What in the world? Thiago Alves set to face Yoshihiro Akiyama in July

[John L]

Yoshihiro Akiyama still has a job in the UFC, and now has his next opponent set, as well.

Despite losing four straight in the octagon, Akiyama's spirited performances have ensured him at least one more go, and it will come against Thiago Alves at a July event -- most likely UFC 149 -- according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/...july-ufc-event

.....shiit man, give Sexy an easy fight for once

[ChrisOBC]

Why doesn't the UFC just cut him at this point? Would be much less painful.

[cgc]

I like Akiyama, but dang doesn't he already have 4 Ls in a row at this point?

I'd like to see him surprise everyone...buuuuuut...I'm not sure I see that happening.

[Clark_Kent]

Hopefully it's a catchweight fight.

[BlakRandy]

He never gets an easy fight. Wow. He's been kind of unlucky in the UFC. Was beating Leben till he got subbed and a very controversial decision agains't shields. It's hard to forgive him for the fake tan though.

[Deathstroke]

Alves is one of my favorites but I've been rooting for Akiyama ever since he debuted in UFC (except when he fought Leben) because there's something instantly likeable about him. He looked the best I ever seen against Shields. Couldn't he win this fight though? Wouldn't Alves be an easier fight on paper than Bisping, Belfort, Sheilds?

[John L]

Alves is one of my favorites but I've been rooting for Akiyama ever since he debuted in UFC (except when he fought Leben) because there's something instantly likeable about him. He looked the best I ever seen against Shields. Couldn't he win this fight though? Wouldn't Alves be an easier fight on paper than Bisping, Belfort, Sheilds?

Alves is a tougher fight for him than Shields, and slightly less of a hard fight for him than Bisping.

The Vitor fight was just totally unfair. It was like sending a lamb to slaughter.

[DFS200]

He should have won the Shields fight, he looks good at WW but Thiago is a bad matchup stylistically.

[Road2Perfection]

Well, he seems better as a WW so I'm glad they gave him a chance. They should keep kid yamamoto as well.

[2much2gain]

I'm surprised he didn't replace Overeem to face JDS.

[HardGainer82]

http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/...july-ufc-event

.....shiit man, give Sexy an easy fight for once

Not for the money he's getting.

[liuzhoudragon]

Japanese fighters go to the UFC to be destroyed. I never like yammaoto...omigawa should be fired (along with yammaoto. Akiyama....like the guy the best .....never gets an easy fight......but if you keep lossing you got to get cut.

hatsu is overhyped....him vs aldo would have betting odds like Mike Tyson vs buster douglas
All japan has is okami and he is on 2 fight losing streak and never going to be champ ...I would be surprised if he ever gets a shot again.

[TopsecretWaffle]

he got robbed against shields. ill be rooting for him against thiago

[denny2008]

So I guess if he loses against Alves, he'll be facing GSP for the title...

[ftwrestler]

he got robbed against shields. ill be rooting for him against thiago

how the **** did he get robbed?

[mmondo13]

That's a pretty weak fight for Akiyama. You'd think with his current streak he'd get a shot at the title by now.



But seriously... Alves better get a win here.

[DFS200]

As for people saying this matchmaking is BS, although thiago is dangerous, he is 2-4 in his last 6 with the 2 wins over guys outside the top 10 (or top 20 even, Abedi is still a prospect, Howard is sh*t), so his career is actually on par with Sexyama's right now, both guys need a win to maintain relevance.

[Wcustom]

Lol.. people will continue to say Akiyama sucks. When in reality all of his opponents have been fcking BANGERS and good fighters.

[DFS200]

Lol.. people will continue to say Akiyama sucks. When in reality all of his opponents have been fcking BANGERS and good fighters.

He's mid-level, he gets big time money so they give him big time fights. Thiago is nowhere near title contention and will probably beat Akiyama, Akiyama just squeaked past Belcher, then was subbed by Leben before he started facing great competition. I believe he would have a competitive record against the lower level guys at WW, that's where he belongs, but you can't just bring in a big name and give him sh*t fights. To add to the previous point, outside of Vitor, basically every fight he's had in the UFC made sense and was regarded as a competitive match-up, he just can't hang.

[Road2Perfection]

Japanese fighters go to the UFC to be destroyed. I never like yammaoto...omigawa should be fired (along with yammaoto. Akiyama....like the guy the best .....never gets an easy fight......but if you keep lossing you got to get cut.

hatsu is overhyped....him vs aldo would have betting odds like Mike Tyson vs buster douglas
All japan has is okami and he is on 2 fight losing streak and never going to be champ ...I would be surprised if he ever gets a shot again.

I think yamamoto should stay to fight in the FW division otherwise he would get cut.

[deeds]

good nite sweet sexyama

[bradler]

he should be fighting dan hardy. maybe after they both lose but stay in the ufc because they like people who WARRR