Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami added to stacked UFC 155 card

Just as the ink dried on the announcement that Chris Leben will make his awaited return at UFC 155 this December, it has been announced that two Middleweight contenders who have met before will face off at the year-end card. Alan Belcher, whose plans to fight Vitor Belfort at UFC 153 fell apart when he found out he had a spinal fracture and Belfort stepped in to fight Jon Jones at UFC 152, will face Yushin Okami in a rematch.

Interestingly enough, Belcher and Okami fought one another in their respective UFC debuts six years ago at the ancient UFC 62, which is more than a lifetime in the ever-changing world of MMA. Okami took home the decision that night, and there is no doubt that Belcher will be looking to avenge that defeat. Riding a four-fight win streak, with his last victory an impressive TKO stoppage of vaunted leglock specialist Rousimar “Toquino” Palhares, Belcher has momentum on his side.

Okami, although he was once the Middleweight division’s number-one contender, does not have quite the momentum on his side. He was clearly outmatched by Anderson Silva in 2011,and then lost by KO to Tim Boetsch at UFC 144 in the last round of a fight he was very clearly winning to that point. He rebounded nicely against what some would deem lesser competition with a TKO of Buddy Roberts in his last outing at UFC 150 in Denver.

With the announcement, UFC 155 grows ever more promising, of course barring any devastating injuries as has been the overarching trend. The bout should have implications near the top of the Middleweight landscape, as Belcher would make his way closer to a title shot with an impressive win while Okami would gain much of his lost momentum back with a second victory over Belcher. With all of the shifting and changing the UFC has undergone this year, here’s to hoping that the year-end card goes off without a hitch for the fans.

Further Reading: Chris Leben returns to the Octagon at UFC 155