NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Alan Belcher vs. Jason MacDonald, a middleweight bout ontonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Belcher (16-6, 7-4 UFC), from nearby Biloxi, Miss., returns for the first time in 16 months following successful surgeries to repair a detached retina. Despite the lengthy layoff, Belcher’s last four fights have resulted in fight night bonus awards – two Fight of the Night wins and two Submission of the Night checks. His only loss in his last five fights was a controversial split decision against Yoshihiro Aikyama at UFC 100.
MacDonald (25-14, 6-6 UFC) knows what it’s like to return after a long layoff. The Canadian came back following a severe broken leg suffered at UFC 113 to submit Ryan Jensen in the first round at UFC 129 in April. MacDonald’s first two UFC wins, in 2006, were submissions of Ed Herman and Chris Leben.
Round 1: This has the potential to be a fun little scrap. Belcher’s been out for 16 months, but is fighting in front of his home bayou fans. MacDonald got some momentum after a submission win in April coming off a near-year layoff. They touch gloves and get rolling. MacDonald misses a couple strikes to start. Belcher ties him up with a quick Thai clinch, but he can’t land anything from it. Only 30 seconds in, the crowd is chanting “Alan!” MacDonald reverses and is looking for a takedown, but winds up on his back with Belcher looking for some ground and pound. Belcher postures up and lands a couple good shots, then starts bringing them with a little more intensity. The crowd goes crazy hoping for a finish, but MacDonald covers up and stays mostly safe. Belcher moves into side control, then gets up and lands some good shots from his feet. MacDonald looks to be in a little trouble and is mostly just trying to survive. And soon after, he’s taken a few too many. Dan Miragliotta jumps in to stop it, and Belcher has a nice win in his return.
Result: Alan Belcher def. Jason MacDonald, submission (verbal tapout, strikes), 3:48 Round 1
NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Alan Belcher vs. Jason MacDonald, a middleweight bout ontonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Belcher (16-6, 7-4 UFC), from nearby Biloxi, Miss., returns for the first time in 16 months following successful surgeries to repair a detached retina. Despite the lengthy layoff, Belcher’s last four fights have resulted in fight night bonus awards – two Fight of the Night wins and two Submission of the Night checks. His only loss in his last five fights was a controversial split decision against Yoshihiro Aikyama at UFC 100.
MacDonald (25-14, 6-6 UFC) knows what it’s like to return after a long layoff. The Canadian came back following a severe broken leg suffered at UFC 113 to submit Ryan Jensen in the first round at UFC 129 in April. MacDonald’s first two UFC wins, in 2006, were submissions of Ed Herman and Chris Leben.
Round 1: This has the potential to be a fun little scrap. Belcher’s been out for 16 months, but is fighting in front of his home bayou fans. MacDonald got some momentum after a submission win in April coming off a near-year layoff. They touch gloves and get rolling. MacDonald misses a couple strikes to start. Belcher ties him up with a quick Thai clinch, but he can’t land anything from it. Only 30 seconds in, the crowd is chanting “Alan!” MacDonald reverses and is looking for a takedown, but winds up on his back with Belcher looking for some ground and pound. Belcher postures up and lands a couple good shots, then starts bringing them with a little more intensity. The crowd goes crazy hoping for a finish, but MacDonald covers up and stays mostly safe. Belcher moves into side control, then gets up and lands some good shots from his feet. MacDonald looks to be in a little trouble and is mostly just trying to survive. And soon after, he’s taken a few too many. Dan Miragliotta jumps in to stop it, and Belcher has a nice win in his return.
Result: Alan Belcher def. Jason MacDonald, submission (verbal tapout, strikes), 3:48 Round 1
NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Alan Belcher vs. Jason MacDonald, a middleweight bout ontonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.