Wednesday, September 26, 2012

After 17 UFC Bouts, Michael Bisping Still Not Guaranteed Title Fight

UFC Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping (Pictured) certainly talks a good game, and with a 23-4 mixed martial arts résumé “The Count” has walked the walk most of the time. However, after beating Brian Stann to bump his UFC record to 13-4, Bisping was still not guaranteed a shot at middleweight king Anderson Silva’s crown.

While UFC president Dana White thinks the prospects of the scrap are intriguing, he was noncommittal when asked if Bisping’s unanimous decision victory over the “All-American” warranted next dibs.

“Me and (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva were talking earlier [Saturday] and I said, ‘I think a fight with Bisping and Anderson is an interesting fight,’” White shared at the UFC 152 post-fight press conference. “Bisping always brings it, always fights hard, well-rounded, talented … I’m running around your question like a mother.”

Bisping stormed onto the Octagon scene as a contestant on “The Ultimate Fighter 3.” After six long years the Brit has never even sniffed a title fight, let alone don UFC gold. All the while, lesser accomplished fighters like Patrick Cote, Thales Leites, Demian Maia and arguably Yushin Okami have challenged Silva for his throne.

Granted, those middleweights got their shot when the weight class lacked depth and Bisping was still establishing himself in the division. Still, it makes you wonder if Bisping will always (at best) be playing third fiddle.

Unfortunately for the 33-year-old, the line to the top has never been longer.

“This 185-pound division is so stacked,” White added. “It’s funny because at one point, everyone was talking about who’s next. Well, there’s a line of guys who are next. I don’t know what’s next. I know Bisping looked great [Saturday], and he always comes to fight.”

Source: http://www.5thRound.com/128413/after-17-ufc-bouts-michael-bisping-still-not-guaranteed-title-fight/

Paulo Filho Mirko Cro Cop Filipović Luiz Buscapé Firmino Spencer Fisher Jon Fitch

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