One of the most interesting fights taking place on Saturday evening on the UFC 100 main card will feature DREAM and HERO'S veteran and Korean superstar Yoshihiro "Sexyama" Akiyama taking on highly underrated UFC striker Alan Belcher. The bout is Akiyama's coming out party to the U.S. fans. He's got big drawing power from both the Japanese and Korean fan bases in the Asian market. Not only will he provide a formidable test to many of the UFC's middleweights, but he also can give the UFC's plans for Asian expansion a jump start.

Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1-0-2) is a former judoka with gold medals from both the 2001 Asian Championships and the 2002 Asian Games at 81kg. He's been one of the few fighters within the sport that has been able to transition his judo into winning form by using tosses and positioning to put opponents on the floor and submit them. He's also no slouch in the stand-up game as he has managed to use his overall power and strength to very dangerous effect standing. Just ask Denis Kang.

There are some huge questions that have yet to be answered about Akiyama's entry into the UFC. First and foremost, many fans say his record isn't a true indication that he has the skills it takes to be successful in the UFC. He managed to defeat 2000 Olympic Silver-medalist Katsuhiko Nagata in HERO's, although Nagata has had limited success in MMA. He defeated heavy-handed striker Melvin Manhoef by way of a vastly better submission game, and he did manage to spectacularly knockout Denis Kang at HERO's 2007 in Korea. Those wins may look impressive to some fans, but Akiyama has yet to take on competition that has been consistently seeded in the top ten. Both Kang and Misaki have dropped out of the top 15 according to the USA Today/SB Nation Middleweight rankings. His UFC stint will be the litmus test.

Secondly, I truly wonder if Akiyama can revel in an environment in which he isn't the ultimate villian. In Japan, almost every Akiyama battle in the latter part of his career was setup much like most battles that Tito Ortiz has been involved in within his UFC career. A lot of people in Japan love to hate Akiyama due to the Japanese/Korean citizenship ordeal coupled with the fact that some fans simply hate the fact that "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman and holding hands with his cornermen is one of his signature entrances.

Additionally, Akiyama's use of "Oil of Olay" lotion prior to the Sakuraba fight has fueled a hatred by Japanese fans. He's been considered a "cheat" in Japan due to the violation, and he was subsequently suspended by HERO's for the incident and briefly lost his Nike sponsorship.

One of the reasons I have enjoyed Akiyama in Japan is because of the fact that he fights with a huge chip on his shoulder. He's the villian, but he's out to prove to the world that he's the best middleweight in MMA against opponents who want to teach him a lesson in manners and his place in society Kazuo Misaki publicly ranted about Akiyama's disrespect to Japanese fans after defeating him at Yarrenoka!, The fight was later ruled a no-contest due to the kick to the head landing while Akiyama's hands were on the mat. All of the drama surrounding Akiyama only added to his fanbase, even if those fans simply wanted to see him get pounded.

The focus now changes from being the villian in the Asian market to becoming a fighter who is out to prove he can hang with the best in the world in the UFC. Perhaps Akiyama can produce that large chip on his shoulder from some pro-American chanting from the crowd much like in the Koscheck-Yoshida matchup, but one thing is for certain -- this won't be an easy fight for the Korean fashion king.

Alan "The Talent" Belcher (14-5) is currently 5-3 in  his UFC career with a huge upset victory over Denis Kang at UFC 93 that has propelled him into some better fights that could potentially put him into a contention role if he continues to beat bigger names. Belcher brings solid Muay Thai kickboxing skills to the cage along with an ever-improving grappling game and a deep gas tank. He's been one of the bright spots in the division as he's managed to be one of the few fighters that has visibly improved in every fight. He also rarely goes to decision, something fans and the UFC always love to see.

Where does Belcher give Akiyama problems? The stand-up game is probably the most dangerous part of Belcher's skill set, and he could end up surprising Akiyama with heavy, quick head kicks and leg kicks. He also has some fairly heavy hands, and his position control and clinch game has improved dramatically. Belcher is definitely one of the more underrated prospects within the division. I believe that Akiyama's skill set and strength is vastly underrated by fans. He has the judo game to put Belcher in some bad positions, and Belcher's submission defense has been a topic of discussion in the past.

Both Akiyama and Belcher have much to prove to fans on Saturday night. Belcher will want to prove that his win over Denis Kang was no fluke and that he has improved substantially enough to be considered a top middleweight in the division. Akiyama will want to prove to his detractors that he can compete with the UFC's elite, and that his signing isn't just a way for the UFC to draw fans from the Asian market, but rather a way for the UFC to add depth to a division that has been shallow in the past. This bout is one that everyone should look forward to watching.

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