UFC Results - Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping Moving to Middleweight

nospam@example.com (Johnny MMA) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:06:24 -0700

Michael Bisping has never fought at middleweight, but he is moving on down. He'll be much more competative and maybe even a title contender at the lighter weight class.

Bisping said: “Dana thought it was a great idea, he said I’d be ‘a monster’ down at middleweight. In fact all sorts of people like Rampage (with whom Bisping is close) were telling me this was the best thing for my career. Really, I knew middleweight was the place to be. When I went to train with Rampage in America over the summer, when we’d go eat he’d have half a lettuce leaf; I’d have a pizza or a couple of foot-long Subways and a couple of sneaky cookies.

“Even though I train as hard, if not harder, than anyone else for a fight, I wasn’t making sacrifices like other fighters do. I’ve had world class nutritionists like (boxer) Ricky Hatton’s strength coach Kerry Kayes tell me I could be so much stronger at middleweight, so I was getting this same advise from all sides.”

Are Bisping and Evans in the right weight class?

nospam@example.com (Johnny MMA) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:00:27 -0700

UFC 78 is quickly approaching and it's main event match-up between Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping made me think about fighters who could cut weight to drop to a lower weight class. In that spirit I am going to discuss four UFC fighters who might be well served by dropping weight and fighting below their current class.

Let me start at the top, the UFC heavyweight division. There are a couple of UFC heavyweights who could make 205lbs, remember Randy Couture fought as a light heavyweight for a while, he even held the light heavyweight title. There is really only one UFC heavyweight who I want to talk about dropping weight. Brandon "The Truth" Vera just dropped a three round decision to former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. Brandon didn't loose this match because of his skill-set. He lost because of Tim's size. Tim pushed Vera up against the fence and used his weight to close the distance, essentially negating Vera's superior kicking game. If Brandon Vera dropped down to 205lbs I feel he would be competing on an even playing field and would likely quickly move into title contention.

The UFC light heavyweight division has the majority of guys who should consider dropping weight. There are three that I'd like to discuss, they are Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson. You'll note that Bisping and Evans are the main event fighters at UFC 78. Both of these fighters are undefeated at light heavyweight.

Michael Bisping is an outstanding fighter, a good striker with an adequate ground game. However, his recent fight with Matt Hamill shows that he can be manhandled by a stronger opponent. Bisping mostly stayed on the outside in this fight and let Hamill control the action. I believe that this is because he was staying away from Hamill's strength...with is wrestling, and physical strength. We all remember on the Ultimate Fighter when Hamill was overwhelming the other fighters with his physical strength, a move to 185lbs would not only put him into title contention, but would allow Bisping to be stronger than other opponents in that weight class.

Rashad Evans has already dropped a weight class. Rashad competed at heavyweight on the Ultimate Fighter TV series and did very well, winning his division, but his recent bout with Tito Ortiz showed that Rashad, despite his superior wrestling skills is a small light heavyweight. Rashad will have no problems matching strength with Bisping at UFC 78, but when fighting the larger light heavyweights like Forrest Griffin, Wanderlei Silva and Tito Ortiz he will get manhandled, essentially negating his wrestling advantage. A move to 185lbs would likely make Rashad an immediate title contender.

Dan Henderson has already fought at 185lbs and is the current, and likely last, PrideFC 185lb champion. Dan is strong, even for a 205lb fighter and Dan probably has the best wrestling in the UFC. Dan's last fight with Quinton Jackson showed that he can have trouble with a guy who is a good wrestler, a good striker and is as physically strong as he is. There simply isn't a fighter at 185lbs with Dan's strength. With a decisive strength advantage, Dan's heavy hands and fantastic wrestling would take him not only into title contention, but in my eyes he would defeat Anderson Silva.

In closing I want to reveal my ulterior motive. With Anderson Silva's dominant victory over Rich Franklin there is little competition left for Anderson at 185lbs. Matt Lindland if he rejoined the UFC or Dennis Kang would be good opponents, but that is not likely to happen. Looking inside the UFC we need to look at the class above for guys who can give Anderson Silva trouble. If the four guys I've discussed changed weight classes, both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions of the UFC would be completely stacked, making every weight class at or above 170lbs the most stacked in MMA.

Don't forget to return to UFC Results for UFC 78 Results

Hamill vs Bisping - The Rematch will happen

nospam@example.com (Johnny MMA) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:43:40 -0700

According to UFC president Dana White, the rematch between Michael Bisping and Matt Hamill is a "no brainer" and he's working on it right now. This from several sources around the net, including UFC.com.

I knew Dana would do the rematch. Trust me, this is the best thing to ever happen to Hamill as an MMA fighter. He's far more popular having lost that fight than if the judges awarded him the decision two rounds to one. Unfortunately, Michael Bisping won't even admit that the fight could have gone either way. He seems angered that anyone would question the judges decision.

I for one am awaiting the rematch, I hope the UFC puts it on it's December card along with Wanderlei Silva vs Chuck Liddell.

BTW: For what it's worth, Dana White thought that Hamill won this fight two rounds to one.

Bisping is fighting Hamill, not Shamrock.

nospam@example.com (Johnny MMA) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:54:50 -0700

I meant to post this last week, but I guess I forget. Anyway, ignore the Bisping Shamrock thing, it's still Matt Hamill as his UFC 75 opponent.

Bisping vs Shamrock at UFC 75

nospam@example.com (Johnny MMA) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:38:54 -0700

It looks like Michael Bisping might be fighting Ken Shamrock at UFC 75. It had previously been thought that Bisping would be fighting Matt Hamill, but for one reason or another that doesn't appear to be happening now.

Is Bisping vs Shamrock an interesting fight? Well, considering Ken has lost 6 of his last 7 fights, probably not. However, Shamrock is a known name, a hall of famer and maybe it will show us how far Bisping has to go (or if he's already there).