Mark Munoz’s road to UFC gold hit a serious pothole when he suffered an injury to his right elbow on Friday. As a result, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” had to pull out of his UFC on FOX co-main event with Chael Sonnen. &#…
Mark Munoz’s road to UFC gold hit a serious pothole when he suffered an injury to his right elbow on Friday. As a result, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” had to pull out of his UFC on FOX co-main event with Chael Sonnen. ”The Gangster from Oregon” will now be taking on fellow trash talker Michael Bisping. […]
Mark Munoz’s road to UFC gold hit a serious pothole when he suffered an injury to his right elbow on Friday. As a result, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” had to pull out of his UFC on FOX co-main event with Chael Sonnen. “The Gangster f…
As a result, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” had to pull out of his UFC on FOX co-main event with Chael Sonnen. “The Gangster from Oregon” will now be taking on fellow trash talker Michael Bisping.
These two where rumored to coach opposite one another on season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” however, Sonnen eventually had to be replaced by Jason “Mayhem” Miller when his suspension from the California State Athletic Commission prevented him from getting a corner man’s license.
Now, due to a last second injury, these two polarizing figures finally get to meet in the Octagon.
While Sonnen will without a doubt be the favorite heading into this fight, let’s take a look at the head to toe breakdown between these two top 10 middleweights.
Dana White announced Michael “The Count” Bisping will replace Mark Munoz in the number one contender fight against Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2, January 28, 2012.Mark Munoz has injured his elbow, forcing a change to be made to the UFC contender bout.Bi…
Dana White announced Michael “The Count” Bisping will replace Mark Munoz in the number one contender fight against Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2, January 28, 2012.
Mark Munoz has injured his elbow, forcing a change to be made to the UFC contender bout.
Bisping was originally supposed to fight Demian Maia at the same event.
Earlier today, Dana White tweeted,
“Munoz is injured and out of the FOX fight! Now it’s Chael Sonnen vs Mike Bisping jan 28th and the winner will fight Anderson for the title.”
Michael Bisping is riding a 4-match win streak, the latest coming on December 3, against Jason “Mayhem” Miller. He went to the third round with Miller before Mayhem simply couldn’t take anymore abuse.
Bisping will look to do the same to Sonnen when they meet with a title shot on the line.
Bisping’s last loss came in Febuary 2010 when he lost by decision to Wanderlei Silva.
Sonnen and Bisping have a combined 48 professional wins.
Sonnen, 26-11-1, has compiled his wins with seven KO or TKOs, 4 submissions, and 15 decisions.
Bisping, 22-3, has won 14 matches by KO or TKO, four submissions, and four decisions.
This should be an interesting matchup between two experienced fighters with a lot on the line.
Chael Sonnen, who is never at a loss for words, was interviewed by USA Today shortly after hearing of the news. He was respectful with his comments and even praised Bisping.
USA Today asked Sonnen if he thought Bisping earned the right to fight for the title shot. His response follows:
“I’m a Bisping supporter. I think he has. I think he’s fought a lot of important matches.
I don’t know how tough the guys he fought were, how many ranked guys he had — I’m not terribly familiar with his record. But at the end of the day, you can say what you want about his opponents, he doesn’t pick his opponents. They pick his opponents and he goes in and he wins over and over again.
I think it’s really relevant, especially for the Bisping naysayers, to realize he’s fighting main-event fights. He’s carrying cards. He’s selling out arenas. In this industry, that’s huge. He’s done his part.
So I’m not on the anti-Bisping bandwagon. I never have been.”
The outspoken Sonnen, always seems to have something entertaining to say. His response to his thoughts on Bisping were nothing but respectful.
As it gets closer, it will be interesting to see what Sonnen and Bisping have to say.
Bisping, who always seems to stir up fans, will now showcase his skills in front of millions of people who will be viewing on FOX.
This card has four fights, which should draw more of an audience than the first FOX fight which was a lot of hype and only one fight.
This fight will have it all, including two experienced fighters who are not afraid to have their voices heard.
Sonnen was suspended when he tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. He has fought once since returning to the UFC and submitted Brian Stann.
He finds himself one win away from a rematch with Anderson Silva.
Chael Sonnen gives new opponent Michael “The Count” Bisping full support and personal seal of approval.The two trash talking kings of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) are slated to lock horns at UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Fox 2 in less…
Chael Sonnen gives new opponent Michael “The Count” Bisping full support and personal seal of approval.
The two trash talking kings of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) are slated to lock horns at UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Fox 2 in less than a fortnight.
I’m a Bisping supporter… I think he’s fought a lot of important matches.
I don’t know how tough the guys he fought were, how many ranked guys he had—I’m not terribly familiar with his record. But at the end of the day, you can say what you want about his opponents, he doesn’t pick his opponents. They pick his opponents and he goes in and he wins over and over again.
