UFC 116 Co-Main Event Preview: "Sexyama" takes on Chris Leben
While the colossal heavyweight tilt between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin will be drawing most of the attention at the Ultimate Fighting Championships UFC 116 event, the co-main event of the evening features an interesting stylistic match-up between a colourful Japanese newcomer to the UFC, Yoshihiro Akiyama, taking on Chris Leben.
Akiyama seeks UFC glory
Akiyama is one of the most interesting fighters in the sport, in that he is certainly not lacking in other potential career paths. Known for his flashy dress and personality, the ethnically Korean Japanese-born fighter is also something of a star in both Japan and Korea. He features on Korean television frequently, and actually has a singing career. The handsome Akiyama is invariably dubbed "Sexyama".
Akiyama was originally set to fight the legendary "Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva, and had been sitting out and had turned down several fights to wait for the opportunity to fight Silva. Silva has been a legend in Japan for years, and has held the reputation of never having been beaten by a Japanese fighter, crushing his main rival Kazuchi Sakuraba three times in the process. But Silva injured himself before this bout, forcing Leben to step up on short notice. Akiymama was reportedly reluctant to fight Leben, having held out so long for Silva.
This will be just the second fight in the UFC octagon for Akiyama, after he won his debut against Alan Belcher at UFC 100 in what was a close decision that won "Fight of the Night." He has fought strong competition on the Japanese circuit before he joined the UFC however, knocking out Denis Kang and submitting Melvin Manhoef.
For Leben, a huge opportunity
For Leben, this fight will represent the chance for him to score a victory against a high-profile opponent like Akiyama. Leben has long been one of the UFC's journeymen fighters, first getting his opportunity on the Ultimate Fighter reality television show. Since then he's gone 10-5 in the biggest MMA promoter in the world, but has struggled to beat a top-level opponent, losing high-profile matches to Anderson Silva, Michael Bisping and Jason MacDonald.
By stepping up with less than two weeks notice, Leben ensures he'll be in the UFC's good graces and will get a shot to finally achieve a breakthrough victory.
Stylistic breakdown
Though both men fight in the 185-pound middleweight division, they won't be the same size once they step into the cage on Saturday night. Akiyama, like many Japanese fighters, cuts very little to no weight, while Leben will be dehydrating himself before the weigh-in and will probably walk into the cage at at least 200 pounds.
Akiyama is a decorated black belt judo practitioner, and will try and use his skills and knowledge of balance and leverage to nullify Leben's weight advantage.
Both men possess submissions, with Leben having won a fight early in his UFC career by arm bar. But the advantage on the ground will likely go to Akiyama, who possesses a fantastic arm bar and is also a threat with chokes as well.
But this fight may well be decided on the feet. Leben is strong-chinned brawler with solid knock out power, and has stopped three of his past six opponents with his punching power. Akiyama also showed a marked willingness to trade on the feet in his UFC début, engaging in a slug-fest that showed he could take a punch. If Leben is able to turn this into a brawl, he'll have a good chance of victory, whereas it's in Akiyama's interest to fight a more technical battle and eventually take Leben to the mat and submit him.
Betting tips
Akiyama is coming into this fight as the favourite, with bookmakers paying out $1 for a $2 bet on the judoka. Leben pays out around $1.70 for a $1 bet. That line seems reasonably well-adjusted, meaning there isn't a ton of value. Still a moderate bet on Akiyama submitting the short-notice call up of Chris Leben seems like a reasonable proposition.
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