There are two clear front-runners for a shot at Anderson Silva’s middleweight title. Both Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman have staked their claim over the last year, with an intense rivalry emerging between them in recent months. Many consider …
There are two clear front-runners for a shot at Anderson Silva’s middleweight title. Both Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman have staked their claim over the last year, with an intense rivalry emerging between them in recent months.
Many consider Weidman as the one most capable of ending Silva’s six-year reign as the UFC’s 185-pound champion. However, an injury to him and some consistent performances from Bisping have put the Brit next in line for a title shot, if he can get past Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7 on Jan. 19.
But that hasn’t stopped the verbal jibes between him and Weidman, making an eventual meeting between the two that much more likely.
Here’s how a potential fight between Weidman and Bisping would break down.
The rivalry between middleweights Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman is heating up nice within the last 24 hours. In a self-penned article that was published by Yahoo Sports, Bisping claims that the injured Weidman retired back in June. It’s a part…
The rivalry between middleweights Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman is heating up nice within the last 24 hours.
In a self-penned article that was published by Yahoo Sports, Bisping claims that the injured Weidman retired back in June. It’s a particularly odd claim when you consider that Weidman knocked out Mark Munoz in July, however, it doesn’t appear that Bisping is actually trying to convince people that the Serra/Longo fighter has hung up his gloves.
On Friday morning, Weidman must have come across the article and had himself a laugh.
Chris “Sick Note” Weidman. bisping is getting a lil funnier in his old age 😉
The old age comment appears to be a jab at the fact that Bisping is entering his seventh year inside the Octagon, yet still has been unable to earn a title shot. For those of you playing the home version of this game, Weidman entered title talks only 16 months into his UFC career after the Munoz beatdown.
The two contenders currently compete in a division that has redefined trash talk in MMA, mostly thanks to Chael Sonnen’s epic war of words with Anderson Silva. With the obvious perks of slamming your opponents, why shouldn’t other contenders get in on the fun.
Weidman fired the first shot in the war in late July. Just weeks after slaughtering Mark Munoz in his first main event, “Sick Note” sat down with Fighters Only Magazine.
I know he is good and talented and he has faced some good guys but every time he has faced a top ten guy he has lost. Like with the Chael Sonnen fight he did awesome and a lot of people thought he could have won but he didn’t find the way to win.
And I am not knocking him – I think he’s a great fighter, I really do – but I question his mentality against top guys when the pressure is on. Which is pretty much what everyone says about him. He has had chances to fight for the title twice now and he doesn’t come through when the pressure is on.
It didn’t take long for “The Count” to return fire by calling Weidman a wiesel. However, the gloves really came off in a November interview with MMAmania.com. Bisping called out Weidman and entirely dismissed his standup.
Weidman’s stand-up is very very poor, it’s not good at all. He’s a very good wrestler, very good grappler, but I do well against those guys. I’d get back to my feet and knock him out.
Stay tuned to this heated rivalry, because a fight is inevitable between the two. If Bisping gets passed Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7 on January 19, he has been promised a title shot. However, with champion Anderson Silva reportedly disinterested in fighting until late 2013, it’s very possible that Weidman’s summer return could be a title eliminator against “The Count.”
Constantinos Philippou stepped into the cage at UFC 155 an underdog. He exited triumphantly, having disposed of top 10-ranked Tim Boetsch. The former boxer let his hands do the talking, as he forced intervention from the referee after hurling a load of…
Constantinos Philippou stepped into the cage at UFC 155 an underdog. He exited triumphantly, having disposed of top 10-ranked Tim Boetsch. The former boxer let his hands do the talking, as he forced intervention from the referee after hurling a load of bombs at a downed, bloodied and broken Boetsch in the final frame of their 15-minute affair.
For Costa, it was a career defining moment, and one that now puts him in the top-10 mix at middleweight.
