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Why Fans Secretly Love Michael Bisping (and Why You Should, Too)

The winds of change are blowing.Michael Bisping has never been the most-liked fighter in the UFC. OK, that’s probably the biggest understatement I’ve ever written, but bear with me for a few minutes.Ever since he appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, Bispi…

The winds of change are blowing.

Michael Bisping has never been the most-liked fighter in the UFC. OK, that’s probably the biggest understatement I’ve ever written, but bear with me for a few minutes.

Ever since he appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, Bisping has essentially been two men. Much like Bret Hart during his pro Canada/anti-America wrestling storyline back in the late 90’s, Bisping has been treated wholly differently on two different continents.

In America—and the rest of the world, if truth be told—Bisping has been the UFC’s ultimate villain. At times, he’s lived up to that billing; the spitting incident with Jorge Rivera at UFC 127 springs to mind. That one took place in Australia, and he received a ton of negative feedback from the live crowd.

But Bisping is even more vilified by American audiences. There’s just something about the middleweight that seemingly angers American fight fans. I can’t put my finger on it, but I suspect part of it is due to the simple fact that he’s not American.

You know it’s true, don’t you? Dan Hardy often receives the same treatment, and he’s cut from the same mold as Bisping: brash, outspoken and British. We Americans are fine with our fighters being a little bit arrogant, so long as they don’t speak with a funny accent.

This is not to say that Bisping didn’t help add to the negativity over the years with his own attitude, because he certainly did.

But the past year has been an interesting one for Bisping, and I think a lot of that negativity is starting to go away. He hasn’t changed much, at least not on the surface. He’s still as arrogant as ever, and I don’t see that ever changing. It’s who he is: a fighter supremely confident in his skills who is not afraid to tell you how good he is. It’s refreshing in a way, and it’s meant big money for the new middleweight contender over the years.

Things started to change for Bisping in January, when he stepped up to face Chael Sonnen on short notice at UFC on FOX 4. In a year where fighters have been derided for not being willing to take fights on short notice, Bisping did what everyone wants their fighters to do: fight anyone at any time and without much in the way of preparation. His decision to step in and face Sonnen wasn’t an easy one to make, and it may not have been the smart one; it was a bad fight for him, style-wise, and it represented a potential roadblock in his path to title contender status.

But Bisping took the fight anyway. He lost the fight—though whether he actually lost is debatable—but came out looking better than he did going in. Instead of derailing his title hopes, the fight actually boosted his status. Fans who hated him since his Ultimate Fighter days decided that the guy may not be quite as bad as they thought.

And with his win over Brian Stann at UFC 152, even more fans flocked to his side. He didn’t finish the fight, but he scored a dominant win over a very good fellow middleweight. And in the days leading up to that fight, Bisping was one of the biggest stars of fight week—and that includes light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who saw his own popularity waning even as Bisping‘s was on the rise.

I’m not afraid to say it: This is a new Michael Bisping for the most part. As he noted in the lead-up to UFC 152, he’s got a family now, and having a family will affect your life in all sorts of ways. It makes you stop before you say things you would’ve said in the past. It creates a sense of purpose that may not have been there before.

He’ll still say outlandish things from time to time, as witnessed in his wink-wink “feud” with flyweight Joseph Benavidez in the month prior to UFC 152. That’s part of who he is. But instead of being a reason for fans to hate him, that willingness to speak his mind is now becoming a reason to get behind him, and it’s all because he’s proven that he’s willing to step up and fight anyone at any time.

Things are coming together for Bisping. He’s making more money than ever before. He’s represented by a great sports agency at Paradigm Sports Management. And he’ll likely get the next crack at middleweight champion Anderson Silva, perhaps even in front of his countrymen at a UFC stadium show in England. That last part isn’t all that likely due to time differences between England and North America, but it remains a possibility.

And for the first time ever, the fans are getting behind him. It’s an unlikely story, but one that’s going to remain extremely interesting to watch in the year to come.

