Yoshihiro Akiyama-Thiago Alves Targeted for UFC 149

[No More Sorrow]

A welterweight bout between Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC) and Thiago Alves (19-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) has been targeted for July's UFC 149 event.

Both fighters have agreed to the summer matchup, sources close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). MMAFighting.com initially reported the fight.


UFC 149 takes place July 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo headlines against an opponent to be announced.


UFC 149's main card airs on pay-per-view, and FX and Facebook are expected to carry the prelims. It's not clear where Akiyama vs. Alves will end up on the lineup.


Akiyama looks to end a four-fight losing streak at the event. After a close split-decision win over Alan Belcher in his 2009 promotional debut, the Japanese star has suffered losses to top-level opponents Chris Leben, Michael Bisping, Vitor Belfort and Jake Shields. After a welterweight debut with the Shields' loss, which came via shutout scores in his native Japan at UFC 144, Akiyama's job appeared in jeopardy.


But he'll get another shot at a second UFC win when he meets Alves, who was less than a minute away from topping Martin Kampmann in a UFC on FX 2 headliner this past month. Alves shot for a late takedown and ultimately tapped out to a guillotine choke. The American Top Team fighter earned a title shot with after a 9-1 run in the UFC, but he's just 2-4 since then. The skid began with a title loss to champ Georges St-Pierre in 2009.

Kind of a random fight, that came out of no where.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Well this fight is now official for UFC 149. Still hoping they throw together a decent card. As of now, this fight and the Aldo fight are the only confirmed fights for the main card.

 

[The Cork]

Its a solid fight but has no right being a co-main event, Alves lost his last fight on an FX card and Akiyama's been on the chopping block for a while now.

Exciting fight to open a show or something though.

 

[HB_Punk]

Can they just give Sexy a damn gimmie fight?