(Alas, Rampage Jackson’s cry of "Look the hell out!" came just a moment too late.)
Now that Michael Bisping is upright again and has finally watched the video that explains why he can no longer recognize patterns or do long division, he seems eager to get back in the Octagon and implement the lessons he learned from his brief time in the Underworld. Bisping has vowed to “kick someone’s backside” at UFC 105 in Manchester, England this November, but the question remains, who’s backside will be presented for potential kicking?
If you’d listened to Ben vs. Ben on Sirius Fight Club (channel 127 on Sirius or 104 on XM, Fridays at 6 pm EST), you would have heard us debating this very topic. We threw out a few names like Dan Miller or Alan Belcher, while others have mentioned Patrick Cote or Alessio Sakara.
When you think about it, it’s kind of a tricky question. With his next fight coming back home in England, and his last fight ending in a psychedelic dream state, the UFC is going to want to give him somebody beatable, but they can’t give him a total pushover without looking like they’re tossing softballs to their British fighters as long as they stay on their own island.
Bisping says he wants “a top fighter,” though that could mean a lot of things. Cote’s been out with a busted knee ever since October. Sakara hasn’t fought since his highlight-reel head kick KO of Joe Vedepo in September, and Dan Miller’s coming off the decision loss to Chael Sonnen at UFC 98. Basically, there aren’t a whole lot of “top fighters” in the UFC’s 185-pound class who aren’t spoken for.
If the UFC really wants to give Bisping a challenging, meaningful test in front of his hometown crowd, allow us to make one final suggestion: Yoshihiro Akiyama.
He’s coming off a narrow victory, has his Octagon debut out of the way, and beating him would actually mean something (no offense, “Legionarius.”) Conversely, if Akiyama wins he erases a lot of the doubt still lingering among the ‘Belcher was robbed’ camp. Either way it’s a great fight and it allows the UFC to give Bisping a real chance to prove himself, rather than just a chance to pump up his British fans with an easy win.
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Comments
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:15
FIRST!!!!! WOOTY WOOT WOOT bisping is done, not at all a good fighter..
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:17
I think Akiyama is a great choice. Both these guys really have something to prove. I wonder if their styles will make for an exciting fight, though? If Bisping does his standard circle and pitter patter punch routine, will Akiyama be aggressive enough to go for the takedown or KO? Obviously he didn't show much against belcher, maybe with the debut out of the way we'll get to see him at his best.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:20
Akiyama would be a good choice. I also think, they can probably throw belchar as it would give him a chance to get over the fight with akiyama -- It think it will be very satisfying for him if he was able to beat bisping...erase the bad memories of the close win he could have had.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:24
Whoever Bisping fights next, I think his destiny is to be an incidental after-thought to the 185 Division. ("Hey, who was that guy that won season two or three, or whatever?") Simply put, his skills and athletic dispositions are too inadequate to compete: his sprawl is adequate, but nowhere near good enough to keep him standing against a strong wrestler; his hand speed is so-so, but his footwork - ala circling into one of the biggest rights in MMA - is horrendous, and his power is non-existent; and his ground-work is acceptable, but would be subbed by a Lutter, Maia, Marquardt and so on.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:24
Unless I have been ill informed Sakarra fights Thales Leites at 101, and Sakarra doesnt seem like the type that can handle a 3.5 monnth turn around. It really is a trciky question. Ryo Chonnan or maybe Dennis Kang (seriously I dont know if eitther of them are still on the active roster with all these cuts lately) but IDK if Legionarious could hanlde any one of the strikes that Hendo did at 100
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:28
Poor fucker, He is done. For all of his smack talk he could not deliver. If the UFC keeps him around it is only for publicity reasons as Bisping is the UKs golden boy. As far as an apponent for him, hell, give him Cote. Cote has to start over after his strange loss to silva. Either way, Bisping proved at UFC 100 that he cannot hang with a tried and proved seasoned fighter. He could get better but at this time it looks like he is headed for gate keeper city.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:36
@CZ Dennis Kang sounds actually like a good idea for me.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:36
+1 for Akiyama...makes a lot of sense.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:37
I would love to see Cote put his dumbass lights out again. I think Cote is another great striker with good power, he is NO Henderson but still I think another KO for pisspenis would be great to see. The other choices are fodder for the twit, er brit.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:41
Man, Bisping would really have to show something impressive in his next two fights to convince me he deserved another crack at Hendo. Honestly, the guy didn't do ANYTHING to Hendo except walk right in to what Hendo wanted him to. Bisping didn't muster enough of a fight to make Hendo consider anything other than "I'm going to crack this fucker with a gigantic right."
