year old made his debut at the tender age of just nineteen, back when weight classes were at best rudimentary, and media exposure was miniscule and scathing. Yet he is now one of the most respected and identifiable fighters in the business, and will be highly motivated to return to winning ways, and prove that he remains one of the top 185 pounder’s in the world following the first knockout defeat of his career to former team mate and all conquering UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva at UFC 126.

Akiyama’s position is more tenuous as he looks to bounce back from a two fight losing skid to Chris Leben and Michael Bisping following an exciting debut in which he edged past Alan Belcher at UFC 100 by split decision to earn Fight of the Night honors. The man dubbed ‘Sexyama’ by his many adoring fans has in fact earned that accolade in each of his three UFC outings, but that will count for little consolation if his descent continues, as defeat here would likely spell the end of his UFC tenure in spite of those most entertaining performances.

The UFC would have had high hopes for the Asian games Gold medalist, as the promotion looks forward to hosting an event in Japan early next year. Akiyama holds one of the biggest names in Asian MMA, and has had a career laced with both great success and controversy- winning K1 Hero’s 2006 Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, and boasting notable victories over Denis Kang and Melvin Manhoef, coupled with highly dubious and polarizing affairs against MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba and fellow Japanese MMA standout Kazuo Misaki.

Belfort should have a distinct advantage on the feet, and must look to use his more technical striking and superior movement to angle off and attack with quick combinations, whilst maintaining balance and posture throughout to quash the threat of the Judoka’s grappling, and test the thirty-six year old Akiyama’s unconvincing stamina.

Akiyama has expressed his intention to slug it out with the heavy-handed southpaw, and though his resolve is admirable it may prove ill conceived. He would be better served using his striking to set up his clinch-game, where he can employ his excellent base to edge his opponent toward the fence, and frustrate a Belfort previously derided for his questionable mental state when fights fail to unfold as he had hoped.

Belfort will have too much firepower for the resolute Akiyama, and will force the stoppage.

Luke Cho Yee is a writer from the UK who has followed MMA since before the term was coined, from the inception of the UFC to the glory days of PRIDE. A keen martial arts practitioner himself, he cannot wait to see how the sport continues to evolve.