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B/R Official Rankings for October: The Top 10 Middleweights in MMA

In August, the middleweight division sent two of it’s biggest stars to the light heavyweight division.This move shook up the rankings big time, as Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort were members of the Top Five.The divisional action didn’t slow down for on…

In August, the middleweight division sent two of it’s biggest stars to the light heavyweight division.

This move shook up the rankings big time, as Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort were members of the Top Five.

The divisional action didn’t slow down for one second in September, as UFC Champion Anderson Silva agreed to a light heavyweight fight. We witnessed a potential title eliminator between Michael Bisping and Brian Stann, and a huge battle between Chris Weidman and Tim Boetsch was booked for December.

Let’s take a look at how the rankings were affected by such a big month for the division. This is the official Bleacher Report MMA rankings of MMA’s middleweight division for the month of October 2012.

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Boetsch Leaves the Talking to Others, Believes Hard Work Will Earn Title Shot

Over the past several years, the fight business has turned into a game of public call-outs and media dustups. Fighters have used social media and interviews to raise their profiles in order to boost themselves up the divisional pecking order. While thi…

The Maine native believes hard work and staying on the grind is the answer. Since dropping to the middleweight division, “The Barbarian” has been on a tear, as he has notched four consecutive victories inside the Octagon. With each win, the soon-to-be father of three has taken one step closer to his ultimate goal of facing 185-pound king Anderson Silva. Before he can make the dream a reality, he will have to overcome former prospect turned rising star Chris Weidman.

The two men are slated to square off at UFC 155. Despite the recent chatter about who deserves to have the next title shot, Boetsch believes his hard work will pay off, and the bout with Weidman will ultimately decide who is next.

“Things are kind of interesting right now in the division,” Boetsch told Bleacher Report. “The fights speak for themselves and there are a couple of guys who are real standouts. It just so happens those two guys are fighting on December 29 at UFC 155 and we’ll decide who the number one contender is.

“I’m going to do the hard work and it will get me where I need to be. A true champion can beat everyone out there. A true champion is determined. I’ve certainly had a tough few fights and this next one is going to be the toughest yet. With that being said, that is the challenge. It is a part of wanting to be the best fighter in the world.

“You don’t want to just go out there and beat up all the low level guys. For me, the awesome part about this sport is that I’m now fighting the best guys in the world and those are the guys I wanting to be competing against. I think Chris Weidman is the same way where he wants to do whatever it takes and battle his way to the top to get his shot. I think it is going to make for an amazing fight on December 29.”

Boetsch saw his stock rise as he found victory in his first three outings in the middleweight division. But it was his most recent victory over former Bellator champion Hector Lombard which put him squarely into the division’s upper tier and on a collision course with Weidman.

The undefeated upstart from Long Island has been laying his own path of destruction, as he has rolled off five straight victories of his own since debuting in the UFC last March. As impressive as Weidman has looked, Boetsch feels his power and heart will make the difference when the two men lock up.

“I think the fight with Weidman is going to be a very good fight but I definitely expect to be victorious,” Boetsch said. “I’m not taking anything away from Chris. He’s a tough dude and the next toughest guy in the weight class. It’s going to be a hard fought fight for sure. I believe I’m a tough fight for anyone. I’m decent everywhere and I don’t give up. I train hard and go in there with a very strong will to win. I’m getting better every fight.

“Power is definitely one of the advantages I have over some of the other middleweights out there. I’m literally one punch away from changing the entire dynamic of a fight. I think I showed that in my bout with Okami. I was down two rounds to nothing, landed a couple of clean shots, and it was over. I certainly have that ability and it should be something my opponents are worried about.”

While the bout between Boetsch and Weidman would appear to decide the next contender, a recent push from Michael Bisping has resonated loudly throughout the MMA community. “The Count” is pushing hard to put himself across from Anderson Silva, and looked strong in his victory over Brian Stann. Despite Bisping‘s efforts, Boetsch doesn’t believe it will have an impact on his road to the top.

