Despite having his bout cancelled at the last minute with Alessio Sakara, who became ill and was unable to compete, it wasn’t all bad news for UFC middleweight Jorge Rivera (19-7).
During a video interview with Kimura.se, Rivera revealed that the UFC had offered him a fight with British fighter Michael “The Count” Bisping at UFC 127 in February.
Now Rivera’s camp isn’t so sure that the fight will happen, that Bisping has yet to accept the fight and has questioned the Brit’s “warrior spirit.”
Rivera’s manager, Lex McMahon of Alchemist Management, sent this text to MMAWeekly.com concerning the fight.
“UFC likes the fight, we like the fight, but I don’t think Bisping is man enough to fight Jorge,” McMahon said in a text message on Sunday. “He has no warrior spirit, he knows Jorge will break his will and crush him.”
Rivera has won his last three fights, and is 7-4 with the UFC promotion. He last appeared in the octagon this past March at UFC Fight Night 21, whre he TKO’d Nate Quarry in the second round. The other two recent wins have been against Rob Kimmons, TKO at UFC 104, and Nissen Osterneck, split decision at UFC 85.
Bisping has won his last two fights, earning unanimous decisions in both victories over Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120 and Dan Miller at UFC 114. He dropped a unanimous decision to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 110 and is 10-3 with the promotion.
HT: MMAWeekly.com