UFC on FX 7: Bisping Says Brazilian Fans Want Him to ‘Kill’ Vitor Belfort

Michael Bisping is supposed to be the hated foreigner stepping into enemy territory for his UFC on FX 7 bout against Vitor Belfort, but he’s actually being cheered.As one of the few non-Brazilian fighters on the card, the response from fans is a bit of…

Michael Bisping is supposed to be the hated foreigner stepping into enemy territory for his UFC on FX 7 bout against Vitor Belfort, but he’s actually being cheered.

As one of the few non-Brazilian fighters on the card, the response from fans is a bit of a surprise, as “The Count” tells MMA Junkie that the locals in Sao Paulo are actually rooting against their own countryman:

I’m shocked. I’m getting a lot of respect. I’m getting a lot of people rooting for me and not Vitor, surprisingly.

With that said, I’m still expecting them to boo me on Saturday night. But a lot of people are saying to me, “F— Vitor! Kill that motherf—er!” Seriously, I’ve got it on video of them chanting it at the mall yesterday. But yeah, I’m still expecting to get booed, of course.

Whatever the case, the story seems to fly in the face of typical behavior from Brazilian UFC fans.

As seen at events like UFC 134, UFC 142 and UFC 153, Brazilian fans cheer on fighters from their own country far more than anyone else. Even during post-fight interviews, the nationalism is so strong that Brazilians fighters themselves are booed if they speak in English and not Portuguese.

Then again, Bisping is one of the UFC’s most famous fighters. Not only is this his first event on Brazilian soil, but he’s also co-headlining the most important match on the card.

However, Bisping also notes that the card has been marked with a negative focus on Belfort, as his 35-year-old, 16-year veteran opponent recently dodged questions from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on whether or not he’s using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Bisping, to put it mildly, is less than happy about the implications:

I’ll be honest: I’m very disappointed. I could be a little controversial here, but for someone who talks about honor and respect and f—ing Jesus and the Bible and all that, he’s been busted for steroids in the past, he’s dodging questions about TRT, and obviously he sounds like he’s on it. Otherwise he’d just be answering the question.

That’s disappointing. That said, I’m focused on what I’m going to do. It’s going to be a tough fight, but he could be on f—ing rocket fuel for all I care. Saturday night he’s in for an ass-kicking.

Should Bisping defeat Belfort on Saturday night, the Englishman will have finally earned a shot at UFC champion Anderson Silva, the man who’s held the middleweight title since October 2006.

Boasting an impressive 23-4 MMA career record, Bisping has been commonly known as a perennial contender in his division, actively campaigning for a title shot for years. His match against Belfort will mark his 18th professional bout with the UFC, in addition to three exhibition bouts during Season Three of The Ultimate Fighter.

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Johny Hendricks and 10 Fighters That Got the Shaft in 2012

2012 was a huge year for mixed martial arts when it came to blockbuster fights that we had been wanting to see for quite some time. Whether it was with UFC or Strikeforce, Zuffa continued to establish itself as the promotion that houses almost all of t…

2012 was a huge year for mixed martial arts when it came to blockbuster fights that we had been wanting to see for quite some time. Whether it was with UFC or Strikeforce, Zuffa continued to establish itself as the promotion that houses almost all of the top talent in mixed martial arts as it made its presence felt on network television.

But while it was a great year for Zuffa, individual fighters within the company did not necessarily reap the benefits. In fact, some of them flat out got the shaft.

Sure, you could always say that having a fight on a Strikeforce or UFC card is good no matter who you are going up against, but that’s not always enough. In a sport like MMA where a fighter’s window to physically compete at an elite level can close at any time, there’s a sense of urgency to get to the top as soon as possible.

For one reason or another, these 10 fighters had their chance to move up the rankings stifled in 2012 and Zuffa needs to strongly consider making it up to them in 2013. 

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Everything You Need to Know About Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping

This coming Saturday the Octagon returns to Brazil for UFC on FX 7. The main event will feature a clash between two exciting middleweights as Michael “The Count” Bisping takes on Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort. Both men are attempting to climb the mid…

This coming Saturday the Octagon returns to Brazil for UFC on FX 7.

The main event will feature a clash between two exciting middleweights as Michael “The Count” Bisping takes on Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort.

