Michael Bisping put forth possibly the most impressive performance of his career at UFC on FOX 2, although it was in a losing effort.
Bisping, who was originally scheduled to fight Demian Maia at this event, instead took on No.2 ranked middleweight Chael Sonnen, after Sonnen’s original opponent, Mark Munoz, withdrew due to injury.
Going into the fight, Bisping was a huge underdog, but you wouldn’t have known it from watching. It was a competitive matchup throughout and a solid performance from both fighters.
When the fight was on the feet, Bisping got the better of most exchanges, though both men were frequently landing clean shots.
Sonnen had surprisingly little success with his takedowns, but was able to achieve them often enough to win on the judges scorecards.
Despite the loss, it was an impressive performance for Bisping, who put up a much better fight against Sonnen than most of the UFC’s top middleweights.
Though he didn’t get the win, it is likely that Bisping will finally start to get some respect from the fans, as he has proved he belongs in the cage with the best middleweights in the world.
So, what’s next for Michael Bisping?
Chris Weidman, who also fought on the card tonight could be next. He took Bisping’s place against Demain Maia and was able to defeat the crafty Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist.
Another possibility is that Bisping could face the very fighter he replaced tonight, Mark Munoz.
Other possible opponents include Rousimar Palhares and Vitor Belfort, assuming Belfort gets passed Wanderlei Silva later this year.
Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8
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