After 10 successful title defenses, the longest undefeated winning streak in UFC history and countless other well-earned accolades, Anderson Silva has become more than a champion; he’s become the greatest fighter in MMA history. Now, when fighter…
After 10 successful title defenses, the longest undefeated winning streak in UFC history and countless other well-earned accolades, Anderson Silva has become more than a champion; he’s become the greatest fighter in MMA history.
Now, when fighters look at entering his division, they don’t think about the belt he has held since 2006, they think about him: the man that can’t be beat.
Of course, he can be beat, but it hasn’t happened in so long that it seems this version of “The Spider” is so complete that were he to go back in time and step in for the younger version of himself—the version who tasted defeat on four occasions—the result would be the utter destruction of those who bested him.
Make no mistake about it, when a fighter faces Anderson Silva, what they dream about isn’t “winning the title,” it’s defeating the man, and should they be able to do that, years after they retired, they would talk about the night they beat Anderson Silva, not about the night they won the title.
That’s not to say the title is worthless; far from it. It is to say that it has been around his waist so long that it has, as BJ Penn so aptly put it, become an accessory, second to the man who wears it.
Yet none of that stops the next man in line, nor should it. This is a fight sport, and every fighter who steps into the cage should want to be the best.
That has, in turn, led to Silva being called out by everyone under the sun. Some of them are quite deserving of their shot, while the rest lay claim to being next because of various other reasons, most of which revolve around the number of pay-per-view buys their name, when attached to Silva’s, could generate.
So let’s take a look at matchups that should happen, could happen and would have happened had the stars aligned, the good, the bad and the bizarre.
People don’t like Michael Bisping. He’s arrogant, abrasive, delusional, and has never beaten an opponent who mattered. Don’t tell him that though. He honestly believes he should be next in line to fight Anderson Silva. This, despite f…
People don’t like Michael Bisping. He’s arrogant, abrasive, delusional, and has never beaten an opponent who mattered.
Don’t tell him that though. He honestly believes he should be next in line to fight Anderson Silva. This, despite facing a tough test in Brian Stann in September and fresh off a loss to Chael Sonnen in January.
He’s also lost to a zombified Wanderlei Silva, suffered the most memorable knockout in history at the hands of Dan Henderson, and looked to be in more trouble than he thought likely before illegally kneeing his way to victory over Jorge Rivera. Jorge Rivera.
Make no mistake however, Michael Bisping is actually pretty capable in the cage. He can’t be faulted for the guys the UFC puts in front of him, all he can do is fight them and try to win. Losing is part of the game, and more often than not Bisping acquits himself pretty well.
So why don’t people respect him? Why are his claims of title glory almost always dismissed before he finishes the idiotic tweet peddling his abilities?
Aside from all listed above—awful personality, ignorance to the reality that he’s been beaten up by a few guys, lack of a signature win—there’s one big thing: he doesn’t know how to call the champion out properly.
Look at the front-runner to get a title shot. Chris Weidman, with less fights in his career than Bisping has wins in the Octagon, has already secured two signature wins this year and then took to calling out Silva.
He’s not sitting around saying how great he is, or making excuses for poor performances, or telling everyone how it should be him because no one else matters and he’s been around the longest. Weidman is saying, “Let me fight that guy. Let me fight Anderson Silva.”
He’s doing it respectfully, but he’s mentioning the champion by name. He’s mentioning Silva every chance he gets and is telling the world that he’ll go out and beat him.
Another dude who did that? Maybe you’ve heard of him actually. Chael Sonnen? He talked so much (admittedly over the top) vitriol about the champion that he earned the right to fight the guy twice, making himself a millionaire and a household name in the process.
All Bisping does is tell everyone how great he is and make pretty soft excuses for the times his greatness has been proven as a pipe dream. He then says he should get a title shot, but makes no mention of Silva or what he’d do to beat him. For a guy seen by many as nasty and quick tongued, he does a dreadful job of promoting himself.
The UFC has repeatedly proven that getting big fights is equal parts ability and selling power. They don’t want you to say, “I’m awesome, I should be champion.” They want you to say, “I’m better than the champion, and I’m going to beat him up to prove it.”
Astoundingly, Bisping can’t do that. It looks as though he’s seen how it works, because he’s upped his game in terms of vocalizing his wish for a shot at gold, but he sure doesn’t seem to see why those who’ve jumped him in line have done so.