I think it’s really relevant, especially for the Bisping naysayers, to realize he’s fighting main-event fights. He’s carrying cards. He’s selling out arenas. In this industry, that’s huge. He’s done his part.
So I’m not on the anti-Bisping bandwagon. I never have been,”.
Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz was originally scheduled to face Sonnen in the co-main event in Chicago, Illinois. He was, however, pulled from the show following an elbow injury sustained during training.
As a consequence, Bisping (22-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) was subsequently installed as Munoz’s replacement to contend with Sonnen.
During the interview, Sonnen (26-11-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) constantly reiterated the fact that he was a staunch advocate of Bisping, but every now and again he’d take a little swipe at the Brit brawler.
One instance was a question concerning Bisping’s title shot credentials.
I don’t like the way Bisping talks. I don’t like the way a lot of these guys talk when it comes to Anderson. They all want to talk about their shot, their shot, their shot.
I don’t want a shot. I’ve never asked Dana White for a shot at the title. I want the title, there’s a tremendous difference between my mindset and everybody else’s.
[…] But again — I’m a supporter of Bisping. I’m a supporter of him getting his shot.
Sonnen also intimated that he only ever goes after the upper-echelon fighters—those assumed to be at the top of their game. However, once they’ve been knocked off their perch (this was mostly in reference to the Nogueira brothers and Wanderlei Silva) he more or less leaves them be.
Still, the Oregon native couldn’t refrain from taking a parting pot-shot at the middleweight champion Silva.
[…] That’s really where it started with Anderson, too. Anderson became this untouchable guy. I’ve got to walk around in the back at the UFC and watch fellow fighters ask him for his autograph, and it makes my stomach sick.
At this moment in time, Sonnen, a former NCAA Division-I (National Collegiate Athletic Association) standout, has kept things as civil as can be. That said, with less than two-weeks before his showdown with Bisping, things could change for the worse.
Or maybe, it could be another Brian Stann scenario—no trash talking whatsoever from either combatant, just a mutual respect—they’ll let their fighting do the talking.
UFC on Fox 2 is set for Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.
With the exception of soccer, mixed martial arts has to be the most international sport there is. It is just universal in its concept.There are probably 20 or so countries that produce elite fighters, but there are certainly marked concentrations of to…
With the exception of soccer, mixed martial arts has to be the most international sport there is. It is just universal in its concept.
There are probably 20 or so countries that produce elite fighters, but there are certainly marked concentrations of top fighters belonging to specific countries.
The U.S., Brazil and Japan are three big countries that come to mind. But who are the top fighters from around the world? Where do they come from?
Here, we take a look at some of the best fighters from the best fighting countries.
With the shuffling of the UFC on FOX 2 card in Chicago, Brazilian middleweight Demian Maia (15-3) was left without an opponent, temporarily. UFC president Dana White announced on Twitter (@danawhite) that undefeated fighter Chris ‘The Hangman’ Weidman (7-0) would be stepping in to face Maia on just eleven days notice. – 3rd fight in […]
Chris Weidman
With the shuffling of the UFC on FOX 2 card in Chicago, Brazilian middleweight Demian Maia (15-3) was left without an opponent, temporarily.
UFC president Dana White announced on Twitter (@danawhite) that undefeated fighter Chris ‘The Hangman’ Weidman (7-0) would be stepping in to face Maia on just eleven days notice.
– 3rd fight in the FOX Jan 28th is Maia vs Undefeated Chris Weidman!!!
The shuffling of the UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis card was caused after an injury to Mark Munoz forced him to withdraw from his No. 1 contender bout versus Chael Sonnen. Maia’s original opponent, Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping was given the chance to face Sonnen and jumped at the opportunity. Now Sonnen and Bisping will co-main event the FOX show in a top contender match.
As a note to Dana White’s Twitter account, many fans were calling for Maia to face recent winner Rousimar Palhares, but the UFC pres said that the recent “Submission of the Night” winner turned down the fight.
UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis (aka UFC on FOX 2) is scheduled to take place on January 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Maia vs. Weidman bout will stay on the main card which will be broadcast live on FOX television.
Weidman has made three Octagon appearances in his short career so far, all of which happened in 2011. The former NCAA Division I wrestler earned his last win in November at UFC 139, chocking out Tom Lawlor with a D’arce choke at the San Jose event. ‘The Hangman’s’ previous wins include a submission win over Jesse Bongfeldt at UFC 131, and a decision victory against Alessio Sakara at UFC on Versus 3 in March.
Maia is 3-1 in his last four matches, which have all gone the distance. The Brazilian earned a decision victory over Jorge Santiago at UFC 136 in October, while losing a controversial unanimous decision to Mark Munoz at UFC 131. Many felt the score should have been much closer than the 29–28, 29–28, 30–27 scores handed out. Previous wins in the four bouts include wins over Kendall Grove and Mario Miranda.