“Talking is just one of Bisping‘s tactics,” Boetsch said. “He tries to stay in everybody’s ear and stay noticed so people will continue to want to see him fight. Bisping‘s tough though. He took apart Brian Stann the other night and I had a feeling that was going to happen. If Brian was able to keep the fight standing I felt he had a really good chance of clipping Bisping and maybe knocking him out. But Stann just wasn’t able to stop the take downs and Bisping definitely took advantage of that.”

Despite a rough summer for the UFC, the end of the year is stacked with strong cards. Between UFC 154, UFC on Fox 5, and UFC 155, divisional pictures and championship belts will all be up for grabs. With the injury bug seemingly biting at every turn, and fights being scrapped at an increasing rate, Boetsch feels there are several factors which come into play.

“There is definitely some over-training going on but there is also a lot of pressure on fighters nowadays,” Boetsch said. “There is pressure to win fights and if you are not out there performing at your highest ability, putting on and ultimately winning exciting fights; your career is on the line. You have to win to stay in the business. You have to put on exciting fights and you have to throw down hard. If guys aren’t able to do that because they have developed some sort of injury; I definitely see why they are not jumping in the cage and putting it on the line.

“I understand their concern but at the same time I fall under an interesting category. I don’t have the luxury of being able to take a bunch of time off. I have two kids, a wife and another child on the way in January. I have bills to pay. I have to take every fight I can. I’ve definitely taken a lot of fights where I’m not 100%. I have taken fights on short notice but I believe that is just part of the game. I’m not backing down. I’m going to get in there and perform.

“My parents really instilled in me if you make the decision to do something you follow through. You don’t quit or give up. You go in and get what you want. That is part of my mentality and always has been. You put the work in and you just get tough. Even if your body isn’t 100%, you go in there with a strong mind and get the job done.”

While he appreciates the difficult task ahead in facing Weidman, the ultimate dream resting in the back of Boetsch‘s mind is to become the UFC middleweight champion. He doesn’t allow himself to look too far into the future, and even with that being the case, the thought of facing Anderson Silva is never too far away.

“I have December 29th on my mind and that is the date I’m going to show up and beat Chris Weidman,” Boetsch said. “Fans are going to see “The Barbarian” make a statement. I’m truly going to put it in stone that I’m the number one contender and next in line for the belt.

“I want to be the guy who sends Anderson Silva on his way after I take his belt from him. He’s definitely going to have to fight me and I believe it will come after the Weidman fight. He has to defend that belt in this weight class and I want him to be defending it against me. I’m ready to retire Anderson Silva and I’m ready to get that belt. I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”

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Armchair Matchmaker: UFC 152 Edition

(Matt Hamill plays airplane with his freakishly large, Progeria-ridden child after defeating Roger Hollett earlier in the evening.)

It may be a futile effort to draft up these Armchair Matchmakers given the chaos that injuries are creating at every turn these days, but God damn it, a comedic MMA website has to have its principles! So with that in mind, we decided to scour through the wreckage left behind by UFC 152 and provide some potential opponents for the UFC to consider when booking the night’s biggest winners down the line. Join us and voice your opinions in the comments section, won’t you?

Jon Jones: Despite his best trolling efforts, it appears as if the UFC will actually show some common sense and wait to see if Chael Sonnen can at least defeat one “contender” at 205 (you know, the one he’s supposed to face) before expediting him right to a title shot because the fans apparently control the matchups all of a sudden. We were all for Sonnen/Jones on 8 days notice, but it’s clear that Jones only has two opponents truly worthy of getting ground into dog meat by him next. The first is Dan Henderson, who Jones blamed for the whole UFC 151 fiasco in the first place. He’s clearly next in line in a division that is suddenly absent of marketable contenders (sorry, Alex) and will hopefully be back to his normal H-bombing self before osteoporosis sets in and we have to go through this all over again. The second option…well, let’s just say that he would give Jones an offer that he could neither refuse nor defend. Specifically, “Five of these across the sneeze.”