Realistically, Michael Bisping isn’t a bad middleweight. He’s probably in the lower half of the top 10, despite never winning a big fight. Volume has to count for something, and he’s beaten the majority of guys he’s faced.
But a test for Anderson Silva? He most definitely isn’t. And he won’t be any closer to being one with a win over Brian Stann, regardless of how much half-hearted talk he does about going on a march for gold.
Until he gets that, until he gets the mix of results and salesmanship required to challenge for a title, he’ll never be more than a self-indulgent jerk who gets booed everywhere other than England. That can get some respect as a draw if it’s part of a bigger package, but it isn’t enough to do so on its own.
Michael “The Count” Bisping is none too pleased with Chris Weidman’s recent remarks regarding his mental fortitude, and, as consequence, “The Count” hit back, referring to “The All-American” as “the Wiesel.” “C…
Michael “The Count” Bisping is none too pleased with Chris Weidman’s recent remarks regarding his mental fortitude, and, as consequence, “The Count” hit back, referring to “The All-American” as “the Wiesel.”
“Chris the Wiesel Weidman saying I fold under pressure. Hahahahaha I needed a good laugh this morning,” (via Fiveouncesofpain.com).
Was he comparing him to Romanian Holocaust survivor and writer Elie Wiesel, or was he equating Weidman with a certain type of meat-eating mammal commonly known as a weasel.
If the latter is the case, and as the phrase weasel is a double-entendre, Bisping could easily have been lumping him in the category of the treacherous and deceitful.
Weidman was asked whether he thought Bisping was overrated or underrated.
Here’ an excerpt from that interview:
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.
In relation to the pressure Weidman was alluding to, Bisping, on four occasions, has failed to deliver against the division’s upper-echelon combatants—Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson (highlight-reel KO) and Chael Sonnen in a title-eliminator bout.
That said, Bisping (22-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) will once again attempt to stake a realistic claim of vying for the title when he locks horns with ex-Marine Brian Stann at UFC 152.
Apropos Weidman, the 28-year-old rising star of the Zuffa-based promotion has been blowing his own trumpet ever since he defeated top Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Demian Maia, but more so following his decimation of Mark Munoz at UFC on FUEL TV 4.
He’s convinced he can finish any fighter with a full camp behind him, and that includes UFC 185-pound champ Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
The Baldwin, New Yorker is also of the impression that he should be next in line for a tilt at Silva’s crown—a point he’s made by suggesting his two successive victories against the aforementioned combatants (who were ranked top five in the division) is justification enough for an immediate shot.
To date, Weidman (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) has scored three submission and three stoppage victories. Two of those five UFC outings garnered him Submission of the Night honors (Jesse Bongfeldt) and Knockout of the Night honors (Munoz).
Five UFC 152 headliners were in Toronto yesterday for a press conference to hype up the event, including Joseph Benavidez and Michael Bisping, who were seated next to each other — a somewhat awkward situation, considering Bisping’s recent slam on the 125-pound division. When a reporter inevitably asked Benavidez what he thought about Bisping’s “no one cares about little flyweights” comment, Joe pulled no punches:
“It was pretty silly of course when I heard it, but it’s Michael Bisping. Everyone pretty much expects something ridiculous to come out of his mouth, right? I mean, that’s pretty much what he does.”
Said Bisping: “Listen pal, when you were a glint in your dad’s eye, I was kicking ass in the UFC.”
“And probably saying ridiculous things, also,” Benavidez continued. “It’s not gonna change the fact that [Demetrious Johnson and I are] the top two guys in the world and that we’re going out to make history that night. So everyone that supports us, thanks and we love you. Everyone that doesn’t, including Bisping, I think you soon will and you’ll be excited for this. So yeah man, it’s gonna be great, and [*pats Bisping on the shoulder*] glad to have you on the card as co-main, buddy.”
Ooooooh, burn! Notably absent from the press conference was BJ Penn, which made Rory MacDonald question where his opponent’s was at. As MacDonald said later in the press conference (via MMAMania):
Five UFC 152 headliners were in Toronto yesterday for a press conference to hype up the event, including Joseph Benavidez and Michael Bisping, who were seated next to each other — a somewhat awkward situation, considering Bisping’s recent slam on the 125-pound division. When a reporter inevitably asked Benavidez what he thought about Bisping’s “no one cares about little flyweights” comment, Joe pulled no punches:
“It was pretty silly of course when I heard it, but it’s Michael Bisping. Everyone pretty much expects something ridiculous to come out of his mouth, right? I mean, that’s pretty much what he does.”