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:43
Oh, to be a fly on the wall when he watched that video! Can we get that into MMA coverage from now on? The footage of a guy that got knocked into temporary death actually watching the replay of the fight... Who wouldn't watch that? "I'm doing good, okay, I dropped my hands a bit. Okay, it gets fuzzy right about here...OH NOOOO!!! Good God, I was twitching!?!? you guys didn't tell me I was twitching!?"
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:44
Rampage shoulda reminded him he was there to fight, and quit doing the lame ass Bart Simpson impressions.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:48
what about wanderlei? both are huge in Europe bisping has a good chance at beating him and it still looking very legit.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:50
Wyatt --- BEST. IDEA. EVER! SSDD
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:53
I think Sexyama would smash Bisping to bits the overrated one will never beat Mr Metro sexual....never I reckon Dana gives his British cash cow Kendall Grove a chinny TUF Champ it makes sense and i'm sure the whole TUF 3 winners collide will be played to death in the hype
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:04
Does Joe Silva still have that wet paper bag on the payroll. Lets see if he can punch his way outa that. I would love to see him fight "The Polish Experiment" or anybody from Team Quest.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:25
There can only be option Bisping vs Wanderlei someone get that to joe silva
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:25
There can only be one option: Bisping vs Wanderlei someone get that to joe silva
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:26
They need to do a "Legends" gimmick fight. Think Mir vs Abbott or Franklin vs Shamroid. How about Bisping vs.... Miletich. Bisping will have a size and age advantage but Miletich has skills. Scrap it. Bisping vs Shamroid.... I don't think anyone would pay for that fight after Orsleez vs Shamroid failed to impress. Scrap it. Bisping vs. Pulver. They can play on Pulver being an ex-champion and having defeated BJ Penn. Bisping can at least sit on him for three rounds, display no world class skill and pick up a victory. Book it.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:27
bisping also has a good chance of getting ktfo for a second time
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:31
Carlos Condit would be a good match up. One guy fresh up from the minor leagues, the other on his way to the minors. ZING!!
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:32
Is Condit an 185 fighter?
Mon, 07/20/09 - 10:56
Condit's a welterweight (FYI, he's fighting Lytle in UFN in Sept)... and what are you guys trying to do to Bisping?? Wanderlei, are you serious?! I'd actually have to pray for his life if he faces the Axe Murderer... i mean jeez, that's bloody overkill.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 11:14
I agree with Biffmiester, the would be the end of Bisbing. But it sure would be fun to watch!
Mon, 07/20/09 - 11:52
Jesus, the Wanderlei nuthuggers are unstoppable. The guy is 1-6 in his last 7 fights, and its hard to see how he rates much higher than someone like Chris Leben at 185. Sure, he could bum rush Bisping, but its just as likely Bisping could pull a stand-and-pray special against Wand.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 11:52
My vote would be to see Cote beat down BisPING. That would be a good fight for Cote to test out his knee, and get back into the 185 picture. Aside from that, I think it's about time the UFC finds another UK poster-boy. The talent pool in the UK has to hold someone more relevant than BisPING.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 12:37
They are probably just going to continue feeding Bisping shitty fighters. He finally got a real test and looked...well, awful. Circling left against Dan Henderson is really just so god damn retarded.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 12:54
Apparently I have to bring up Nate Quarry again because everybody seems to forget that he exists. He has two losses, one to Rich Franklin in a title fight,(he was also the fist person from TUF 1 to get a title shot and he did it in 4 fights) the other to Demian Maia, who is arguable a top contender and can submit anyone it seems. So give Bisping to Quarry to see what they both can do, dammit!
Mon, 07/20/09 - 03:17
Videodrome you brilliant bastard...that is a great idea, if he gets by Creduer of course, which i definetly think he will
Mon, 07/20/09 - 05:49
Hmm...Kendall Grove still alive? Is he still a pushover who gets more credit than he deserves for winning The Ultimate Fighter? Yep, no reason I'm asking...
Tue, 07/21/09 - 12:25
I wud def. like to see Bisping fight Yoshihiro Akiyama with hopes that bisping gets knocked out again
Tue, 07/21/09 - 01:23
Akiyama is a good idea! or Wandy or Kang! all three of these guys would make a good co main event for a uk card two of them would pull in a lot of asian pay per views also.
Tue, 07/21/09 - 12:43
I love that picture it looks like he is already taking a nap.
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