Michael Bisping has no problem reminding the mixed martial arts (MMA) world that he’s facing a cheater in former middleweight champion Anderson Silva at the UFC Fight Night 84 event inside The O2 Arena in London, England, on Feb. 27, 2016.
“The Count” has taken every chance to disrespect the arrogant “Spider,” who’s back to looking like his typical dangerous Muay Thai assassin self. It will be a big test for Silva, who turns 41 in two months, and one that Bisping believes he will fail because of the intense pressure to perform.
From Bisping’s chat with media at the UFC Fight Night 84 open workouts:
“I’m going to handle it the old-fashioned way by sticking this and this [fists] right in his face. This shin will connect with his chin [and] he will go down. It doesn’t matter which way he stands. He could stand southpaw, he could stand orthodox … he could stand on his head for all I care. It doesn’t matter. He’s coming over to England — my home — and he’s going to lose. It’s as simple as that. He’s a little bit older. He’s under a lot of pressure; a little bit of scrutiny and I think it will affect him.”
Silva certainly held his ground when it came to the playful pokes and prods from the Brit when the two held court before media in Los Angeles.
Some fighters, like Bisping, see a difference in the performances of their peers following the start of UFC’s partnership with USADA. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 winner and FOX Sports analyst was not that impressed with the Brazilian’s last showing against former Strikeforce welterweight titleholder Nick Diaz at UFC 183.
While it went down as a win, it was later changed to a “No Contest” because of the Blackhouse MMA veteran’s drug testing debacle.
On a side note, the Brit’s piss has come back clean thus far.
Bisping, 36, has since won two straight over the likes of past Silva foe Thales Leites and Power MMA’s C.B. Dollaway in 2015. He’s coming for the 185-pound belt, which his rival Luke Rockhold won off ex-champion Chris Weidman at UFC 194 back in December.
As far as Bisping is concerned, all he needs is a win and that elusive title shot is his because the top five of his division is filled with “cheats.”
For more UFC Fight Night 84 news and notes click here.