With eyesight a work in progress, UFC contender Alan Belcher counting on fans

Alan Belcher largely was flying under the radar until a recent push from fans prompted UFC officials to give him a UFC Fight Night 22 main-event fight against fellow contender Demian Maia.

Belcher, though, was forced out of the Sept. 15 fight when a …

Alan Belcher largely was flying under the radar until a recent push from fans prompted UFC officials to give him a UFC Fight Night 22 main-event fight against fellow contender Demian Maia.

Belcher, though, was forced out of the Sept. 15 fight when a detached retina permanently sidelined him. It left questions about both his future fighting prospects and even the middleweight’s eyesight.

Now, two surgeries later and hoping for a good doctor’s checkup on Wednesday, Belcher is optimistic fans still will be there for him if he does return to the cage.