After defeating Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC on FX 7, Vitor Belfort took to the microphone to call for a rematch with Jon Jones, the 205-pound champion who dealt Belfort a beating at UFC 152.Is this is a sign that Vitor has his eyes on anot…
After defeating Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC on FX 7, VitorBelfort took to the microphone to call for a rematch with Jon Jones, the 205-pound champion who dealt Belfort a beating at UFC 152.
Is this is a sign that Vitor has his eyes on another weight adjustment? Will he continue his campaign at 185 pounds, or is it back to light heavyweight for “The Phenom”?
For the time being, we’ll consider Vitor a middleweight. He throttled Bisping at 185 pounds, and I don’t expect to see an immediate move back to 205, considering the fact he’s highly unlikely to get another crack at Jones in the near future.
That leaves a handful of interesting opponents for Belfort. However, one you won’t see make this list is Anderson Silva.
I’m certain the world would love to watch another fight between these two, as the first encounter, at UFC 126, proved to be an exciting affair—for the three-and-a-half minutes it lasted.
Anderson tagged Belfort with a flush front kick to the chin and the fight was a wrap. It wasn’t exactly a competitive affair, and Vitorhasn’t done enough in recent memory to warrant another shot just yet.
Many expected that Michael Bisping would prove too much for aging slugger Vitor Belfort, even in Belfort’s home country of Brazil. That he’d outmaneuver him, out-think him and wear the older man down over the course of five long rounds. He certainly ha…
Many expected that Michael Bisping would prove too much for aging slugger VitorBelfort, even in Belfort‘s home country of Brazil. That he’d outmaneuver him, out-think him and wear the older man down over the course of five long rounds. He certainly had the tools to do it, combining pinpoint punches and kicks with a strong grappling game.
But those picking Bisping to win forgot one thing—the British middleweight consistently makes more basic mistakes than any other UFC fighter of his caliber. Against Belfort, who most speculated could win only by knocking his opponent out with a power shot, Bisping did everything he could to make that projection a reality, walking right into a fight-ending high kick.
“I have been impressed with Vitor from the beginning…Belfort set that kick up. It wasn’t just a fluke. He lured him into that kick. It was beautiful,” UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz said on Fuel TV after the bout. “He took a left step that got Bisping to take a step to the right, right into his power. He set that up. If you’re Bisping, you have to keep circling to the left away from his power.”
It was a mistake that nicely book-ended Bisping‘s most famous error of all, one that occurred at the UFC’s most successful pay-per-view show ever. At UFC 100, Bisping and American Dan Henderson were a featured bout, fresh off of a season of reality television where they had coached a team of Americans and Brits, respectively.
Bisping had been especially obnoxious on the show, getting under Henderson’s skin, or at least trying to. All the sneers in the world, however, couldn’t protect Bisping from himself. In that bout, he famously circled left—instead of avoiding Henderson’s powerful right hand, such an integral part of his game that it has its own nickname (the H-Bomb), Bisping circled right into it. You can only do that for so long before the lights go out.
Ironically, it may have been correcting this problem that led to Bisping‘s failure against Belfort. He had been dinged so many times circling left, especially after he landed with his own jab, that he has likely spent hours in the gym correcting that problem. Unfortunately for him, Belfort is a southpaw. So by circling right, he was actually creating the same problem, only a mirror image of it.
This was the third time Bisping has been a single win away from a UFC title shot. Each time he’s failed. It presents an interesting conundrum for UFC matchmakers. His popularity in Britain and his notoriety here demand he be a major part of any show he’s booked on. But the sad truth is, he may not be a fighter you want derailing other title contenders in the middleweight division.
“Here is the reality. We aren’t going to judge anyone’s career on six minutes of a fight,” former opponent ChaelSonnen said on Fuel’s postfight show. “Bisping has had a fantastic career. He takes on tough guys, he headlines fights. He has won 13 fights in the Octagon. That is an incredible amount of fights to have, let alone to win. Where does he go? He has to figure that out.”
Bisping has had greatness within his grasp and failed to reach out and take it. Do you really want him spoiling opportunities for other fighters looking to climb the ladder?
I think the most likely matchmaking scenario sees Bisping joining the Rich Franklin circuit, taking on other slightly-past-their-prime but high-profile fighters in an alternate UFC universe outside the normal group of active champions and contenders.
If he runs the table there against the likes of Franklin, Wanderlei Silva and Forrest Griffin, you can bring him back into the UFC’s regular continuity. Only then would Bisping have earned yet another shot at redemption.
Michael “The Count” Bisping suffered the biggest loss of his career at UFC on FX 7, when he was knocked out by Brazilian MMA legend Vitor Belfort. The defeat completely derailed Bisping’s hopes of a title shot, but the loss could also be a blow to the …
Michael “The Count” Bisping suffered the biggest loss of his career at UFC on FX 7, when he was knocked out by Brazilian MMA legend VitorBelfort. The defeat completely derailed Bisping‘s hopes of a title shot, but the loss could also be a blow to the plans of the UFC.
In 2012, the UFC took a small step in its quest to improve its stance in Europe by hiring former Manchester City chief executive Garry Cookas its executive vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa. It was a step in the right direction as the UFC continues to try to crack the tough nut which is the U.K. market. The UFC then announced its first of three planned events to be held in the U.K. in 2013: UFC on Fuel 7, to be held in London’s Wembley Arena at the beginning of February. The UFC, in the previous couple of years, had only staged one event per annual in the United Kingdom, as they continued to struggle in making a major breakthrough like they had in Brazil.
2013, however, looks to be year they make a leap toward a major breakthrough, and other than putting on more fights in the U.K., Michael Bisping had the potential to be the final piece in the puzzle.
