UFC 100 Results: Yoshihiro Akiyama Wins Decision Over Alan Belcher

by Kid Nate on Jul 11, 2009 10:39 PM EDT in MMA Events

Yoshihiro Akiyama

In a split decision sure to be controversial, two of the judges ruled that Yoshihiro Akiyama beat Alan Belcher.

After an utterly unique ring entrance that had to make a big impression on the casual fans, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Alan Belcher opened UFC 100 in fine fashion. After eating an early low blow, and being dropped by Belcher in the first, Akiyama got a takedown to end the first round and capped it off with a punch after the bell.

Akiyama opened the 2nd with a takedown and held position after some good scrambling from Belcher failed to reverse position. Delivering effective ground and pound, Akiyama dominated even as Belcher regained guard and after a couple minutes, his feet. Akiyama scored on the feet as well though.

In the third, Belcher dominated standing plus injured Akiyama's eye with what may have been a poke. A takedown in the final seconds gave Akiyama fans hope.

In a fight with more meaning to Asian MMA fans and hardcore fans in America, Yoshihiro Akiyama aimed to prove that he was more than just the guy the Japanese fans love to hate. Alan Belcher aimed to prove that his win over the highly touted Denis Kang was no fluke and that he was a contender in the UFC's middle weight divsion.

Akiyama, a judo expert of Korean-Japanese descent hadn't fought top competition since his controversial No Contest against Kazuo Misaki on New Year's Eve 2007. Although that fight was not ruled a loss due to Misaki's final kick to the face being ruled illegal, the impact of the blow was very real and some believed it had permanently damaged Akiyama's reflexes. Since then he had only fought twice, against opponents with a combined 4-8-1 record and not at all in 2009.

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Comments

Correct decision. I had it 29-28 for Sexy. The Sherdog guys had it 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 all for Sexy.

by FlyByKnight on Jul 11, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

This.

by Riney on Jul 12, 2009 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Bullshit

Belcher won that fight. Who is the clown who scored it 30-27 Akiyama?

by dualdiagnosis on Jul 11, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions

Belcher won the third round. He lost the first two. Clear as day.

by FlyByKnight on Jul 11, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Jordan Breen scored it 30-27 for Akiyama, too.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Jul 11, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I had it 29-28 Akiyama.

by Richard Wade on Jul 11, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I also had Akiyama at 29-28. The leg kicks were numerous but it didn’t seem as though Akiyama was going down because of them. He toughed out an early groin strike and an eye poke later and was still 50/50 on the feet with Belcher. And I consider the takedowns as being more game-changing than Belcher’s kicks. I gave the first round to Belcher and the other two to Akiyama. But I’ll have to rewatch the fight before making any serious commitments to my scoring.

by Ahhhoki on Jul 11, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

Really?

DId I watch the same fight as everyone else? Belcher won the first and third and lost the second. Is it that everyone wanted “Sexy” (horrible nickname) to win. He lost and there is nothing that anyone can say to change my mind. I just don’t see what the “Sexy” fans saw (and I had no dog in this fight).

by JustinWF on Jul 11, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

It’s Sexyama not Sexy.

by Richard Wade on Jul 11, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Do I agree with the 30-27 from Byrd? No. But even if you make it 29-28, it doesn’t change the outcome.

I scored it 29-28 for Akiyama. Thought he did enough in the first round to overcome Belcher’s knockdown and leg kicks with lots of jabs, some headkick/straight right combos, and good right hook counters. The 2nd round got close in the last 2 minutes but, again, I thought Akiyama did enough to take it home with his takedown, control, and effective striking in the first half of the round. In the 3rd, Belcher was consistently doing damage, while Akiyama could only pick his spots.

So, yeah, I thought the decision was fair and far from a robbery.

by a tommy point on Jul 12, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

Some of you guys need to be more open to viewpoints other than their own. There were some close rounds there. The second I gave it to Akiyama, but the others could have been scored either way depending on how much weight you gave to each part of the game. The unified rules are vague on the weightings that should be used to score rounds. Neither fighter was dominant in those rounds. It was close, and could have gone either way depending on how you interpreted the judging criteria.

by Meeaaat on Jul 12, 2009 1:27 AM EDT reply actions

Belcher got Robbed

I had him winning all three rounds. I can see why he lost the second since he was on his back for half the round but the second half he was dominating the standup. and i would like to know how he lost the last round?

by Crookswood on Jul 12, 2009 1:34 AM EDT reply actions

Takedowns

count for something.

by Riney on Jul 12, 2009 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I would like to know how you have Belcher winning round 2? That was the most obvious of the three that Akiyama won. I don’t understand giving Yoshihiro all three rounds, however most everyone is in agreement, Akiyama won that fight. You can disagree but using the word robbed is a little much. Hamil was robbed versus Bisping, this one.. not so much.

by sadface on Jul 12, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions