Props: Between Rounds Radio Show via MMAFighting.com
Quoteworthy:
“I’m happy about it. [Belcher is] a good opponent for me. The UFC has been on my radar for a long time. Everyone knows for the last few years I’ve been fighting in Japan in PRIDE, HERO’s and DREAM, but I think it was time for me to head over the UFC…. Like any other fight [Anderson Silva is] human. He’s got his holes, he’s got weaknesses. I think until anyone exploits them he’s going to remain in that aura of invincibility, but I really don’t think he is invincible…. I still need to prove myself in the UFC. I can’t just come in there and do a Brock Lesnar and get two fights and get a title shot right away.”
High-profile 185-pound standout Denis Kang talks about his long overdue Octagon debut against Alan Belcher at UFC 93: “Franklin vs. Henderson” at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, on Jan. 17. Kang — who has enjoyed success primarily in Japan and Korea fighting in the PRIDE and Spirit MC organizations — knows that there is a long road ahead of him to be considered a number one contender in the eyes of his latest employer. He is currently on a two-fight win streak after losing back-to-back matches. He most recently defeated Marvin Eastman via first round technical knockout at Raw Combat: “Redemption.” The Canadian with South Korean roots has been a top competitor in his category for years. Can he continue that success in the UFC — where so many other talented fighters have struggled early — to one day challenge division kingpin Anderson Silva?
30 Comments »
If Kang keeps its standing it will be a much more challenging fight with Belchers muay thai, this will be a good fight though. The betting lines arent bad if you like belcher either. Looking forward to see what kang has in the UFC too
i agree. i think belcher will be a stern test for kang. this should be a great stand-up war.
I think both your predictions are funny. Belcher has about as much a chance as my next door neighbor does of getting a win! Kang all the way in this one. Just watch some of the fights that both have had and be reasonable.
i have watched both of them fight several times and the only thing i think is funny is your obviously biased opinion.
Anderson Silva????? I think he should shut up and fight people that matter and then challange BIG SILVA.
He’s just stating the obvious. He’s not challenging Silva.
I like Kang but belcher has been in thailand training and even though his last was against Ed Herman, his stand up looked pretty good.
I think belcher is a can and Kang will roll through him. I think a Lesnar will happen, kang will fight okami next, and that winner gets silva. And on a side note, after tonights disgusting game, i think its pretty clear that USC is the best football team in the nation… AND I’M A FLORIDA ALUM!!!
utah never lost, and beat alabama. i don’t wanna hear about texas or usc. both lost games and didn’t even play in the bcs championship game. And I’m from boston. i don’t care about any of these teams, but an undefeated team should never be denied like this, especially if they win a bowl game against a team who was ranked so high all yr long
Kang has great hands and he has a black belt in BJJ. Now that he is training with GSP I am hoping his wrestling will have improved and he will take this fight to the ground. If he can get Belcher to the ground and keep him there I see Kang with a GnP tko or GnP leading to a submission.
I haven’t ever seen too much outta Belcher that would make me think he was as good as Kang. I see Kang as an early contender though.
there are only three MWs that can defeat anderson at the moment, they being Mousasi, Manhoef (if the fight stays standing) and amir sadollah. ok, maybe not amir but give him 4/5 more fights and he’ll be there.
Yea, I can see where you would get Amir. He could be a contender. Problem is, Silva will just find what Amir is good at and exploit to the max. Then BOOM! Amir goes to the undercards…Poor Thales Leites.
Yes! Someone else thinks so too! I’ve been saying for a while now that both Gegard and Melvin can beat Silva. Especially due to Melvin’s INSANE knockout power, he can definitely KO Silva. And Gegard should be able to beat Silva anywhere. Man, I get excited thinking about those two matches that will never happen. lol.
I think Belcher will be able to hang in there longer than most people think. Prior to the Day loss, he had never been knocked out, and has a head kick KO win over the WVR SENGOKU 185lb champ Jorge Santiago. Belcher is a tough kat, but I think Kang will outstrike him en route to a 3rd round TKO.
This, or Hendo/Franklin will be the Fight of the Night, NOT the Davis/Lytle fight.
To add to that, Belcher has only been stopped twice in a fight, whereas Kang has been stopped 8 times. Granted, Kang has fought a lot of tougher guys, but I’m just comparing stats and numbers.
Melvin could beat silva lol
Insane knockout power must find its mark, and that one thing nobody seems to do. When’s the last time you saw somebody strike Anderson Silva anywhere near his head? The guy bobs and weaves, and he’s extremely elusive. But I hope somebody can unravel that mystery and take apart his style. The day they do, you know we’ve reached a new level of skill in MMA.
how are Gegard and Melvin better then franklin or henderson?
I glad to see Kang finally in the UFC!
In my opinion, Kang will do well in the UFC. If he gets past Belcher, I say have him fight Leben. That would be a kick-ass brawl. Unless, of course, Leben is already spoken for.
Is he back already after that whole steroid situation?
i see that marquardt can defeat anderson this time
i see that marquardt can defeat anderson this time
I have to disagree with Kang. If he knocks out his first two opponents in impressive fashion, they’ll give him a title shot. But I will agree with him that he will not be able to pull a brock lesnar by losing one of those fights and getting the title shot.
Marquardt has looked like a monster in his past few fights. As for Kang, he’s a quality middleweight who I think could do well in the UFC. As for beating Silva, I think there are a few fighters that will do it if given the chance (or in MMA dream-match ups), them being Maia, Jacare, Marquardt, maybe Hendo and Mousasi (his stand-up showcase in that K-1 match was great), ppssibly Palhares. Who knows? Maybe someone will pull a freak submission on Silva like Chonan did.
I don’t think that Jacare would do well against Silva. He MIGHT, but I don’t think so; Anderson would light him up on the stand up. I think Maia will be more competitive than most of Anderson’s competition so far, and may even get Silva in some dangerous positions, but I dont know. Marquart Hendo and Palhares I say no way to. Anderson would walk through them again. Hendo is scared of him, and Marquardt isn’t at that level yet. In the UFC, I say Maia gives him his toughest match.
But again, Gegard Mousasi beats him!
i picked kang by a really quick ko. first round to be exact. if im wrong thats just sad, and even worse if belcher wins kang just isnt as good as we like him to be. WAR KANG
Denis kang via hard fought unanimous descison! this could be fight of the night for sure!
i honestly dont know so much about kang, can anyone enlighten me?
Kang in the UFC is way to overdue, cant wait to watch ufc93 at noon at my local strip club… good ol’west coast