(Matt Hamill plays airplane with his freakishly large, Progeria-ridden child after defeating Roger Hollett earlier in the evening.)

Demetrious Johnson: Dana White announced at the UFC 152 post-fight press conference that the winner of John “Clown Baby” Dodson vs. Jussier “Formiga” da Silva will more than likely be next in line for a flyweight title shot, a match that Johnson stated he will be watching with vested interest as well. So that’s that.

Michael Bisping: We know, we know; we previously stated that if Bisping wanted to get slaughtered by Anderson Silva next then we should let him do it and in fact cheer him on. But let’s be real here, Taters, Anderson doesn’t really give two shits about the middleweight division right meow, and IF he gets past Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153, he will spend the remainder of his time shooting movies and waiting for the GSP superfight that may never come. And besides those facts, does anyone honestly think Bisping has earned a shot at Silva? He’s currently on a 1-0 (decision) win streak and just beat his first top 10 opponent in…ever. We say give him the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Tim Boetsch while Anderson is off doing his thing.

Matt Hamill: Even though he turned in a pretty poor performance against Roger Hollett last Saturday, one of you were quick to point out that “The Hammer” set the UFC record for significant strikes landed in a LHW fight with 124. That’s great and all, but the fact that 90% of those strikes were landed to the head of a downed and fetal Hollett without at least TKO’ing him doesn’t exactly speak volumes of Hamill’s power. Granted, it was Hamill’s first fight in over a year, so maybe we shouldn’t be so harsh on him. The fact still remains, however, that the TUF 3 alum still has a lot of kinks to work out, and we think the perfect matchup for him would be none other than former CP blogger Ryan Jimmo, who is coming off a 7-second destruction of Anthony Perosh in his UFC debut and has a wide open dance card. A win for either man would be a big step in the right direction.

Cub Swanson: Tweaked knee or no tweaked knee, Charles Oliveira got straight up embarrassed by Swanson last weekend, and it’s time to give Cub the step up in competition he has feared since Jose Aldo stole his eyebrow and took it home to Brazil. Working with Greg Jackson has improved his game in leaps and bounds, so why not match him up against a former “title contender” in Eric Koch? Injuries have kept Koch out of action for over a year now and he could use a win over a streaking fighter like Swanson to prove that he was title-worthy in the first place. Again, it’s a good fit for all involved and screams fireworks, so start Twitter-bombing DW with requests and make it happen!

Vinny Magalhaes: The TUF 8 finalist looked great in his grand return to Zuffa, taking advantage of a huge mental error by Igor Pokrajac (apparently he has a lot of those) to secure a brilliant armbar finish. He’s been seeking UFC redemption ever since he was released by the promotion, so a fight with Ryan Bader a.k.a the man who dashed his TUF dreams seems like a pretty smart move. Bader was just knocked out of contendership by Lyoto Machida at UFC on FOX 4 and will be looking for some redemption of his own. However, if you’re not a big fan of rematches, pairing Magalhaes against James Te Huna would be a great litmus test for both men. Te Huna needs to prove that he can hang with the best on the ground if he is ever to be considered a legit contender and Vinny could use another win over a solid standup fighter to erase the memories of the “tuck-n-roll” loss that dominates Bader’s highlight reel.

T.J. Grant: It might surprise you to learn that Grant has been fighting int he UFC for over three years now, but has gone overlooked by almost every fight fan for his somewhat lackluster fighting style and lack of finishes. Even though he did not finish Evan Dunham in their FOTN-earning war on Saturday, it’s safe to say that Grant is finally a name that UFC fans can get excited about. Now 3-0 at 155 lbs., Grant’s striking, cardio, and chin looked phenomenal against Dunham, and he should look to keep the momentum rolling against another exciting lightweight. The first name that comes to mind is Jamie Varner, who followed a gigantic win over Edson Barboza with a hard fought third round triangle loss to Joe Lauzon, also at UFC on FOX 4. A former WEC champion, Varner is just the kind of name that Grant could build his name off. On the other side of the coin, a win over a fellow vet like Grant could give Varner’s confidence an additional boost while keeping him relevant in his new home.

