UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva was asked recently by ESPN.UK about his feelings on facing Michael “The Count” Bisping if the Brit should reach the top contender position. Silva responded by saying it “would be an honor to fight him, perhaps in England.”
Before that can happen a couple things have to happen first, but it’s a storyline the UFC can run with and maybe one that only needs a win by “The Count” to achieve.
Silva is set to defend his belt against Vitor Belfort next month at UFC 126 in Las Vegas. A loss or a win by Silva could net him a fight against the Brit. Bisping meanwhile, has to get past Jorge Rivera in Australia first, as both men prepare to meet each other at the end of February at UFC 127.
If “The Count” Wins the UFC could match him up against a victorious, or defeated Silva at an upcoming UK event and sell it out instantly. The fight could be sold as a title fight, if Silva beats Belfort, or as a #1 contender bout for the next shot at the middleweight belt.
Detracting from my hypothesis of what could happen, Silva told ESPN that as the World champion he wanted to fight for all of his fans, not just the ones in America or Brazil.
“The British fans are very knowledgeable and passionate about MMA. I would love to fight there once more,” he told ESPN.
“Michael Bisping is very impressive. He’s been in the UFC for a long time now and beaten some very good fighters. It would be an honour to fight him, perhaps in England.
“He is fast, is very busy and makes adjustments quickly. I am the champion of the world, not just Brazil or America. Being a world champion means taking on the best fighters from around the world all over the world.
“If the chance came I would like to fight Bisping in the UK if that’s what the UFC put together.”