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Michael Bisping Flipping off UFC Fans Is Actually Good for the Sport

Michael Bisping is a controversial man who does controversial things. Because of this, he’s grown to become one of the UFC’s largest stars.From coaching multiple seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter” to being in the main event…

Michael Bisping is a controversial man who does controversial things. Because of this, he’s grown to become one of the UFC’s largest stars.

From coaching multiple seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter” to being in the main event of multiple “Fight Night Live” events and overseas pay-per-views, Bisping is fantastic at mixing fame with infamy.

Just yesterday, Bisping responded to a negative fan reaction at the “UFC on Fox 2” weigh-ins by flipping-off the crowd, which nearly cost him a sponsor.

Should this have even been an issue in the first place?

I think Bisping deserves to flip-off as many fans as he wants.

According to 5^th Round, immediately after Bisping greeted the booing fans at the weigh-ins with a pair of middle fingers, Alden Halpern, the CEO of clothing company MMA ELITE, took to Twitter to voice his disapproval by permanently banning Bisping from being sponsored by MMA Elite.

But it turned out to be much ado about nothing; a short while later, Halpern retracted his statement, admitting that he had “jumped the gun.”

To be honest, I have a few conflicting feelings about this issue.

First off, I honestly think it’s a bit funny that a CEO of a major company took to Twitter to make a major announcement that was nothing more than a snap judgment that was later retracted.

You would think the CEO of one of the most popular MMA clothing brands currently on the market would have a little patience.

That said, I didn’t think much of Bisping flipping-off the fans. Should we really expect any different? At this point, all I do is shrug and say, “That’s Michael Bisping for you.”

I also think it’s important to note that Bisping’s antics have nothing to do with the MMA fanbase as a whole.

Whenever we see a controversial fighter do something controversial that focuses on the audience, we tend to make the same snap judgment that Halpern made: He hates the fans, and that’s bad for the sport and bad for business.

But I don’t think that’s true. Bisping doesn’t hate the fans; Bisping hates his haters.

When was the last time Bisping flipped-off a crowd that was cheering him? When was the last time Bisping snatched the mic away from Joe Rogan and told off a pro-Bisping crowd?

Some fighters take a negative fan reaction in stride. Bisping is not one of those fighters. Should he be criticized for that? Occasionally.

Should that garner even more hate for him from the anti-Bisping crowd? Absolutely.

But should that cost the man his livelihood? Absolutely not.

We all know what Bisping is: He’s a bad boy. And all sports have their bad boys. I’d go one further: all sports need bad boys.

If all we had were squeaky-clean do-gooders, you and I know that it’d get very boring very quickly.

So give Bisping a little leeway, and just like Halpern, come to your senses the next time you think he should be seriously punished just for being himself.

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.

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UFC on Fox 2 Picks: Rashad Evans by TKO, Chael Sonnen by Dominant UD, and More

We’re now only a day away from “UFC on Fox 2.”In the main event, top light heavyweights clash as the undefeated Phil Davis meets former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.The co-main event will also be an interesting matchup, as Mi…

We’re now only a day away from “UFC on Fox 2.”

In the main event, top light heavyweights clash as the undefeated Phil Davis meets former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.

The co-main event will also be an interesting matchup, as Michael Bisping fights Chael Sonnen, with the winner getting a shot at Anderson Silva’s UFC Middleweight Championship.

As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post for “UFC on Fox 2.”

Chris Weidman vs. Demian Maia

I have a lot of respect for Chris Weidman.

I respect him for being undefeated. I respect him for putting on some good fights in his short time with the UFC. I respect him for taking this fight on such short notice.

But to this day, Demian Maia continues to display flashes of brilliance that make me believe that one day he could become the next Mark Munoz. Maia’s stand-up has been consistently improving on a fight-by-fight basis, and we all know how good his ground game is.

With Munoz taking that final big step out of gatekeeper status and into legitimate championship relevancy, I think Maia stands tall as the best gatekeeper in the UFC’s middleweight division.

It’ll be a war, but Maia’s experience and expanding versatility will be too much for Weidman, especially since he’s coming in on ultra-short notice. Demian Maia wins by unanimous decision.

Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping

Hate me if you must, disagree with me if you like, but I still think Michael Bisping isn’t submitting Chael Sonnen.

Bisping could damage Sonnen over three rounds, and he may even be able to TKO him if given the perfect opportunity, but my official prediction is that Sonnen spends much of this fight taking Bisping down and having his way with him on the ground.

It’ll be “pillow hands” this and “lay and pray” that from the Sonnen cynics, but I respect Sonnen’s smothering, dominant top game too much to give Bisping the nod in this fight.

Chael Sonnen is coming off of one of the best performances of his career, and he is as motivated as he has ever been. Chael Sonnen wins by dominant unanimous decision.

Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis

I haven’t seen Rashad Evans this motivated since he knocked out Chuck Liddell.

I think Evans is truly angry at not only his situation, but at himself. The UFC isn’t blameless here, either, but Evans has had an active role in what has become a saga revolving around the constant game of “so close and yet so far away” for his shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

I have nothing against Phil Davis, and I think in a year or two he’ll be right at Rashad’s level and ready to compete for the title. But right now, going up against a motivated and angry Evans, I think Davis is going to crumble under the pressure.

Rashad is going to attack and he won’t stop attacking, and eventually he’ll blow past any and all of Davis’ defenses and finish him. Rashad Evans wins by TKO in Round 2.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends.

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.

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Chael Sonnen, Rashad Evans, FUEL TV and 5 Reasons to Watch UFC on Fox 2

On January 28, 2012, the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “UFC on Fox 2” event, featuring former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans taking on top wrestler Phil Davis. Also, British banger and notorious bad-boy Michael Bisping t…

Still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch “UFC on Fox 2”.

5. Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman has a lot of potential, even if most people aren’t all that interested in it.

It’s been quite some time since Demian Maia had any significant hype behind him, but he’s still in the UFC, he’s still winning fights, and I’d argue that he’s one of the best gatekeepers in the UFC right now. And this is definitely a gatekeeper fight, with Weidman the rising prospect that wants his shot at legit divisional relevancy. Whoever wins this fight takes a big step towards relevancy in general. So expect both men to come out to put on a show.

4. Three hours of prelims, and very good prelims at that.

Three full hours of free UFC action is a pretty good time no matter what, but this card is especially stacked for a preliminary card. For the “UFC on Fox 2” prelims you’ve got talented veterans like Joey Beltran, John-Olav Einemo, Nik Lentz, and Cub Swanson. You’ve got talented upstarts like Michael Johnson, Charles Oliveira, and Evan Dunham. I don’t normally put the prelims ahead of any of the actual main card fights, but I’m simply more interested in these prelims than I am Weidman/Maia.

3. It’s the UFC… on Fox.

I’ll be honest: even though we’ve already got one “UFC on Fox” event under our belts, it’s still taking me a little time to adjust to seeing my favorite fighters on the home of shows like Family Guy, the Simpsons, and American Idol. Every time I hear that famous Fox Sports tune, I still feel some sort of disconnect and expect a football game to start playing. But what we’re seeing is history in the making, and the beginnings of a new era for the UFC. That’s definitely one of the biggest reasons to check out this event.

2. Michael Bisping vs. Chael Sonnen could end up being a very short night for either fighter.

We’ve all had our say on this fight, and I’ve said plenty about it myself. There are many different ways this fight could break down, and most of them are pretty entertaining. No matter what happens, the winner of this fight will earn a shot at Anderson Silva and the UFC Middleweight Championship. That’s a pretty strong motivating factor that should result in both men showing up at their best. And both Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen are quite amazing when they show up at their best.

And the number-one reason to watch “UFC on Fox 2” is…

1. Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis belongs on a Pay-Per-View… because it nearly headlined one.

I don’t care what circumstances led to it happening: I’ll take a Pay-Per-View main event fight on free TV any day of the week. Rashad Evans has been a man on a mission since returning from injury, and his recent performance against Tito Ortiz was one of the most vicious, most dominant performances of his entire career. Phil Davis, meanwhile, is undefeated and one of the best wrestlers in the division. It may not be a “blink and you’ll miss it” encounter, but this fight should still be entertaining from start to finish.

