Sunday, February 28, 8am AEDT, 02 Arena, London, England, Watch on Fox Sports 2 and UFC Fight Pass
Weight division: Middle Weight
Anderson Silva
Country: Brazil
Age: 40
Ranking: Five
Record: 33-6-0
Michael Bisping
Country: England
Age: 36
Ranking: Seven
Record: 28-7-0
THE UFC heads back to the United Kingdom with home town hero Michael Bisping set to give former middle weight champion Anderson Silva a rowdy welcome on Sunday morning.
Don’t have too many cans on Saturday night, because this fight card kicks off at 8am, so you better get up early to catch it.
Bisping ($3.57 with Sportsbet.com.au) has never been beaten on home soil, a perfect 17-0 and this might be his last chance at a title shot.
Silva ($1.30 with Sportsbet.com.au) has always been his destiny, it has just taken a long tom to come to fruition.
Silva was once the pinnacle of the UFC. A man who won 16 fights in a row to begin his career, the Brazilian’s legacy was tainted, first by a pair of losses and then by the revelation that he was a drug cheat. His return to the fighting arena against Nick Diaz produced a no contest after he failed a drug test last year and now he will forever have a question mark over his career.
And Bisping might have fought him earlier, had it not been for the now banned testosterone replacement therapy, with three fighters knocking him over under the influence of the drug in battles that would have put him head to head with Silva, had he won.
Bisping has a reputation as one of the best fighters in the world, but, when it comes to title fights and the whips cracking, he tends to fall short.
He wants that to change.
“There’s something I want to say, but I’m not sure if I want to say it because it kind of paints me in a bad picture,” Bisping said.
“I’ve beaten a lot of great fighters, but people say the big ones, I’ve lost them all.
“I don’t want to go down as a guy who loses his big fights. I’m going to win this fight, it’s as simple as that.
“I don’t want to go down as a guy who every time he had a big fight, he lost.
“This is a big fight for me in more ways than one.
“I’ve got to beat him.
“I’m going to beat him for my legacy and obviously, I want to fight for the title and this will be a step in the right direction.”
It’s Silva’s first fight since the drug ban and Bisping is not letting him forget about it any time soon.
After passing a drug test of his own recently, Bisping had a huge crack at the fallen star.
“Is the legend still there? Yes and no,” Bisping said.
“I respect what he’s done in the Octagon.
“The guy is a legend for what he has achieved, but I can’t look at him as a legend.
“I’ll be looking at him thinking: ‘I’m fighting yesterday’s news, I’m fighting a guy who can’t compete anymore, I’m fighting a guy (that) has cheated his whole career and I’m fighting a guy who is just coming off a suspension.
“I’m fighting a guy who has fought once in the last two years and he’s fighting a guy who has been busy fighting the best in the world.”
But Silva is a man who has been around the block more than once and he has only added to the show, by saying he is “ready to play the villain” when he takes on Bisping on his home soil this weekend.
“It will be a tough fight,” Silva said.
“I will give 101 per cent and I will win for sure.
“Bisping is a good fighter.
“He doesn’t excel at anything, but is dangerous nonetheless, especially on the feet.
“It’s an interesting fight.
“It will put my stand up and ground skills to the test.
“I think it will be a good opportunity to showcase what I’ve been practicing this past year, which is Philippine boxing.
“It will be a great fight.”
He heads to England for the first time in a decade.
“I have good memories of London and Cage Rage,” he said, referring to his last visit.
“I was always well received there.
“I’m really excited to be in the land of the Queen again.
“It won’t be the first time I’m the villain of the night.
“You either die as a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
“I’m going to do my job and I hope they like it.”
Silva is one of the best strikers in MMA history. He is so versatile, with a unique technique that is a splice of several different fighting styles. From boxing, to Muay Thai to traditional martial arts, even at 40, he has it all.
Bisping likes to land his blows from distance with a sweet jab that isn’t overly powerful, but very consistent. He then gets in close, picking his opportunity to land combos as often as he can. He’s a smooth mover in the octagon, which is key in this fight.
Predictions
Fight result: Michael Bisping wins ($3.57 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Method of victory: Michael Bisping by decision ($5.50 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Rounds: Five ($15 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Does a home crowd count for anything? Bisping has fought on home soil 17 times and never lost. He is a crowd favourite and we’re going with him to cause one of the great upsets in UFC history. He’s a younger fighter who perhaps has more at stake than Silva. Remember, the Brazilian has not won a fight in two and a half years. The Count has won his past two fights, but he needs this one to go to a decision if he wants to take victory. Silva is such a powerful striker, if he gets an opportunity to land one on Bisping’s chin, it will be lights out. He needs to use his superior pace to run Silva ragged and avoid the counter opportunities that he has left himself open to in the past. If he does that, he just might end up with a crack at the belt.
