Tag: UFC on FX 7

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.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Belfort vs. Bisping: Preview, Odds and Predictions for UFC on FX 7

Michael Bisping has fought under the UFC banner for many years without getting his shot at a championship. At UFC on FX 7, the Englishman will have the opportunity to earn the title shot he has long been seeking.While Vitor Belfort will need a couple m…

Michael Bisping has fought under the UFC banner for many years without getting his shot at a championship. At UFC on FX 7, the Englishman will have the opportunity to earn the title shot he has long been seeking.

While Vitor Belfort will need a couple more wins to earn his spot in a championship bout, as he has already lost to the light heavyweight and middleweight champions, it has been guaranteed that a win over the Brazilian would score Bisping a fight with Anderson Silva (via MMAFighting.com).

With the first UFC event of 2013 approaching, let’s take a look at previews, odds and predictions for every UFC on FX 7 fight.

Begin Slideshow

UFC on FX 7: Edson Barboza vs. Lucas Martins Head-to-Toe Breakdown

As the UFC heads back to Brazil, two up-and-coming fighters will be squaring off for bragging rights and more in their native country, as Edson Barboza—owner of perhaps one of the greatest head-kick finishes in MMA history—clashes with the …

As the UFC heads back to Brazil, two up-and-coming fighters will be squaring off for bragging rights and more in their native country, as Edson Barboza—owner of perhaps one of the greatest head-kick finishes in MMA history—clashes with the undefeated Lucas Martins.

The headlining bout will feature Brazilian Vitor Belfort slugging it out with season three winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Michael Bisping. With that in mind, UFC on FX 7 has all the potential to surpass expectations.

There may be some people who overlook the bout between Barboza and Martins, but I think that would be a sad mistake.

When watching both men in the cage, at times it may be hard to tell them apart. They not only look alike, but employ a style of fighting that is striking based. These two fighters would rather decide this contest on their feet, both gunning for the KO/TKO.

There is a lot of pressure heading into this bout for both men. Barboza is looking to rebound from a loss and Martins is looking to make a great initial impression as he steps into the Octagon for the very first time.

This fight is going to be decided by who wants it more, and that is one question I cannot wait to see answered.

Until then, here is my head-to-toe breakdown of the bout.

Begin Slideshow

Andrew Craig Looking to Make a Statement Against Markes in Brazil

Taking a fight in hostile territory has proven to shake even the most experienced fighters, but it is becoming routine for Andrew Craig. The middleweight upstart made his UFC debut defeating Australian Kyle Noke in front of the TUF alum’s countrymen, a…

Taking a fight in hostile territory has proven to shake even the most experienced fighters, but it is becoming routine for Andrew Craig. The middleweight upstart made his UFC debut defeating Australian Kyle Noke in front of the TUF alum’s countrymen, and this weekend at UFC on FX 7, the Houston native will travel to Sao Paulo to face Brazilian Ronny Markes.

The bout will be the biggest of his young career. While facing the Nova Uniao-trained grappler presents an interesting challenge, fighting in front of a passionate Brazilian crowd will only serve to up the intensity of the moment. That being said, victory is the only thing that matters to Craig, and he intends to get the job done by any means necessary.

“Winning is what matters,” Craig told Bleacher Report. “I don’t care what it looks like. It can be a clean win, slow win, fast or ugly; winning is what matters the most. I don’t care. I’m just out there to win fights. I know it’s going to be a little wild going down there, but it doesn’t change anything. He’s still just a man and all we are doing is fighting in a cage.

“I think this fight is like a lot of other matchups I’ve had, but Markes is just a little bit better in all areas. I’ve fought against big, strong grapplers in the past, the only difference is this guy is a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger of a grappler. But I’m confident going into this fight. I’ve been training with Tim Kennedy since October, helping him get ready for his fight, and there aren’t many guys in the 185-pound division as good as he is. I’m feeling confident man. I don’t think this guy is going to bring much to the table I’m not used to.”

Success on the regional MMA scene in Texas earned the 26-year-old the opportunity to fight inside the Octagon, and he’s made the most of every step. Following his victory over Noke, Craig squared off with Rafael Natal at UFC on Fuel TV 4. Despite a rough start where Craig found himself on the business end of exchanges with Natal, he landed a stunning head-kick knockout to claim the come-from-behind victory in the second frame.

While back-to-back wins and an unblemished record have the Texan continuing to build momentum in the UFC ranks, Craig acknowledges there is still much work to be done. Fighting on the sport’s biggest stage can be an overwhelming experience, but Craig is starting to settle in and is looking to put himself on the divisional map by getting the win this weekend in Brazil.

“I absolutely believe I can make a statement with a victory over Markes,” Craig said. “I think my two wins in the UFC have kind of gone under the radar. My first was against Kyle Noke, an Australian in Australia. It was on a Fuel undercard and the one against Natal was on Facebook. There are a lot of people who aren’t familiar with me and my fighting style. I think beating a guy like Ronny will make a big statement for me.

“I’m coming off a win but I still got my ass beat during the fight. Even though I won, I was still a little down about my performance. It’s obviously a little bit louder in the Octagon and there is more pressure, but I’m learning to take those things in stride. This next fight should be the biggest one yet. It will be against a Brazilian in Brazil, but I’m feeling more and more comfortable in there. I’m getting to the point where I’m more excited than I am nervous. I’m getting there man.”

A victory over Markes this weekend, will put Craig among the next wave of fighters looking to make an impact in the middleweight division. While the weight class is ruled by the most dominant champion in UFC history in Anderson Silva, the climb to the top of the 185-pound weight class has proven to be a slippery slope.

Potential contenders continue to rise and fall in high frequency, and with the Strikeforce middleweights set to enter the picture, Craig believes the weight class is about to heat up.

“I think this division is wide open,” Craig said. “There are so many tough guys in this division and guys like Tim Kennedy, Jacare and Rockhold coming in from Strikeforce are only going to make it that much more competitive. A lot of people used to scoff at the 185-pound division, but now I think it is the best it has ever been.”

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Belfort vs. Bisping: Bold Predictions for the Brazil Fight Card

Vitor Belfort can make a huge statement in front of his home country crowd at UFC on FX 7 Jan. 19.In the night’s main event, the quick and powerful Brazilian fireplug squares off against perennial contender and heel Michael Bisping in a bout that will …

Vitor Belfort can make a huge statement in front of his home country crowd at UFC on FX 7 Jan. 19.

In the night’s main event, the quick and powerful Brazilian fireplug squares off against perennial contender and heel Michael Bisping in a bout that will hugely affect the middleweight title picture moving forward. 

Will Belfort seize his opportunity to shine in front of his countrymen, or will Bisping emerge from hostile territory with a title shot in hand?

With an explosive main event and rising stars like Edson Barboza, Nik Lentz, Andrew Craig and Khabib Nurmagomedov on the card, the evening promises its fair share of surprises and unexpected finishes. 

Start the slideshow to check them out.

Begin Slideshow

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.

Begin Slideshow