Siyar replaces akiyama at UFC 149

by **yoseph** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:28 pm

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28613/siyar-bahadurzada-replaces-yoshihiro-akiyama-at-ufc-149-meets-thiago-alves.mma

July's UFC 149 event has a fairly significant change: Siyar Bahadurzada (21-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has replaced injured Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC) and now meets Thiago Alves (19-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC).

Officials from the UFC's Brazilian office today announced the change.

UFC 149 takes place July 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo headlines in a five-round title fight with challenger Erik Koch.

UFC 149's main card, including Bahadurzada vs. Alves, airs on pay-per-view. FX and Facebook are expected to carry the prelims.

The nature of Akiyama's injury wasn't disclosed.

Alves was less than a minute away from topping Martin Kampmann in a UFC on FX 2 headliner back in March. But Alves shot for a late takedown and ultimately tapped out to a guillotine choke in a crushing defeat. 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 the title loss to champ Georges St-Pierre in 2009.

Bahadurzada, meanwhile, made an impressive promotional debut at UFC on FUEL TV 2, where he knocked out another Brazilian, Paulo Thiago, in just 42 seconds. The "Knockout of the Night" performance marked the former Shooto champion's seventh straight win. It also marked his 17th stoppage (and 11th knockout) in 21 career victories.

The full UFC 149 card now includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Champ Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch (for featherweight title)
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Thiago Silva
Cheick Kongo vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Thiago Alves vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch
PRELIMINARY CARD
Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen
Court McGee vs. Nick Ring
Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon
Antonio Carvalho vs. George Roop
Ryan Jimmo vs. Anthony Perosh

**Sponsor**

by **Shaka Zulu** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:34 pm

As much as I'm beginning to like the al-Qaidian, I think Alves might be a bit much for him. Sure he put out my boy Paulo but Paulo aint Thiago...well that is his last name ...but he's no pitfall.

Alves by TKO in 2nd round

by **RebelSaki** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:37 pm

Didn't even know about Sexyama- Alves. Damn that would have been a sexy matchup.

This should be an extremely exciting matchup, and we're going to get a better idea about whether or not Siyar's unorthodox punches will work against a top striker.

I bet we see Alves try to take him down

by **RebelSaki** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:39 pm

Holy shit this main card is awesome

by **Octofan** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:42 pm

Tremendous fight! KO guaranteed?

by **RebelSaki** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:46 pm

Octofan wrote:Tremendous fight! KO guaranteed?

Not quite

by **MMAPunkBillCarson** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:56 pm

When the fuck was Nogueira vs Kongo made?

by **yoseph** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:58 pm

RebelSaki wrote:Holy shit this main card is awesome

My thoughts exactly. UFC is gonna get my money or my friends on this card :lol:

I think siyar takes it and puts Alves a fight away from being cut. IMO Alves has overrated striking and is going to show it this fight with a kotn.

by **RustyCooter** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:03 pm

MMAPunkBillCarson wrote:When the fuck was Nogueira vs Kongo made?

Thats what I was thinking. I heard nothing about that fight. Good main card.

by **SamuraixJack** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:18 pm

Another Infidel is gettin KO'ed

by **Badact** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:19 pm

RustyCooter wrote:
MMAPunkBillCarson wrote:When the fuck was Nogueira vs Kongo made?

Thats what I was thinking. I heard nothing about that fight. Good main card.

Kongo and Nog. Aw man, Nog gets redemption!

by **vampxx24** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:22 pm

yoseph wrote:
RebelSaki wrote:Holy shit this main card is awesome

My thoughts exactly. UFC is gonna get my money or my friends on this card

I think siyar takes it and puts Alves a fight away from being cut. IMO Alves has overrated striking and is going to show it this fight with a kotn.

alves striking is good...his problem is this... his bulk doesnt suit his frame....this dates back to the gsp fight where everyone made a big deal how alves was bigger. if you watch gsp is actually bigger than alves, alves might of weighed more but gsp is the overall bigger fighter, which is normally the case against alves. hes more of a lw frame but has all that muscle that puts him at 200-205 lbs walking. hes facing guys with a longer reach them him. Heres a good example, when rumble was starting to get insane hype as the next guy to beat gsp, him and alves weighed the same. Rumbles camp said during this period rumble was walking around at 207... now obviously if you put the 2 next to each other rumble dwarfed alves, but same weight. against siyar tho, siyar is just vastly superior striker.. this will be a case of a good mma striker against a good k-1 trained striker.

on a sidenote, happy for akiyama... dude needs to catch a break and they need to give him a lower tier ww. his confidence has to be alil shook..let him pick up wins before giving him big names again

by **vampxx24** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:24 pm

MMAPunkBillCarson wrote:When the fuck was Nogueira vs Kongo made?

3 weeks or so ago..... will go prob exactly like kongo vs mir..... kongo will be so shook to taken down nog catchs him with a hard hit then sub

kinda sucks for kongo.... if he had ANY confidence against someone who had sub skills...i tink he could actually take mir, and could give nog a run.... hes just so scared to be taken down by them he leaves himself open.... mirs chin isnt exactly granite and pretty much everyone whos faced kongo said he hits hard.

by **wheresthebud** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:26 pm

Sexy just dodged another loss. I'm going with Alves but hope Siyar KO's him.

by **jjmmajkd** » Tue May 08, 2012 9:31 pm

wow good card