Said Bisping: “Listen pal, when you were a glint in your dad’s eye, I was kicking ass in the UFC.”
“And probably saying ridiculous things, also,” Benavidez continued. “It’s not gonna change the fact that [Demetrious Johnson and I are] the top two guys in the world and that we’re going out to make history that night. So everyone that supports us, thanks and we love you. Everyone that doesn’t, including Bisping, I think you soon will and you’ll be excited for this. So yeah man, it’s gonna be great, and [*pats Bisping on the shoulder*] glad to have you on the card as co-main, buddy.”
Ooooooh, burn! Notably absent from the press conference was BJ Penn, which made Rory MacDonald question where his opponent’s was at. As MacDonald said later in the press conference (via MMAMania):
“I don’t know where BJ is at. You know, he didn’t even show up to this. He is dropping out of the VADA testing. Last time I saw him he looked really out of shape. I don’t know where his head is at in this, but, he better get serious or I am going to hurt him very badly.”
If you’re not in the loop yet, this is the scenario regarding Anderson Silva’s UFC 185-pound title. Long story short, almost every top-10 contender has staked a claim at being the most deserving of a tilt at “The Spider’s”…
If you’re not in the loop yet, this is the scenario regarding Anderson Silva’s UFC 185-pound title. Long story short, almost every top-10 contender has staked a claim at being the most deserving of a tilt at “The Spider’s” coveted crown.
Normally the headline question would’ve been answered in the first two or three lines of the lede paragraph, but I’ll leave that until the end, and then let you the masses have the final speak on it.
Prior to UFC 149, Dana White and Company had the whole middleweight title picture mapped out—ex-Bellator 185-pound freight train, Hector Lombard, more or less had his name etched in stone apropos the next title shot.
All he had to do was win impressively, but the assumption was a victory nonetheless would’ve have sufficed. That never came to pass, as Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch brought an abrupt halt to the Lombard hype train and, through no fault of his own, inadvertently sent the middleweight contendership into utter disarray.
For obvious reasons, Chael Sonnen and Lombard don’t make the cut, while 205-pounder Rashad Evans isn’t really a legit contender at the moment.
Here’s a quick look at the would-be contenders, their current B/R MMA rankings for the month of July and their credentials (last two outings) for a shot at the Holy Grail:
Vitor Belfort: Ranked No. 4
The erstwhile UFC light heavyweight champion failed in his attempt to unseat the division’s perennial kingpin—losing in dramatic fashion. He has, however, bounced back with wins over Yoshihiro Akiyama and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.
“The Phenom” is hell-bent on vying for the title one more time before he hangs ‘em up, and he believes his route to UFC glory lies in the hands of Chris Weidman. He recently tweeted his intentions of fighting the young gun, but Weidman politely turned him down.
Michael Bisping: Ranked No. 5
“The Count” has been plying his trade in the Zuffa-based promotion for just over six-years, and has yet to get a whiff of pure gold. The closest the Brit came to tangling with The Spider’s web was back at UFC on FOX 2—a title eliminator bout with the “gangster” from West Linn, Ore., which he lost via a unanimous—and controversial—decision.
Prior to the aforementioned defeat, Bisping sent Jason “Mayhem” Miller into retirement via TKO.
He’s next slated to throw hands with Brian Stann at UFC 152—a contest that will have dire ramifications as to whether he’ll belong in that inner circle of potential contenders.
Although Stann lost to Sonnen, he rebounded with a victory over Alessio Sakara. However, the ex-marine’s chances of serious contendership are slim at best. Still, a win against Bisping could automatically thrust him smack-bang in the middleweight title mix.
Chris Weidman: Ranked No. 7
So far, “The All-American” has been the most vociferous of the bunch.
Weidman is on a mission to prove he’s worthy of locking horns with MMA’s greatest fighter, and thus far has come up trumps with wins over Demian Maia (he took the fight on short notice) and Mark Munoz, whom he sent spiralling down the rungs of the UFC middleweight ranks.
Tim Boetsch: Ranked No. 8
As earlier mentioned, Boetsch threw a monkey wrench into the middleweight picture after barely extinguishing “The Lightning” of Cuban-born Lombard. Previous to that fight, he just about survived a Yushin Okami onslaught, before pulling off an incredible come-from-behind TKO to ensure his title aspirations were still intact.
The Barbarian is convinced a title tilt is in the offing, and reminiscent of his contemporary Weidman, is confident he too can submit Silva.
We’ll see.
