Alan Belcher – image via UFC.com
After seeing opponent Vitor Belfort step up to face UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones at UFC 152, middleweight Alan Belcher (18-6) was without an opponent, that is until today.
‘The Talent’ will reportedly face Japanese fighter Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami (27-7) at this December’s UFC 155 event according to MMAFighting.com reporter Ariel Helwani, who learned of the potential matchup from promotion officials.
Update: UFC officials announced the bout Thursday evening at UFC.com.
Alan “The Talent” Belcher has verbally agreed to rematch top-ten ranked Yushin “Thunder” Okami at UFC 155 December 29 in Las Vegas. Belcher knows a win over the highly respected Okami will move him forward in his quest to become a top middleweight contender.
UFC 155 is expected to take place on December 29, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada at either the MGM Grand Garden Arena or the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
The match marks the second meeting between the two fighters, with their first fight taking place at UFC 62 back in August 2006. The two men opened the preliminary card with ‘Thunder’ getting the better of the two by winning a unanimous decision in their middleweight matchup.
Belcher made a resounding statement this past May when he finished Rousimar Palhares via first round TKO. ‘The Talent’ showed no fear against the leg submission specialist by following Palhares to the mat and defending each of the Brazilian’s attacks. Belcher is currently on a four fight win streak dating back to December 2009 and is 6-1 in his last seven bouts.
Okami ended a two fight losing skid last month at UFC 150 by finishing Buddy Roberts via second round TKO. He had been scheduled to meet Luiz Cane at the event but was forced off due to injury. ‘Thunder’ had dropped bouts to Tim Boetsch at UFC 144 and to Anderson Silva at UFC 134, ending a three fight win streak for the Japanese fighter.