Coach: Akiyama must fight like the Japanese women’s soccer team
Neil Melanson, head grappling instructor at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, Nevada was recently interviwed on The Verbal…
Neil Melanson, head grappling instructor at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, Nevada was recently interviwed on The Verbal Submission. Melanson has trained both Vitor Belfort and Toshihiro Akiyama extensively, and broke down how he thinks the fight will go.
“The thing I say about Vitor is, ‘What beats speed? Timing.’ The guy has a finesse not just in stand-up, but on the ground where his timing is one of the most perfect I’ve ever seen …
“If you’re in his guard and your body position is a little off, his hips are so fast that he’ll hit that. He just has that feel and he’ll just time you and he moves very well. Even with his striking, he has this great little nature about him and it was something he was born with, that talent. Working with him has been awesome because it’s his ability.
“He’s got a very big challenge against Akiyama and I think Akiyama will probably be fighting with Japan on his heart after everything they’ve been through so I really hope that … it’s hard for me because I’ve actually trained Akiyama. He trained with me a few years ago for a few months, maybe four months and I got to feel him as well and work with him. He’s a very strong guy, very nice guy, very respectful, great human being.
“I feel that Akiyama probably has a little too much muscle on his frame. He might get a little tired and that will be exactly, if Vitor doesn’t catch him right away, I think towards the end, when Vitor feels him start to slow down, lock up, Vitor will grow mentally and he might overcome and win the fight.
“I’m pulling for Vitor but if Akiyama’s fighting like the Japanese female soccer team, he could come from behind to win too.”