UFC 144 – Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama review
We’ve reached the midway point of our UFC 144 main card review as we break down the interesting welterweight clash between former Strikeforce middleweight champion, Jake Shields and the Japanese fighter otherwise known as “Sexyama”, Yoshihiro Akiyama. Both men are in need of a win but the question is who’s going to get it…
Jake Shields (26-6-1, 1-2 UFC): It’s last orders at Last Chance Saloon for Jake Shields, whose UFC career has hit a major roadblock or two of late. After proving his worth with victories over the likes of Dan Henderson in Strikeforce, a close decision win over Martin Kampmann at UFC 121 earned the world-class grappler a shot at Georges St Pierre’s welterweight title.
Shields held his own, but was out-classed by the champion who won a no-brainer of a decision to send the Cesar Gracie fighter back down the pecking order. At UFN 25 in September, Shields faced top contender Jake Ellenberger days after the death of his father and was knocked out in less than a minute of round one. With his head back in the game, Shields needs a win in Japan to get his career back on track as defeat could see the American Jiu-Jitsu pioneer cut from the UFC.
Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-4, 1-3 UFC): Joining Shields at the bar this weekend is Akiyama, the former middleweight contender, making a belated cut to 170 pounds and prepares to fight for his UFC career. ‘Sexyama’ arrived in the UFC in 2009 with much hype but only a split decision over Alan Belcher lies in the win column for the judo player who has lost his last three bouts decisively.
Always a small middleweight, Akiyama never fails to bring the fight but was submitted in round three by Chris Leben before being out-worked to a decision by Michael Bisping at UFC 120. The veteran was then demolished in less than two minutes by Vitor Belfort at UFC 133, marking the first time Akiyama had been stopped with strikes.
The Verdict: Akiyama’s best chance of winning this fight is to do what he always does – brawl, hard. This has lost him fights in the past but against a top-level grappler like Shields, ‘Sexyama’ will gas out quickly and the local fighter must keep this standing or face the consequences. Shields’ striking is still non-existent more or less and Akiyama, while wild, has the power to put him in trouble. It should be a clash of styles with Shields shooting for the takedown while Akiyama relies upon his judo to stay upright and throw bombs. The deciding factor will be Akiyama’s gas-tank though – the man regularly wilts in that department and the cut to 170lbs will only speed up the process. Look for Shields to work a diligent gameplan before tapping a tired Akiyama late in the second. Shields, submission, 2nd round.
By Steve Davies.
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