(photo via Getty Images for UFC.com)
UFC middleweight Michael “The Count” Bisping (20-3) has received a lot of trash talk from opponent Jorge Rivera who has posted numerous videos poking fun at the British fighter.
Both men are scheduled to meet on Feb. 26 in the co-main event of UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch at Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Coming into the fight Bisping was looking at the bout with Rivera as just another fight, but with all of the trash talking come his way, “The Count” is all fired up for this fight.
In a recent interview with ESPN.co.uk, “The Count” said he was aware of Rivera’s “heavy hands” but doesn’t think he’ll hit as hard as his last opponent Yoshihiro Akiyama. Bisping and Akiyama squared off in October at UFC 120 with the Brit earning a unanimous decision victory in a bout that earned both men the “Fight of the Night” bonus.
“Akiyama’s the bigger knockout threat, I’ve not really seen Rivera put anyone away with one shot. Rivera’s got heavy hands and he has taken people out, but I’ve not seen him do it with one punch and KO anyone. Akiyama’s definitely done that. He took out Denis Kang one-punch with that uppercut, he’s done it to a few people and he almost got me – the bastard! Akiyama’s the far more powerful puncher than Rivera. The majority of people in the UFC are heavy-handed, particularly with four-ounce gloves on. Anyone who can throw a punch will knock someone down if they hit on the button in four-ounce gloves, so I’m sick of hearing about this heavy-handed bulls***.”