Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares added to UFC on FOX 3

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02-13-2012, 03:18 PM
Jack LaBarge

Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares added to UFC on FOX 3

Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares added to UFC on FOX 3
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:25 pm ET
A major middleweight bout between two of the division's most entertaining fighters has been added to the UFC on FOX 3 card.

UFC president Dana White today announced that well-rounded Alan Belcher (17-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) meets submission specialist Rousimar Palhares (14-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at the upcoming event.

UFC on FOX 3 takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The main card, including a Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz headliner, airs on FOX, and prelims are expected to air on FUEL TV.

Belcher vs. Palhares is likely to be part of the FOX-televised main card.

Belcher recently returned from a 16-month layoff due to an initially career-threatening eye surgery/recovery and picked up a vicious first-round submission win (due to punches) over Jason MacDonald. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and explosive striker is now 5-1 over his past six fights, and the lone loss came to Yoshihiro Akiyama via close split decision in a "Fight of the Night" performance.

Like Belcher, Palhares also carries a three-fight win streak. Most recently, he used a trademark heel hook to submit Mike Massenzio at UFC 142 in Brazil. Aside from a brief mental lapse that prompted a loss to Nate Marquardt in 2010, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in undefeated in his past seven fights. In fact, his only other career loss came via decision to notable Dan Henderson in Palhares' second UFC fight.

The latest UFC on FOX 3 card now includes:

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
02-13-2012, 03:18 PM
Jack LaBarge

Dam, this card is F*cking stacked!!!
02-13-2012, 03:22 PM
Brent Smith

I'm scared for Belcher's knees
02-13-2012, 03:32 PM
Gregory Burns

Looks like a great card, especially the Palhares/Belcher match up...Belcher better pony up on his leglock defense.

GB
02-13-2012, 03:44 PM
Brent Smith

oooo just noticed the John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama match up. Uyenoyama!!!!!
02-13-2012, 03:56 PM
Mike Dewitt Jr

Sssssstacked!!
02-13-2012, 04:08 PM
Scott Philips

Alan may need to get Herzog down to Biloxi for this one....
02-13-2012, 04:12 PM
Cameron Carr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Smith

I'm scared for Belcher's knees

Exactly what i was thinking.. Palhares is a savage with those heel hooks.
02-13-2012, 05:47 PM
David Rosado

0_0 damn this card is stacked!!!!! Belcher has some pretty good JJ defense. And likely better striking. It'll be a tough match for him. But it's gonna be a good fight. I have Mr Harris winning by submission.
02-13-2012, 08:58 PM
DBK

belcher better get his rehab camp ready
02-13-2012, 09:55 PM
Brandon Mccaghren

i love alan belcher, man. i'm praying for a KO against Paul Harris.
02-13-2012, 10:30 PM
brent_littell

Belcher, Darren, and hathaway all trained with us at one point.

John had so much potential when I first trained with him. Glad to see he is actualizing it
02-14-2012, 07:36 AM
Eric Perez

I feel bad for Belcher
02-14-2012, 08:10 AM
Cody Kietzman

I'm stoked for the heel hook of the century!!!!!!
02-14-2012, 10:10 AM
David Rosado

I see a lot of guys pretty much writing off Belcher. Belcher is a tough SOB. I'm not sure if this will be an easy fight like some guys think. I think Belcher has the better chance of winning in my opinion. I'll be rooting for Rousimar, but I think Belcher has the tools to beat him.
02-14-2012, 11:57 AM
brent_littell

Belcher has a game plan around the footlocks I'm sure.
02-14-2012, 02:40 PM
Jack LaBarge

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Rosado

I see a lot of guys pretty much writing off Belcher. Belcher is a tough SOB. I'm not sure if this will be an easy fight like some guys think. I think Belcher has the better chance of winning in my opinion. I'll be rooting for Rousimar, but I think Belcher has the tools to beat him.

This should be a great fight! Belcher could definitly win this fight....Very talented fighter! But would anybody be surprised if Paul Harris collected another leg? I wouldn't!
02-14-2012, 03:36 PM
David Rosado

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack LaBarge

This should be a great fight! Belcher could definitly win this fight....Very talented fighter! But would anybody be surprised if Paul Harris collected another leg? I wouldn't!

Not gonna lie, I would be surprised and super impressed. Like I said, Belcher is a tough guy. He's been around the block a few times. He could spell trouble for Rousimar. But in the end, I'm thinking he can pull it off. I think he would've heeled Marquardt too if he didn't have his legs all wet coming into the fight. Against a few guys, I wasn't surprised about the heel hooks. But against better guys, I get surprised/impressed.
02-14-2012, 03:58 PM
Nick Powers

It wouldn't surprise me if Belcher (or any Palhares opponent) got so caught up with being caught in a heel hook or knee bar that Toquinho submitted him in some other fashion. After all, he is a serious black belt who has competed and done well at ADCC.