Alan "the Talent" Belcher is a current UFC fighter who is 1-1 in the Octagon and 9-2 overall. Coming fresh off of a KO victory over Jorge Santiago, he looks to roll through the middleweight competition beginning with The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Kendall Grove at UFC 69. A win here puts the spotlight on this talented, well rounded 22 year old, who has yet to peak and looks to leave a long time stamp on the MMA world.
Joshua Borell: What were your accomplishments prior to being contacted by the UFC, and were you surprised when they got in contact with you?
Alan Belcher: Extreme Fight League Light Heavyweight Champion, World Extreme Fighting Veteran. I was very surprised and excited to receive the call.
Borell: Did they tell you right away that you would be fighting Yushin Okami, and were you previously familiar with him?
Belcher: Yes, I was aware right away it was against Yushin Okami, as I was a late replacement for an injury, and I was very familiar with him, he is and was a top guy at 185, and very well rounded.
Borell: You had an outstanding showing in your fight against Yushin Okami, a fighter who holds a victory over the current champ Anderson Silva, and were taken the distance. Were you disappointed with the way you fought? What would you have done differently?
Belcher: I am not disappointed in the way I fought. I fought to the best of my ability for my experience level. If I fought him right now I would do a lot different. I chased him down too much and he was able to counter me.
Borell: After the loss, were you surprised the UFC contacted you again, or did you feel your performance was impressive enough which ensured it would happen?
Belcher: I felt I put on a really good and exciting fight. I had done things to excite the crowd. I wasn't really shocked, but I had a separated shoulder and had to completely stop training for 6 weeks. After that time, I began training for my next UFC fight.
Borell: How much did you change your training and your fight strategy going against Jorge Santiago as opposed to Yushin Okami?
Belcher: I had already trained and prepared for Jorge Santiago for a fight in a different organization, and knew the keys to beat him. I was more relaxed, confident and able to stick to my game plan.
Borell: Your fight against Jorge Santiago was a war, and difficult to call, until you scored with a tremendous right high kick. When you threw that, did you feel the need to end the fight decisively at that point?
Belcher: I was saving the right high kick for an opening in which I could unleash it, he just happened to give me the opening, but I felt I had the decision won.
Borell: The UFC is pretty high on Kendall Grove right now and you are obviously being brought in as the underdog. He has excessively long limbs and has training from the best coaches that were on the reality series. You are very well rounded fighter, so in what areas do you think you have a decisive enough advantage to beat him?
Belcher: Everything, the only advantage Kendall Grove has on me is reach, and I don't feel he uses it fully to his advantage. I've beaten guys better on the ground and with longer reach. I'm training with a pro boxer and Muay Thai coach who is Kendall's height and I spar with them every day.
Borell: Give a prediction for how and when you see this fight ending.
Belcher: When he tries to take me down, I intend to knock him out coming in for the shot.
Borell: After securing a victory is there anyone you would like to square off with. Also, how many fights away from a title shot do you feel you are?
Belcher: Any top guy -- rematch with Okami, Mike Swick, or Rich Franklin, and a title shot right after that. It's UFC's decision, but I'd say two or three fights away.
Borell: Any last words?
Belcher: I'd like everyone to contact my jiu-jitsu coach at www.HelioSoneca.com and visit me at www.remixmma.com.
To email me, Joshua Borell, send to mma.writer@hotmail.com.