Since winning season three of The Ultimate Fighter in 2006, Bisping has been the poster boy for the UFC in the United Kingdom. And even though Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy was the first U.K. fighter to compete for a UFC title, Bisping is still considered as the U.K.’s greatest MMA product. The Manchester-man Bisping had previously been on the edge of a title shot versus Anderson Silva on two previous occasions, but failed in overcoming the final hurdle on both times of asking. First, when he was knocked out by Dan Henderson, and second, losing to ChaelSonnen by decision.
But with this third—some think last—opportunity, it looked to be perfect timing as far as the UFC is concerned. Three events and a British representative challenging for a title all in the same year would have been an excellent platform to make ground in breaking the U.K.
The story, after all, is an appealing one. The longtime U.K. poster boy taking on arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time would be a great pull for new fans.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Bisping lost once again in devastating fashion while trying to make it to the top level. With “The Count” now out of the title picture, it is difficult to see where the next U.K. title challenger will come from.
Brad “One Punch” Pickett and Michael Bisping seemed to be the greatest hopes, but with this recent blow and with Pickett losing to both RenanBarao and Eddie Wineland since his move to the UFC, the judge seems to be out on both those particular hopes.
For the UFC, this is a major blow to its plans.
In reality, success is the best way to gain the right exposure. Brazil already had plenty of success stories in José Aldo, Junior dos Santos, RenanBarao and, of course, Anderson Silva. The U.K., it seems, does not have a representative of this calibre at the present time.
MMA and the UFC will continue to gain popularity in the U.K. More events, more British fighters, and other European fighters who made their name in local fight promotions, will mean more recognition. But without a champion, this growth will hit a ceiling which is difficult to break without a major star on the world stage.
The UFC’s first event of 2013 is officially in the books, and while the event didn’t travel great lengths to outline too many new contenders, fans did witness one highly touted middleweight knocked from an extravagant self-made pedestal.Whi…
The UFC’s first event of 2013 is officially in the books, and while the event didn’t travel great lengths to outline too many new contenders, fans did witness one highly touted middleweight knocked from an extravagant self-made pedestal.
While preliminary action saw quite a few dynamic exchanges and explosive finishes, the true magic could be found on the FX broadcast, where eight fighters put forth valiant attempts at moving forward within their divisions.
With just one of four main-card fights finding its outcome in the hands of the judges, there were fireworks to be found. However, while some rose to the occasion, some definitely stumbled and some found themselves trapped in a showcase of mediocrity.
Regardless of outcomes, for another free event, UFC on FX 7 yielded big cheers from this household, and should unquestionably be considered a success.
The brass ring was there, hanging right above the head of middleweight contender Michael Bisping. Alas, while he was reaching for that brass ring, he missed the high kick that Vitor Belfort used to drop him to the ground.With that kick, the title shot …
The brass ring was there, hanging right above the head of middleweight contender Michael Bisping. Alas, while he was reaching for that brass ring, he missed the high kick that VitorBelfort used to drop him to the ground.
With that kick, the title shot against UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva that Bisping has been asking for at every opportunity over the past few years went up in smoke.
The Belfort victory also sent the UFC’s middleweight division into disarray. If only Bisping would have won, everything would have fallen in place so nicely. But when was the last time things went nice and easy for the UFC?
The thinking going into the fight was that if it went past the first round, the odds of Bisping walking away with a victory would increase exponentially. That thinking proved to be very, very flawed, though, as a very confident Belfort walked out in the second round and bloodied Bipsing’s nose early.
The end came shortly thereafter. A high kick, very similar to the kick that had rocked Bisping late in the first round, dropped him in the second, opening the door for several strikes on the ground, which brought the referee in to bring an end to the goings-on.
It’s hard to know who Anderson Silva’s next opponent will be, but one thing is for certain: Bisping‘s loss to Belfort will bring an end to his incessant call outs of the middleweight champion.
Michael Bisping’s title aspirations disappeared from view as Vitor Belfort’s leg knocked him out and ended their fight at UFC on FX 7 on Saturday night. Following the loss, Bisping’s future looks cloudy following his second loss in his last three fight…
Michael Bisping‘s title aspirations disappeared from view as VitorBelfort‘s leg knocked him out and ended their fight at UFC on FX 7 on Saturday night. Following the loss, Bisping‘s future looks cloudy following his second loss in his last three fights.
The two fighters fought well in the first round and were closely matched. Belfort started to look better toward the end of the round and continued his flurry into the second round. Belfort‘s left leg kick to the head floored Bisping. As Belfort continued to punch the fallen Bisping, the fight was stopped and Belfort was announced the winner.
Bisping entered the fight with a very certain path to UFC glory. He needed to beat Belfort and he would have gotten a shot at Anderson Silva for the title. A loss means that he must regain his standing and work his way back toward having a shot at the title.
Outside of the actual loss of a title chance, Bisping‘s ability to reach that level seems to be in question. Yet Bisping took to Twitter following the fight and vowed to his supporters that he would be back:
Sorry guys. Wasn’t good enough tonight. Fair play to vitor, well done. Thanks to everyone for the kind support, will be back soon.
His next fight could be a matchup of similarly fallen Alan Belcher. The two would benefit from the fight as they look to bounce back from crushing defeats. Belcher lost his last fight in a unanimous decision to YushinOkami on Dec. 29, 2012.
Bisping‘s loss means it’s not clear who will be next up to fight Anderson Silva. The reigning champion last fought on Oct. 13 when he beat Stephan Bonnar in the first round.
At age 33, Bisping will need to rebound quickly and get some quality fights lined up. In order to reach his title aspirations, Bisping can’t afford another letdown. There is still hope he can reach the peak, but his loss to Belfort makes for quite a detour.
Many expected that Michael 