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UFC on Fox 2: A Crash Course Covering Everything You Need to Know

Hello once more fans and friends, and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading int…

I look at everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event and even where and when you can find it on TV. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring “UFC on Fox 2: Evans vs. Davis.”

The Event

UFC on Fox 2 “Evans vs. Davis,” is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The preliminary card will be broadcast live on FUEL TV starting at 5:00 PM ET. The three-fight main card is set to air on Fox starting at 8:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care

Originally billed as a “triple header”, this event still has two strong matchups going for it. While Demian Maia and Chris Weidman have been more or less left in the dust, both Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping and Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis are must-see main event matchups.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event

Rashad Evans has been campaigning for his shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship for a long time now. He’s put up with injuries, with opponents pulling out of fights and he’s put up with the constant hype of a showdown with former teammate and arch-rival Jon Jones without seeing any of it culminate in an actual title shot.

And Rashad Evans is pissed.

Meanwhile, Phil Davis has been doing a lot of things right, and he’s a workhorse that will make Rashad Evans work very hard to finally make his date with destiny.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event

The only real regret I have is that the UFC didn’t make Sonnen/Bisping right off the bat and give these two fighters weeks to talk trash about each other instead of the short time we’ve been given.

Still, a whole lot has been said about this fight in the amount of time there’s been to talk about it. Whether you’re a fan, a member of the media or even a casual observer, you’ve probably got an opinion on this one. But the general consensus should hold up: Regardless of how it ends, this should be a pretty fun fight.

Why You Should Watch This Card

As always, the UFC is hitting us with a good event that has names all up and down the card. They’re giving us a full, live preliminary event absolutely free. And with the amount of star talent on the main Fox broadcast coupled with the huge title fight that anchored the previous Fox broadcast, it’s become clear that any and all Fox events will be as close to a Pay-Per-View event as we could possibly get without actually putting any money down.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card

I really don’t have anything negative to say about the preliminary card. In fact I think it’s a very strong little mini-event. In regards to the Fox broadcast, all I can say is what I’ve said already: Demian Maia and Chris Weidman have more or less been left in the dust.

Unless you specifically like either of those fighters, I can’t make a strong argument to watch that fight other than the usual arguments: They’re both good fighters, the fight has potential, etc. etc.

Closing Thoughts

The removal of Mark Munoz due to injury definitely hurt this event, but it’s still a must-watch. With two big fights, one decent fight (for a main card) and a preliminary card full of good fights, this event should be well worth watching.

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Jorge Rivera, Jim Miller, Pat Barry and the Top 5 Moments of UFC on FX 1

UFC on FX 1 was a strong numbered-event debut for the UFC on FX and a further indication that the UFC is ready and willing to bring big fights to their Fox partners.But which stars shined brightest and what moments will fans be talking about in the fol…

UFC on FX 1 was a strong numbered-event debut for the UFC on FX and a further indication that the UFC is ready and willing to bring big fights to their Fox partners.

But which stars shined brightest and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here’s my take on the matter: my top five best moments of UFC on FX 1: Guillard vs. Miller.

5. Nick Denis KO’ing Joseph Sandoval

It was pretty tough to choose only two preliminary bouts to be featured on this Top 5, since five out of the six prelims of this event ended via dramatic stoppage, with three straight first-round stoppages to start off the show.

I didn’t know a whole lot about Nick Denis, but thanks to some insightful commentary, I learned that he apparently has a lot of hype and interest surrounding him. Seeing him absolutely blitzkrieg and KO his opponent with a barrage of short elbows to the head went a long way towards proving that hype. I definitely know who Denis is now, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on where he goes from here.

4. Josh Neer Submitting Duane Ludwig

Even if you weren’t a fan of either of these two (and I’ve pointed out several times that I’m not), you can certainly appreciate how fun of a fight this was for the short time that it lasted. It had all the makings of a very good brawl, but I won’t penalize Josh Neer for seeing an opportunity and pouncing on it. My interest in Neer is steadily growing, and while I wouldn’t call myself a fan just yet, I’m certainly interested in seeing where he goes from here and how good of a run he can go on this time around.

