Alan Belcher (11-3) and Ricardo Almeida (8-2) will lock horns in a middleweight bout at UFC 81 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 2, according to MMAWeekly.com.
Belcher is on a two-fight win streak, taking out Kalib Starnes at UFC 77: “Hostile Territory” last month via technical knockout (grizzly cut.) Prior to that he choked out Sean Salmon at UFC 71: “Liddell vs. Jackson” in just 23 seconds with a guillotine in a 205-pound bout that he took on short notice.
He seems to have turned the corner in a major way since getting smashed by Kendall Grove at UFC 69: “Shootout” this past April.
Almeida is an animal on the ground thanks to the Brazilian jiu-jitsu training of Renzo Gracie. He competed last in the Octagon in 2002 and is making a return to mixed martial arts action after taking more than three years off from professional competition.
Back in his heyday “Cachorrao” went up against some of the best in the sport: Ryo Chonan (win), Nathan Marquardt (win) and Kazuo Masaki (win), among others.
Should be a solid fight with a lot on the line for both fighters: Belcher wants to get his name near the top of the 185-pound contender list and Almeida needs to prove he’s still got what it takes to compete at the highest level.
For the latest rumored UFC 81 fight card click here.
12 Comments »
is ricardo almeida the one who kept kicking lindlands nuts?
If Alan wins, he should fight Ed Herman and the winner of that fights Hendo/Silva.
This match should be..
Interesting to say the least.
WAR BELCHER
Almeida should be able to sub Belcher fairly easily. Bad match up for him.
I’ve never seen or heard of Almeida, but Belcher looked very impressive against Starnes. His strikes were nice and crisp. Starnes was taking a beating. Starnes never was in big trouble, he never really got rocked but we did take a punishment. I’m not sure if Belcher has the big KO power but he does look like a good fighter.
the old almeida would beat him easily but we might see some ring rust on him if so belcher will knock him out
Belcher 1st or 2nd round KO/TKO.
Ricardo gonna beat that ass!!!!!!!!
almeida wins by sub., old or new, this beast has been training since he retired, this is his first step till he gets his shot at the champ, wouldnt have been given six fight deal for any other reason. i hope he gets to beat nate again first
hahhaha 2 fight win streak? sean salmon shouldnt count… any fight with salmon in it is a gimme fight (for the other dude), damn that guy cracks me up… he is the knockout highlight reel… he just got violently K.O’ed again a couple of seconds into the first round at Strikeforce Tournament Series by Jorge Santiago.
Sean Salmon, give up brother… there is life beyond MMA
Very excited about this fight. Belcher is a tough kid. The “big dog” Almeida is one of the very best ground fighters in mma. The way he tranitions from one submission to the next is amazing. I kno he will have to shed some ring rust, but I think he will be ready. Good addition to the weak 185 lb. division.
i trained under almeida for about a year. he’s still an animal, he was supposed to fight in the cffc but an investor backed out.. i say submission
I think Almeida is gonna win via submision 1st round, his bjj is real good and he trains with Renzo an IFL Pitbulls.