Marcus Brimage: He’s knocked two hype trains off the rails in as many matches; let’s see him try and do it again. Although Dustin Poirier‘s train suffered a significant setback in his loss to Chan Sung Jung at UFC on FUEL 3, he is still easily top 5 material. If Brimage can manage to upset Poirier, or even give an impressive showing against him, there will be no denying his future in the division.

Any matchups you think we missed? Let us know in the comments section.

–J. Jones

Michael Bisping vs. Anderson Silva: Why This Is the Fight to Make

Michael Bisping did what he needed to do at UFC 152 with a victory over Brian Stann. Now it is time for the 33-year-old contender to get his shot at the pound-for-pound king. Bisping’s victory is the first since falling to Chael Sonnen in January in a …

Michael Bisping did what he needed to do at UFC 152 with a victory over Brian Stann. Now it is time for the 33-year-old contender to get his shot at the pound-for-pound king.

Bisping‘s victory is the first since falling to Chael Sonnen in January in a contentious decision. So why does that make him the top contender? Title fights are more than about who is atop the rankings.

When looking at the UFC’s middleweight roster only two names stick out for the next shot: Chris Weidman and Bisping. Weidman wants the title shot, and he has a credible argument for receiving it. However, despite his outstanding knockout of Mark Munoz he is not particularly well known.

The New Yorker is 9-0 in his young career and has only recently taken the step up in competition. Bisping has been fighting the best of the best for years, and has paid his dues for a crack at Anderson Silva‘s gold.

Since dropping to middleweight in 2008 Bisping has only been on the losing side three times. The infamous knockout at the hands of Dan Henderson and two very close decision losses. He has toppled then likes of Chris Leben, Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jorge Rivera, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, and now Stann.

What may be more important is that Bisping is known by the casual fanbase and is able to sell a fight with his words. Sonnen has laid out the blueprint.

MMA is a sport, and in a perfect world all that would matter in sports is winning. But the UFC is a business, and as a business the bottom line is an important factor in their decision making process.

A pay-per-view fight between Silva and Bisping would do exponentially better than one headlined by Silva and Weidman. The build-up would also do much better. Bisping knows how to work a crowd.

The potential challenger could make the paying customer want to drop $60 to watch the champion knock him out. It is almost always more profitable to be the heel in combat sports, and Bisping has shown that quality throughout his career.

Recently, Bisping went on MMAWeekly.com Radio and explained why Weidman does not deserve the next title shot:

Chris Weidman, I think he’s overhyped as well. Up until the point when he fought Demian Maia I had never heard of Chris Weidman before in my life because he had been fighting bums on the undercard. Then he fights Demian Maia and I had to turn the TV off in my dressing room because it was the most boring fight I’ve ever seen in my life.

He continued:

Upon that he fights Mark Munoz, and yeah he beats him, but if I remember right the crowd booed unbelievably throughout the first round because he just laid on him. Then he knocked him out with an elbow, but that’s due to the fact that Mark Munoz came in out of shape, unfocused, and looking like he was at a rock concert and not a UFC fight.

Title fights are comprised of exciting fighters who can sell a fight. Bisping is proven in both of those categories. Weidman is still working his way up.

Bisping has paid his dues. He deserves the next title shot against Anderson Silva.

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UFC 152: 6 Fights to Make After Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort

UFC 152 is in the books. It was filled with plenty of drama and chock full of action, from the opening of the preliminary card all the way to the main event.What’s next for the fighters of UFC 152? It’s time to wipe the dust off the old crystal ball an…

UFC 152 is in the books. It was filled with plenty of drama and chock full of action, from the opening of the preliminary card all the way to the main event.

What’s next for the fighters of UFC 152? It’s time to wipe the dust off the old crystal ball and take a look.

Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson

Well, we’ve finally seen Jon Jones look something other than completely immortal, if only for a brief few seconds in the first round when Vitor Belfort nearly pulled off the most incredible upset in UFC history.