3. Jorge Rivera’s Comeback TKO victory in His Final Fight

Before this fight, it was said that Rivera would retire win or lose. So I’m very glad that Rivera won by putting on a classic performance: he survived under adversity, he displayed good striking and a big heart and he ended up pouncing on the smallest of opportunities and turning a near-defeat into a triumphant comeback.

I’ll probably type up a “How I’ll Remember Jorge” piece in the next few days, but I’ll say this right now: For his penchant to finish fights dramatically, his willingness to stand and bang and because of his absolutely hilarious personality, I’m definitely going to miss Jorge Rivera.

2. Pat Barry KO’ing Christian Morecraft

Now that Chris Lytle has retired, I honestly think Pat Barry has taken Lytle’s place as my premiere “dark-horse favorite.” It’s simple, really: Barry has a magnetic personality, and he fights in this crazy “kill or be killed” style that keeps resulting in dramatic finishes.

Every time I see Pat Barry fight and after every interview I hear or read where he comes off as such a genuine, kind, hilarious person…my respect and appreciation of Barry grows, and my feelings of joy when he wins and heartbreak when he loses grows. Seeing Barry win again and get back on the right track was definitely the No. 2 moment of the night.

And my personal pick for the best moment of UFC on FX 1 is…

1. Jim Miller Submitting Melvin Guillard

I don’t know what else Jim Miller needs to do in order to get people to notice him, and I hope a big win in the main event of an FX show is the final straw. There can be no denying it now: Miller is in the Top 5 of the UFC’s Lightweight division.

It was heartbreaking to see Melvin Guillard lose again, but I felt very vindicated when Jim Miller gave us another awesome fight and another quality finish. Miller put the division on notice several fights back; hopefully, this fight was the one where he put the UFC fans on notice. Miller definitely deserves to be talked about a whole lot more.

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Best Performance of the Night: Jim Miller at ‘UFC on FX 1’

Another major MMA event has come and gone, and it’s time for my unofficial “Best Performance of the Night” award. And when you have an event like UFC on FX 1, it’s tough to pick just one finish out of all the great ones the nigh…

Of the 10 scheduled bouts, only two went to a decision. So which finish stood out above all the rest? Here’s why Jim Miller took home “Best Performance of the Night.”

Let’s begin as we always do, fans and friends—by putting the situation into context.

Heading into this fight, Miller had lost for only the third time in his professional MMA career. His record stood at an overwhelmingly positive 20-3. To date, only Benson Henderson, Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard have ever beaten Miller.

Henderson is set to challenge for the UFC lightweight championship, Maynard is a two-time UFC lightweight championship challenger and Edgar is the current reigning and defending UFC lightweight champion.

Before losing to Henderson, Miller was on a seven-fight winning streak that included four stoppage victories, two of which occurred in the first round.

I’ve been saying that Miller is underrated and one of the best lightweights in the UFC since 2010, so hopefully that background gives you a better idea of why I find it puzzling that Jim Miller isn’t a major star right now.

Miller’s opponent for this event, Melvin Guillard, was dealing with his own humbling loss coming into the UFC on FX 1 event. With a gigantic record of 29-9-2 with one no contest, Guillard had most of the fame that had eluded Miller.

At times both famous and infamous, Guillard has been known for his wild style, his self-destructive personal problems and his ability to dramatically finish opponents. Before losing to Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, Guillard was on a five-fight winning streak with three wins by (T)KO and with all three of those wins occurring in the very first round of action.

Even with both men coming off of losses, this was a fight between two top-10 fighters, and it seemed destined to deliver an entertaining finish.

And it fulfilled its destiny.

Guillard is known for his early-round onslaughts, and that’s exactly what he brought against Miller. The ability of Miller to take a punch and survive Guillard’s blitzkrieg is every bit as impressive as his ability to turn the situation around and submit Guillard.

With this win, Miller moves his record to 21-3 with 12 wins by submission. He’s won three out of his last four, and all three wins have been stoppages.

At this point, I don’t know what else I can do. I’m not just in the bandwagon, I’m not just at the front of it, I’m practically jumping up and down screaming my lungs out into a megaphone.

Everybody, please! Start paying attention to Jim Miller, because he’s awesome. This fight proved that, and that’s why he gets my “Best Performance of the Night” award.

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