After witnessing Chris Weidman knock out Anderson Silva and become the new UFC middleweight champion at UFC 162 on Saturday night, Michael Bisping wasted no time in asking for the first crack at the new champion.
He took to Twitter immediately after the conclusion of the UFC 162 main event:
Bisping is referring to the UFC’s planned return to Manchester on October 26. That will be the first fight card in the city since UFC 105 in 2009, when Randy Couture won a controversial decision over Brandon Vera in the headliner.
“The Count” is currently ranked No. 4 among the UFC middleweights. When the rankings come out this week, he will most likely remain in the same spot.
Bisping offered a compliment to Weidman in his tweet. Usually the quick-witted Brit is throwing out insults or barbs at potential or future opponents. He referred to his last opponent, Alan “The Talent” Belcher, as “Talentless.”
He defeated Belcher by unanimous technical decision at UFC 159 after an inadvertent eye poke halted the bout in the last minute of the third round. It was a solid rebound victory for Bisping, after losing to the No. 2-ranked middleweight Vitor Belfort back in January on the UFC on FX 7 card.
Bisping has fought both times the UFC put a fight card in Manchester, defeating Elvis Sinosic at UFC 70 and Dennis Kang at UFC 105. He won both fights by TKO and earned a “Fight of the Night” bonus each time.
In fact, the English fighter has won all six of his fights across the pond under the UFC banner. Combine that with the 10-straight victories from the start of his fighting career in Cage Warriors, Cage Rage and other England MMA promotions, and he is undefeated at 16-0 inside his native country.
Bisping will almost assuredly be on the third-ever fight card to take place in his native city. It’s just not likely it will be against Weidman for the title. He will most likely be waiting behind Silva—if there is a rematch against Weidman—and Vitor Belfort.
With the No. 3-ranked Yushin Okami expected to face Jacare Souza at UFC on FOX Sports 1 2 in September, it’s more likely that “The Count” will face Costa Phillipou, Mark Munoz or Luke Rockhold next.
Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report
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