Philippou now rides a five-fight streak inside the Octagon. His defensive grappling has looked quite impressive, his hands are heavy, quick and accurate and he’s quite durable. “The Barbarian” showed up last night looking to derail the surging Serra-Longo Fight Team rep, and he showed it in the first round as he applied solid pressure and had Philippou a bit uncertain of himself.
However, after injuring his hand in the opening frame and subsequently suffering a nasty cut on the forehead that came after an incidental collision of melons, Boetsch’s confidence wavered. Costa pounced, and his aggressive shift led to a brutal beat-down.
So where does Costa now stand? Who should this newly minted contender tangle with next? Is there any hope of Philippou fighting his way into a top contender slot?
I’ll tell you, Costa is sitting pretty right now. He just disposed of a top-five (arguably) contender, and a very relevant middleweight bout fast approaches. Vitor Belfort will meet Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7, and Costa might very well find himself battling the loser, or victor, of that fight. Chris Weidman, who’s been battling injuries as of late, also has no current opponent or return date solidified.
Smart money says no more fringe top-10 battles for Constantinos.
A meeting with Chris Weidman, should Chris not be offered a title fight with Anderson Silva next, feels all but predestined. However, if Weidman finds himself toeing the line with another contender, expect Philippou to wage war with the winner of the Belfort/Bisping bout.
The only other option that sounds remotely near as intriguing, and would help to move the division forward, is a meeting with Hector Lombard. The mad minds at the UFC may have designs on a fast-tracked title shot for Lombard, and if they feel he’s got the goods to take Philippou out, we might see this proposition become reality.
In truth, that might just be the best bet for each man. A win over Lombard would ingrain Costa’s stance as a top dog, elite competitor. A win over Costa for Lombard would prove he’s capable of disposing of a powerful, hungry boxer who’s not only ranked, but dangerous at all times.
There are only so many options for this developing stud, and every single one of those options looks thoroughly appealing. Costa’s future is bright, and we’re about to see how he’ll fare when it comes time to challenge the absolute best of the 185-pound division.
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The UFC’s final event of 2012 has come and gone, and aside from the heavyweights and lightweights fighting in the main and co-main event, the card was stacked with some of the middleweight division’s most important contenders. Chris Leben r…
The UFC’s final event of 2012 has come and gone, and aside from the heavyweights and lightweights fighting in the main and co-main event, the card was stacked with some of the middleweight division’s most important contenders.
Chris Leben returned after a long layoff, newcomer Costa Philippou extended his winning streak to five fights, and both Alan Belcher and Yushin Okami slugged it out in the middle of the pack at UFC 155 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Perfect time to take stock, then, on how the UFC’s 185-pound rankings stack up.
Chris Weidman is confident that he will be the man to finally dethrone quite possibly the greatest fighter in MMA history.Anderson Silva has left the middleweight division in ruins. Despite the existence of world-class talent, there really aren’t any m…
Chris Weidman is confident that he will be the man to finally dethrone quite possibly the greatest fighter in MMA history.
Anderson Silva has left the middleweight division in ruins. Despite the existence of world-class talent, there really aren’t any marquee names left in the title picture that Silva hasn’t already had his way with.
Weidman is the new kid on the block boasting an undefeated record and a pair of wins over upper-echelon opposition. There is no questioning his talent or potential as a worthy adversary for the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
For Weidman, the problem is name recognition.
Silva often jokes about fighting several more years, but in reality, his career is slowly winding down. He isn’t competing as often as he used to, and his preference of opponent is getting pickier and pickier.
Weidman understands why Silva is hesitant to take the fight. He believes he is a difficult matchup on paper for the champ. It wouldn’t behoove a future Hall of Famer like Silva to jump at the opportunity to fight a young and hungry up-and-comer.
In an interview with Sherdog.com, Weidman talked about the journey of securing an ever-elusive middleweight title shot.
It’s a business, and I understand what they’re doing. So, I don’t take it personal. It’s just that I put a lot of work in, and my goal is to be champion, and I know I can beat Anderson Silva, and I did enough work to get that fight.
