Liddell-Jackson II Headlines UFC 71 Card
Salmon vs. Belcher
May 24, 2007
Sean
Salmon (Pictures) vs. Alan Belcher (Pictures)
The short notice special on the undercard this time around will be middleweight Alan Belcher (Pictures) stepping up to face light heavyweight Sean Salmon (Pictures), who was originally slated to face late scratch Eric Schafer (Pictures).
If moving up a weight class to take on a tough opponent on short
notice while coming off a loss sounds crazy to you that's because
it is. Luckily, a little bit of craziness seems to come in handy in
MMA. Just ask Joe Son … wait, bad example.
Regardless, Belcher will look to rebound from his one-sided loss to Kendall Grove (Pictures) at UFC 69 by moving up in weight to take out Salmon, who is perhaps best known for outwrestling Rashad Evans (Pictures) for five minutes before being removed from consciousness for five minutes courtesy of a high kick.
While Belcher (9-3-0) is more indicative of the general direction the sport is headed in, that is well-rounded fighters with a grasp of all facets of MMA, Columbus, Ohio's Salmon is something of a project. Still very much a wrestler in the process of converting to MMA, Salmon's bout with Evans proved that he has the talent to develop into a fine competitor but still has a long way to go towards becoming a true mixed martial artist.
Although Salmon (9-2-0) hasn't quite made the transition yet, Belcher is at a distinct disadvantage trying to take on a far superior wrestler who will undoubtedly hold the edge in the strength department.
Belcher, who fights out of Biloxi, Miss., will need to use his striking whenever he can and force Salmon to work on the ground instead of simply allowing him to ride out a decision. In that regard, Salmon would be unwise in repeating the mistake he made against Evans of trying to ride out a decision for Belcher is a talented striker who could send Salmon to the grey room all over again.
While Belcher, 22, holds the edge on the feet and is probably more competent when it comes to submissions, the fact that he is moving up in weight to take on a talented wrestler simply does not bode well for him.
I could see Belcher occasionally mounting some offense against Salmon, only to find himself back on the ground trying to keep the 29-year-old wrestler from neutralizing his offense. Try as he might, Belcher won't find much success fending off Salmon's attack. It won't be the most aesthetically pleasing fight you'll ever see but expect Salmon to walk away with an uneventful decision win.
The short notice special on the undercard this time around will be middleweight Alan Belcher (Pictures) stepping up to face light heavyweight Sean Salmon (Pictures), who was originally slated to face late scratch Eric Schafer (Pictures).
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Regardless, Belcher will look to rebound from his one-sided loss to Kendall Grove (Pictures) at UFC 69 by moving up in weight to take out Salmon, who is perhaps best known for outwrestling Rashad Evans (Pictures) for five minutes before being removed from consciousness for five minutes courtesy of a high kick.
Given the ever-changing cast of characters that make up the UFC's
roster, back-to-back losses are something that neither man can
afford right now if they are to remain in the UFC.
While Belcher (9-3-0) is more indicative of the general direction the sport is headed in, that is well-rounded fighters with a grasp of all facets of MMA, Columbus, Ohio's Salmon is something of a project. Still very much a wrestler in the process of converting to MMA, Salmon's bout with Evans proved that he has the talent to develop into a fine competitor but still has a long way to go towards becoming a true mixed martial artist.
Although Salmon (9-2-0) hasn't quite made the transition yet, Belcher is at a distinct disadvantage trying to take on a far superior wrestler who will undoubtedly hold the edge in the strength department.
Belcher, who fights out of Biloxi, Miss., will need to use his striking whenever he can and force Salmon to work on the ground instead of simply allowing him to ride out a decision. In that regard, Salmon would be unwise in repeating the mistake he made against Evans of trying to ride out a decision for Belcher is a talented striker who could send Salmon to the grey room all over again.
While Belcher, 22, holds the edge on the feet and is probably more competent when it comes to submissions, the fact that he is moving up in weight to take on a talented wrestler simply does not bode well for him.
I could see Belcher occasionally mounting some offense against Salmon, only to find himself back on the ground trying to keep the 29-year-old wrestler from neutralizing his offense. Try as he might, Belcher won't find much success fending off Salmon's attack. It won't be the most aesthetically pleasing fight you'll ever see but expect Salmon to walk away with an uneventful decision win.
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