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[Diegonightmare]

Last night there was a lot of disagreement from Goldie and Joe about the outcome of the Belcher-Akiyama fight. Joe specifically was being very outspoken and saying Belcher got robbed.

But to me, watching the fight, it seemed clear as day that under the 10 point must system, Akiyama definitely won the fight. I thought he lost the first round and won the second and third.

To add some objective insight to the situation, here is the FightMetric in-depth report on the fight. FightMetric has Akiyama winning both via the 10-point must and FM's own algorithm.

Interestingly to me, however, the FM assessment actually shows Akiyama winning round one, and losing round three (albeit extremely closely).

They assessed a TPR (click here for an explanation of TPR rating) for the fight of 72 to Akiyama and 55 to Belcher - a very close fight. The "average" close fight is expected to result in a TPR of 55 for the winner and 45 for the loser.

In my opinion - and FM's numbers seem to say the same - the difference was Akiyama's ability to get the fight to the ground a couple times and outfight Belcher once there. I thought the striking was a little bit closer than FM shows it to be, and maybe in Belcher's favor (which is the case for only one round according to FM). But under the dictates of the ten-point must it seemed clear to me that Sexyama did enough in two of three rounds to secure the win.

What are your thoughts on the fight and the result?

[gotblood?]

I thought it was a fight where the decision could've gone either way and I wouldn't have a problem with it.


But as soon as the fight ended, I said Akiyama won. My two friends I was watching it with said Belcher won.

[roland]

I thought Belcher lost narrowly. The value of the leg kicks he delivered should not be underestimated though. I'm sure Akiyamma (I can't spell) is walking with a limp today.

[initial_zen]

i thought it was a very close fight and the decision was fair... maybe not the 30-27 though

[bravowhiskey]

I thought Akiyama won the fight as well. When Goldberg was talking in the third round how Belcher was winning the fight I was totally disagreeing. 29-28 akiyama

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by initial_zen

i thought it was a very close fight and the decision was fair... maybe not the 30-27 though

Totally agree there, meant to make that point in my OP. Cannot see Akiyama winning 30-27. 29-28 I saw all the way. I was baffled as to why Goldie and Rogan were so vociferous in maintaining that Belcher won that fight.

Fights like this to me are interesting because they harken back again to the best method to judge a fight. Had this fight occurred in PRIDE? - I would say Belcher would have a good chance to win. But in the ten-point must system, he lost two of three rounds (IMO).

Originally Posted by bravowhiskey

I thought Akiyama won the fight as well. When Goldberg was talking in the third round how Belcher was winning the fight I was totally disagreeing

Me too. This is a good example of something fans sometimes talk about which is that watching a fight with the volume up and listening to the commentators can influence your perception of the result. In this case it didn't to me, as to you, but some watching the fight who thought it was close might have thought "hmm, these guys are certain Belcher is winning this thing, so he must be".

[jdwall]

right decision but agree no way 30-27

[GL Jeff]

Akiyama won the fight. In the exchanges Belcher landed one punch, but Akiyama would land one as he came in,and as he left. Not to mention almost every hit knocked Belcher's head back. Round 1 could have gone either way, it was pretty close, but round two was all Sexy, and Round 3 he got the take-down which pushed him over the edge. In no way did Belcher get robbed,and I wasnt giving in to Joe's commentary.

P.S. Anyone else think Belchers tat of Johnny Cash looked like shit?

[travtera]

After the fight I turned to my friend and said, "I say Akiyama, but it was a close fight." He agreed.

Funny how the scores ranged from 30-27 Akiyama to 29-28 Belcher. It as a good fight but by no means did Belcher get "robbed".

[b1uef1ow]

Originally Posted by travtera

After the fight I turned to my friend and said, "I say Akiyama, but it was a close fight." He agreed.

Funny how the scores ranged from 30-27 Akiyama to 29-28 Belcher. It as a good fight but by no means did Belcher get "robbed".

100% Agree.