Alan Belcher
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to FOX television next weekend with the upcoming UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller event, which is scheduled for May 5, 2012 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Competing on the main card in a middleweight bout will be Alan ‘The Talent’ Belcher (17-6) and Brazilian Rousimar Palhares.
Despite Palhares’ reputation as a dangerous submission expert, Belcher says he has no plans on running from the Brazilian and will let his fists be the catalyst for ending the fight.
“I’m not going to run from him,” Belcher said (@Sportsnet.ca). “I’m going to hit him hard whenever he comes close. And I’m just going to avoid the grappling situation.
“It would be stupid for me to purposely get myself into a grappling match. But if it happens, I’ll be prepared. I think I’ll do well.”
In prepping for Palhares, Belcher has worked with submission experts Dean Lister, Daniel Moraes and Davi Ramos.
“It’s been a really different level of training, it really has,” Belcher said.
“They’re really amazing, really good with the leglocks, the leglock defence,” he added. “You can’t relax for one second. It just takes your game to the next level. Your reaction time, your speed and your mind has to be sharp at all times.
“You’re in a very, very sticky situation every second that you’re grappling with one of these guys. That’s the kind of training that Palhares gets to do. That’s what got him to that level. I have to do the same thing to prepare for him.”
Belcher returned from an eye injury last fall at UFN 25 to stop Canadian fighter Jason MacDonald in the first round of their bout. The victory was ‘The Talent’s’ third straight win, all finishes.