The Count appears to have nine lives.
Every time it seems like Michael “The Count” Bisping is out of the middleweight title picture, he pulls off a win that keeps him relevant. He’s been trading a win for a loss since 2012. Most recently, he rebounded from a unanimous-decision defeat to Tim Kennedy with a complete beatdown of Cung Le in August.
While beating Le doesn’t count for what it might have seven years ago, it is still a win that kept Bisping from the first losing streak of his career.
Since turning pro in 2004, Bisping has never lost back-to-back fights, but he also hasn’t won two in a row since an impressive run of four straight victories in 2010-11.
With no consistency, he’s toyed with the emotions and expectations of those who love and hate The Count. Believe me, there are a good number of folks on both sides of that line.
On Friday, he’ll take on the dangerous and very skilled Luke Rockhold. Both men have felt the fury of a Vitor Belfort head kick and seen a potential title shot go by the boards because of it.
Some may dispute the legitimacy of those wins because of Belfort‘s TRT use, but in the record books, it says both men lost to The Phenom. Since then, we know Bisping has been up and down, but Rockhold has been as steady as rock.
The submission specialist showed his versatility by stopping Costas Philippou with a kick to the body in January, and he followed that up by submitting Tim Boetsch in April. Rockhold has risen to No. 5 in the UFC rankings, and he’s looking to ascend higher.
If the matchup itself weren’t enough to pique your interest, the trash talk might do the trick.
The intriguing 185-pound clash headlines UFC Fight Night 55 from Sydney, Australia on Friday. It will be streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass (subscription required). While the card isn’t stacked with marquee names, there are some compelling bouts scheduled.
Here’s a look at the entire card and predictions for each bout. Just beneath the table is a closer look at the main event and two other featured fights from the main card.
Clint Hester Will Stop Robert Whittaker
When you look at Hester, his strength and athleticism are apparent. He scored stoppage wins in his first two UFC bouts. However, fight fans are fickle and have short memories. It’s time the Headbussa reminds us why he’s building a reputation as an explosive striker.
To win, Whittaker has to take Hester to the ground.
That’s easier said than done. Hester has thwarted 63 percent of the attempts to put him on the mat in the UFC, per FightMetric. That doesn’t exactly put him on Jon Jones’ level when it comes to takedown defense, but he improves as he continues to work at staying on his feet.
Hester will remain standing most of the night, but Whittaker will not. Hester will win by TKO with a heavy right hand being his weapon of choice.
Ross Pearson Will Thump Al Iaquinta
Pearson is one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC. That’s especially the case if he’s allowed to stand and strike, and that is more than likely what Al Iaquinta will allow him to do.
Iaquinta struggles on the mat with skilled submission artists. He has been submitted by Mitch Clarke and Michael Chiesa since coming to the UFC in 2012. He wants to strike, but that plays into Pearson’s hands.
The Real Deal is physically stronger, and he has 26 pro fights compared to just 13 for Iaquinta. Up to now, Iaquinta hasn’t delivered in his UFC career despite having high expectations.
Against a grizzled and dangerous veteran like Pearson, Iaquinta will again come up short.
Rockhold Will Submit Bisping
The Count is an excellent fighter when his opponent stands stationary and allows him to utilize his boxing skills. Rockhold won’t do that.
He’s two inches taller and owns a five-inch reach advantage. While Bisping might be a little quicker than Rockhold, he won’t be able to close the distance before being stopped with a range-finding strike or being taken down.
Rockhold has a huge advantage when it comes to grappling, and that’s where he wins this bout. By the second round, he will taken Bisping down and forced him to tap with one of his many submission maneuvers.
All stat, height and reach references per FightMetric.
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