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Lethal Palhares won't get me - Belcher

Rousimar Palhares is feared for his heel hook © Getty Images

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Alan Belcher insists he is not underestimating the threat of the heel hook from Rousimar Palhares this weekend, but he is confident the Brazilian will not be able to lock on a submission in their middleweight battle.

Belcher and Palhares clash in a meeting of two form fighters on the UFC on Fox 3 card, which is headlined by Nate Diaz's lightweight battle with Jim Miller.

Both Belcher and Palhares have won their most recent three fights, the latter triumphing twice by submission. Palhares has become known for his foot locks, winning by heel hook or kneebar in four of his last six fights, but Belcher insists he will not become Toquinho's next victim.

"You can't over train and over think it," Belcher told MMA Weekly. "The more you train, the more you are going to be prepared for it. Where people make mistakes, it's that they don't believe in the power of leg locks and foot locks and stuff.

"I was getting a little bit like that myself, but you know, in the Jiu-Jitsu community, you train everything. Leg locks, for years, a lot of people never figured out how to defend them because they'd be, 'Oh, I can't get caught at the high level.'

"Lately, the last couple of years, foot locks have made a huge comeback and there are some awesome technicians like Rousimar Palhares has proved. So, I think people going into a fight are just thinking, 'Yeah, well, you can't get me in that. I'll just turn out of it or twist out of it and pull my leg out or I will just punch him in the face or something.' Then they get their knee hurt.

"I'm aware of what I have to do and how dangerous those situations can be. That is something that will give me an advantage. He will feel it right away when he tries to grapple with me or go for my legs.

"They just won't be there, I will block and avoid, break him down and really frustrate him. I am going to surprise some people."

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