Both men are attempting to climb the middleweight ladder and secure a title shot against the dominant champion, Anderson Silva.

Let’s delve further into the fight between these two men and see what factors could come into play on Saturday night.

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UFC on FX 7 Fight Card: Detailed Info and Predictions for Belfort vs Bisping

This weekend will mark the UFC’s first event of 2013 as UFC on FX 7 gets underway. Surging middleweights Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping will toe the line in an attempt to take one step closer at a title fight with longtime champion, Anderson S…

This weekend will mark the UFC’s first event of 2013 as UFC on FX 7 gets underway. Surging middleweights Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping will toe the line in an attempt to take one step closer at a title fight with longtime champion, Anderson Silva.

With Chris Weidman, Hector Lombard and Yushin Okami all waiting in the wings, an impressive victory is imperative for each man. The winner may very well find himself challenging for divisional gold with a spectacular win on Saturday night.

The question is: who has the goods to make a title shot reality?

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UFC on FX 7: Where Does Michael Bisping Rank Among UK MMA Fighters?

Michael “The Count” Bisping has been the face of English MMA ever since he won Season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter. That is a heavy burden to carry for nearly seven years, but Bisping has done a solid job of representing his homeland.The fact that one sta…

Michael “The Count” Bisping has been the face of English MMA ever since he won Season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter. That is a heavy burden to carry for nearly seven years, but Bisping has done a solid job of representing his homeland.

The fact that one star has remained on top for so long doesn’t mean to suggest that the UK hasn’t developed some killer talent over the years. New prospects have emerged recently, and if they can continue their forward momentum, they could one day carry the torch for the UK.

Here’s a look at the 10 best active fighters from the United Kingdom, ranked on their overall skills.

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Michael Bisping Trained for Belfort with Alexander Shlemenko, Lorenz Larkin

In preparation for his collision with Vitor Belfort Saturday night at UFC on FX 7, Michael Bisping scoured the combat sports landscape to find sparring partners who could mimic Belfort’s quick-fisted southpaw style.It sounds like the search went pretty…

In preparation for his collision with Vitor Belfort Saturday night at UFC on FX 7, Michael Bisping scoured the combat sports landscape to find sparring partners who could mimic Belfort‘s quick-fisted southpaw style.

It sounds like the search went pretty well. Bisping said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast with host Ariel Helwani that he brought in Bellator middleweight knockout artist Alexander Shlemenko, UFC veteran Jay Silva and (before Saturday) Strikeforce standout Lorenz Larkin, among others.

Bisping, who said he also worked with boxers and jiu-jitsu players in preparation for the bout, expressed satisfaction over his training camp and said he felt ready to fight.

Getting hold of decent southpaw sparring partner can be quite tricky…but I’ve prepared very well for this fight and I’m feeling very, very confident.

Shlemenko (46-7) has 27 career wins by knockout and, like Belfort, throws hard, fast punches. The Russian has trained with Bisping before

Larkin (13-0-1) has eight wins by knockout. Silva (8-6) competed twice in the UFC Octagon back in 2009 and 2010.

Also during the interview, Bisping (23-4) made a slightly unusual admission for a fighter when he acknowledged that his trash talk with Belfort (and plenty of other opponents before that) provided personal motivation to fight; not just grist for the PR machine. “He’s a decent human being but we’re going to fight so I’m going stir the pot a little bit,” Bisping said “I’m going to do what I need to do to mentally prepare. I certainly fight better when I’m like that.”

Always an emotional fighter, Bisping, 33, said he thrives on bulletin board material:

It could be nothing, it could any little remark, but in my head, I’m going to multiply that massively, and turn a molehill into a mountain because that’s what I need to do. That’s how I perform…that’s what fuels me.

Bisping, who has been promised a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva if he can defeat Belfort on Saturday, spoke like a man who felt secure in his top contender’s role. He noted recent losses from fellow contenders Alan Belcher and Tim Boetsch, defeats which give Bisping a clear path to a title fight if he can beat Belfort

A longtime contender at middleweight who has never been able to get over the hump and fight for a UFC belt, Bisping seemed to express a belief that he has completed an MMA maturation process.

I haven’t fought for the title yet, and I think I’m destined to be world champion one day. No one works as hard as me. I’ve got the skill set. I’ve got the tools…Maybe in the past I wasn’t ready, but now I feel ready.

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