But the armbar-that-nearly-was didn’t actually happen. Jones prevailed and is free to continue his path of destruction in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. So what’s next?

I touched on this briefly in my post-fight video that was filmed in Toronto, but I think it all depends on when Dan Henderson recovers from his knee injury. If Henderson is ready to go within a few months—and assuming the arm injury suffered by Jones doesn’t keep him on the shelf for an extended period of time—I think a bout between the pair makes the most sense.

After all, we were supposed to see the fight happen once already, and you know how that turned out. It’s still a fight fans are interested in, even if it may seem like Henderson has very little chance of actually winning. But, as Belfort briefly proved, Jones is human. Could the aging legend be the first guy to legitimately beat the champion?

I don’t think so, but I’m still interested in watching it, and I think you are, too.

Michael Bisping vs. Anderson Silva

I had a brief, less-than-civil conversation with Bisping last Tuesday night in our Toronto hotel, essentially about negative stories that have been written about him in the past. But you won’t ever hear those negative stories coming from me, because I firmly believe that Bisping is the most deserving title contender in the middleweight division.

Bisping is 9-3 since moving to the middleweight division in 2008. That’s not the most perfect record in the world, but compare it to other recent title challengers. Chael Sonnen was 6-3 in the same time frame when he challenged Silva a second time this summer. Vitor Belfort was 3-1 when he got his title shot. Yushin Okami was 4-1.

And none of this even touches on the absolute fact that Bisping has been in the UFC for a very long time without receiving a title shot, and he’s also one of the most marketable stars on the roster.

No matter what you may think about Bisping as a person—and your notions are probably incorrect, anyway—there’s no doubt that his dominant win over Stann should earn him a title shot. Unfortunately, he may get lost in the shuffle due to a potential Silva superfight with Georges St-Pierre. If that mega-fight doesn’t happen, then Bisping deserves his opportunity.

Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson/Jussier da Silva

This one is pretty much set in stone. The first-ever UFC flyweight champion will most likely face the winner of the Dodson/Da Silva bout that takes place at the UFC on FX card on October 5. Either one of those guys would be a deserving contender, and Dodson also brings some marketability into that potential fight because of his days on The Ultimate Fighter.

Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva

I’m assuming that Belfort will lose the instant muscle he put on for the Jones fight and make the move back down to middleweight. He was supposed to face Wanderlei Silva earlier this year, and it’s still a fight that makes a lot of sense, even if it makes me terrified for Silva’s health.

Both guys are coming off losses, and it’s a marketable fight, especially if the UFC is planning an early 2013 return to Brazil.

Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian McCall

The UFC’s flyweight division is pretty thin on stars at the top. Benavidez and McCall have been heavily featured on television and pay-per-view this year, and they’re both coming off losses. The winner would be ready for a rematch with Johnson, because let’s face it: Who else is there?

Benavidez came up short against Johnson (and I swear, that wasn’t supposed to be a pun), but he’s proven time and again that he’s one of the best lighter-weight fighters in the world. And McCall has gone through a rough patch lately, but he remains one of the most entertaining and marketable guys in the new division.

Cub Swanson vs. Chan Sung Jung

Remember back when Cub Swanson lost to Jose Aldo? This is a completely different fighter.

Swanson has really come into his own in the UFC, putting together three consecutive wins, over George Roop, Ross Pearson and Charles Oliveira. Those are all very tough opponents, and Swanson finished them in dramatic style.

Swanson told me after his fight on Saturday night that he wants to prove the quick loss to Aldo was a fluke. While I don’t think it was a fluke, I don’t think a second fight would go the same way, or end nearly as quickly, at least.

But Aldo will most likely be tied up in a bout with Frankie Edgar when he’s ready to return, and that leaves Swanson needing another opponent. Chan Sung Jung, “The Korean Zombie,” makes perfect sense. Jung is also on a roll of his own and is considered a legitimate contender, so why not pair him up with Swanson and give the winner a title shot?

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