I know I’m a terrible, terrible match-up for him. If I get my hands on Anderson Silva, I’m saying it’s game over.
Weidman could be the next middleweight to get that chance. Silva is expected to take extended time off to heal up from nagging injuries. He is slated for a late 2013 return.
As for Weidman, he’ll be pulling for VitorBelfort over Michael Bisping on January 19 at UFC on FX 7. UFC President Dana White has already gone on record that Bisping would likely be named the No. 1 contender for the middleweight title if he were to defeat Belfort.
Weidman is currently nursing a shoulder injury, and he hopes to be back in action soon. When he returns, he plans on earning a UFC title shot and finishing what ChaelSonnen started.
If I get on top of him, like ChaelSonnen was on top of him, I really believe in myself. I really think I’m going to finish the fight. I wouldn’t do it like ChaelSonnen. ChaelSonnen did a great job in both of his fights. He took [Silva] down both fights, but I just think he exerts too much nervous energy.
…I think I have the tools to beat him. I’m younger, and if I’m not bigger than him, we’re about the same size. I have a longer reach. I know I have better wrestling, and I know I have better Jiu-Jitsu. His standup is unbelievable, but I think I have the reaction times and the understanding of standup to where I’m not just going to get knocked out from out of nowhere.
(We’re not trying to say that Bisping is looking past Vitor Belfort, but…yes, Bisping is literally looking past Vitor Belfort. / Photo via @vitorbelfort)
Oh, that’s right — Bisping has, in the verbiage of much of the media, “been campaigning for years” for a shot at the middleweight title. Of course, Bisping’s arguments have been more verbal than physical lately, as his current win streak stands at 1. (Still, that’s one more than Nick Diaz and Chael Sonnen can boast; if anything, Bisping is over-qualified to fight for the belt.) In related news, it was announced that Chris Weidman will now have to begin fighting and beating two opponents at once from now on to earn consideration for a shot at the middleweight title.
Anyway, this is just one of those “news” items that exists primarily to anger us, more than anything else. Bisping could very likely be creamed by Belfort at UFC on FX 7. Or, maybe Dana’s vague promise of a resulting title shot is just something he likes to say to make a fight seem more important.
After the jump: A video highlight of Michael Bisping getting knocked out by Dan Henderson. Yes, it really is a highlight video of that one punch over and over, along with arrogant promises from Bisping that belied his lack of self-awareness, and brief moments of him having difficulty opening a door. And before you accuse us of posting this just to bash the Count, well, we are, but only because he’s a bullying, cheating, race-baiting dick who is prejudiced against the short. That’s all.
(We’re not trying to say that Bisping is looking past Vitor Belfort, but…yes, Bisping is literally looking past Vitor Belfort. / Photo via @vitorbelfort)
Oh, that’s right — Bisping has, in the verbiage of much of the media, “been campaigning for years” for a shot at the middleweight title. Of course, Bisping’s arguments have been more verbal than physical lately, as his current win streak stands at 1. (Still, that’s one more than Nick Diaz and Chael Sonnen can boast; if anything, Bisping is over-qualified to fight for the belt.) In related news, it was announced that Chris Weidman will now have to begin fighting and beating two opponents at once from now on to earn consideration for a shot at the middleweight title.
Anyway, this is just one of those “news” items that exists primarily to anger us, more than anything else. Bisping could very likely be creamed by Belfort at UFC on FX 7. Or, maybe Dana’s vague promise of a resulting title shot is just something he likes to say to make a fight seem more important.
After the jump: A video highlight of Michael Bisping getting knocked out by Dan Henderson. Yes, it really is a highlight video of that one punch over and over, along with arrogant promises from Bisping that belied his lack of self-awareness, and brief moments of him having difficulty opening a door. And before you accuse us of posting this just to bash the Count, well, we are, but only because he’s a bullying, cheating, race-baiting dick who is prejudiced against the short. That’s all.
The rivalry between middleweights 