Alan Belcher: Ranked No. 9
“The Talent” has an unwavering certitude that he’s as good as anyone in the current contender’s melting pot to mount a challenge against Silva, and he probably has a point.
He did submit Jason McDonald and stopped heel hook submission specialist Rousimar Palhares.
Nevertheless, it seems Belcher could be throwing hands with The Phenom at UFC 153.
So there you have it, those who would be king.
That being said, Weidman gets my unequivocal vote for most deserved of the next title shot, due to the fact he upended No. 3 contender Munoz.
Belfort, although impressive in his last two outings, his opponents weren’t exactly the cream of the middleweight crop, and as such he’s out of the equation.
From a business perspective, Bisping would be the ideal contender, but he has to get past Stann first and then it’s up to the UFC hierarchy to set things in motion.
From my point of view, Stann, Boetsch and Belcher, for now, just don’t cut the mustard.
Chael Sonnen might very well be one of the nicest people in the sport of mixed martial arts. Wait, just hear me out before you begin foaming at the mouth and formulating a strongly worded reply in your head. Far too many people have bought into the ima…
Chael Sonnen might very well be one of the nicest people in the sport of mixed martial arts. Wait, just hear me out before you begin foaming at the mouth and formulating a strongly worded reply in your head.
Far too many people have bought into the image that Chael portrays to the media, conflating fantasy and reality. It is time to demystify the ubiquitous notion that Chael P. Sonnen and the character he plays are somehow equivalent.
As a liberal atheist who is firmly opposed to TRT, I am an unlikely member of the Chael Sonnen fan club. Despite this, I find myself compelled to defend a man who is slightly to the right of Glenn Beck.
It is a strange compulsion, no doubt. But a good man is a good man, and it is always worth clearing the name of a good man.
It is true that Chael hasn’t necessarily helped his image over the past couple of years, given his well-documented legal issues and the controversy surrounding his use of TRT. However, neither charge should necessarily be enough to write the man off as a felonious psychopath.
In reality, it seems to be well known within the industry that the self-proclaimed “Gangster from West Linn” is an absolute sweetheart when the cameras aren’t around—and even occasionally when they are around.
At the recent UFC 149 Fan Club Q&A, Michael Bisping appeared to blow Chael’s cover, telling the crowd what he really thinks of his former opponent:
Chael has a reputation, and I’m gonna ruin it right now. He’s actually one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. He really is. When we fought in Chicago, he was a gentleman. He really was. I was a little pissed off because I wanted to really talk some trash, you know. But I couldn’t do it because he’s such a nice guy.
Coming from one of the UFC’s biggest heels, that is quite a statement. Bisping rarely minces his words, nor does he unduly heap praise on his fellow fighters.
Of course, that is just one person’s opinion. We need a little more evidence in order to prosecute this case.
Let me take you back to another Fan Club Q&A, this time at UFC 125.
A lady who was present that day decided to share a story about her grandson, who was suffering from a severe brain bleed and required surgery.
The day of the surgery, Chael called her grandson several times to check up on him. More telling still, Chael continued to call up and check on the boy in the days and weeks that followed.
There were no cameras present, no reporters and no means of relaying this deed to the masses. In fact, no one else would have known but for the lady’s decision to share this story with those in attendance.
My point? Chael did not get anything out of this, other than the satisfaction of doing something nice for a sick child.
My modest effort to tell the story probably does not do it justice. Go here to watch the emotional woman recall Chael’s gesture.
It would be fair to say that Chael has a soft spot for children, as evidenced by another story that flew under the radar.
Ty Costlow attended UFC 136 with his father and sought Chael Sonnen’s autograph. Instead of merely complying with this simple request, Chael lifted the boy over the security gate and gave him an experience to remember.
Chael invited Ty to join him in the post-fight photo sessions, took him to the locker room so that he could meet the fighters, had them sign various items for the boy and took him to Frankie Edgar’s locker room while he was warming up for his fight with Gray Maynard.
Chael then made sure that father and son got to watch the final two fights of the evening in the section that seated the various UFC fighters who were in attendance, capping off an unforgettable evening for the boy and his father.
Chael has made his share of mistakes, and many of them have been exposed for public scrutiny. However, the next time you witness an ill-informed fan attempt to denigrate Chael Sonnen’s character, assess that claim with a critical eye.
There is much more to the man than the pantomime villain that he portrays.
People don’t like Michael Bisping. He’s arrogant, abrasive, delusional, and has never beaten an opponent who mattered.