Will Michael Bisping Chael Sonnen his way to a shot at the title?
Posted on May 21, 2011, 10:24 AM by Anton Gurevich
Before the fight against Nate Marquardt at UFC 109, Chael Sonnen was just another UFC Middleweight far, far away from challenging Anderson Silva for his belt. But the charismatic Oregonian had plans of his own; Sonnen used his second-to-none trash talking skills and the interest in Nate Marquardt’s campaign for a rematch against Anderson Silva to call out the Champ, eventually forcing himself into the mix for a shot at the title. Of course, Chael Sonnen backed up his talk by bulldozing Marquardt during all three rounds, to get in line against the winner of UFC 112 Silva vs. Belfort Maia match-up.
Whether you like him or not, it’s hard to deny that Chael Sonnen has an exciting personality. But Sonnen had his “share of losing”, and now finds himself in an ongoing battle against his toughest opponent to date – the NSAC and CSAC commissions.
When looking for another UFC Middleweight, even remotely controversial and charismatic as Chael Sonnen, the only name that comes to mind is Michael “The Count” Bisping. It’s no surprise that the pair were originally set to resurrect The Ultimate Fighter series, something that even Brock Lesnar struggled to do this season. Sonnen and Bisping are the only ones who have enough ammunition to bring TUF back to the (at least) 2 million viewers region.
Bisping’s behavior at UFC 127 did some damage in short-term, but was the best thing to happen in his Mixed Martial Arts career in long term. Right now, everyone wants to teach Michael Bisping a lesson, from UFC’s Nate Marquardt, to Strikeforce’s Tim Kennedy. But the most important thing is that everyone interested in who will be Bisping’s next opponent and how he will do against him.
With Chael Sonnen suspended indefinitely, Bisping is the biggest “draw” the UFC Middleweight division currently has to offer. “The Count” is the only one who can give ZUFFA a strong build-up material for a classic “bad boy” storyline.
Back in the day, Brock Lesnar was the one MMA fans loved to hate. Lesnar eventually became the biggest draw in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, earning a title shot after just one victory inside the Octaogn. Of course, there’s more to the Brock Lesnar story, and Bisping is a completely different fighter. But the facts are still there. Michael Bisping has to get the best out of his current situation, as apologizing more than once for the UFC 127 incident is surely not one of them.
Next weekend’s fight between Jorge Santiago and Brian Stann may determine Bisping’s next opponent. Both fighters are coming off impressive victories, as one of them will definitely find himself “in the mix” on May 29th. Will Michael Bisping become the first UK fighter to win a major MMA title? Only time will tell.
Photo: Michael Bisping at the UFC 100 press conference at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on July 9, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Francis Specker
Comments
i love how dumb founded Bisping looks in the main picture
Bisping vs Silva will be just like the Forest fight, Bisping will stand but he dosnt seem to poses 1 shot KO power, it will just be a ticking time bomb till Anderson land something vicious.
i say vitor should face bisping if not sonnen . first . if bisping can beat vitor ok give him a shot . but dont see that happening .
its not bisping is valuev.
Yeah, the only threats to Silva's title are Vitor/Sonnen. Silva beat them both, but who knows what would have happened had Vitor not got his face kicked off all of a sudden. Their next fight would be exciting to see. Sonnen rematch, well thats just not happening anytime this year. Ive grown to like Bisping for some reason, but his stand up is miles away from being able to take on Silva, maybe he can take Silva down....not likely though
i agree with the stand up part i think bisping has inproved his stand up alot since the henderson fight hes got a few things to fix .i think he drops his hands in range thats y he gets tagged alot with the right hand if he approves that he can stand with most everbody MOST everbody
i think vitor is out of his prime the layoff took alot out of him i wounldt be suprised to see him lose to akiyamia at ufc 133
I agree Sonnen or Belfort then maybe SIlva ...but he hasnt changed his
defence since Dan still leaves himself open....and just think what Silva
would do boxing... would rip him apart
Yeah I see that happening. Either that or a 5 round clowning.
i don't think just like forrest fight bisping will survive longer then forrest do to good footwork he moves in and out way better than forrest but bisping hasent been up on his toes lately hes been try stay planted to the ground to sit down on hes punch so he gets better power if he does that against anderson hell make it to round 2 if up on his toes round 3 or 4 but i dont see him winning the fight
Bisping has decent wrestling. He mostly uses it to keep the fight standing, but in light of what Sonnen did vs. Silva, he might try to take him down. I don't think he will be very successful either way, but I think taking Silva down is a better gameplan for him.
Haha 5 round clowning would be nice to see!
Can't wait to see the Santiago/Stann match up. Bisping would be a easy win for Chael. I see no way that Bisping can win. I'd like to see Chael face someone like Sexyama, someone he can use to prove his submission defence is getting better. Thing is Sexyama is no joke.
yeah u know that guy sexyama uh pretty sure bisping dominated him for three rounds
How to beat Chael Sonnen:
1. Lie on back.
2. Spread legs in air.
3. Watch as Sonnen places his head between your legs.
4. Secure triangle choke
5. Win.
Im from the uk and i would love to see Pissping get smashed !!!!!
of course u are.
What do you think everyone from the UK lives Bisping? Get your head out of your ass, d*ckhead.
I disagree with the comment that Bisping/Sonnen are the only ones who can bring TUF back to 2million+ viewers.
I think Jones/Evans has enough behind it to bring it there as well.
mabye
I think Bisbing is pretty ****y sometimes, but I like him as a fighter. Hes always exciting to watch and he is constantly trying to go for a knockout or submission.
you're kidding about him constantly trying to end fights right?
basically any big fight hes had, he tries to grind out a decision... and fails
he does always try to end fights
He tries to knock people out with those pillows he calls hands.
hunter B, i dont know what bisping fights youv watched. if theres one thing i respect about bisping its that he actually has killer intinct and tries to finish fights. sure he lacks power but he kinda makes up for it in volume of punches, and when he gets in someones gaurd he doesnt just sit there not advancing, throwing pillowfists, coughsonnencough.
the reason he punches dont knock people out is because he strugles to sit down on his punches not because hes hands are fists
not because hes hands are pillows/ my bad
He looks like Lord Voldomorte
24 fights. 21 wins : 13 by KO, 4 by sub, 4 by decision.
3 losses: 1 by KO, 0 by sub, 2 by decision.
I hardly consider that a guy who tries to grind out a decision.
Very true indeed! and his 3 losses are not to chumps either - Rashad (who became the LHW Champ), Hendo (who is a legend and current SF LHW Champ), and Wanderlei who is also a legend (and Bisping looked good against him apart from the last 30 seconds of each round).
true that and he lost to rashad by split decison and the fight was at light heavyweight
that equals 16.6 % of his fights have gone to a decision. maybe if you could look at his record more objectively youd see that? I know sometimes when I let me emotions cloud my judgement, I can pigeon hole someone into category that isnt necessarily true.
and 3 fight of the night bonuses in his UFC matches.
He's not good enough to talk his way to a title shot. He can't beat people to even get to that point. It's crazy to me how some people think he is so great. Fighters from his season of TUF have already touched the title and he hasn't really gotten that close. Today is maybe the closest he has ever gotten to the title only because he switched weight classes and Anderson has destroyed everyone in front of him.
hes beaten some good fighters leben ,akiyamia,kang,dan miller
Leben is a good fighter? Yea... NO. That's a big no. Sorry, just because he has a tough chin and knock out power doesn't make him good by any regards.
Akiyama and Kang are his most notable wins, and they weren't impressive. He struggled, and was rocked. Keep in mind, they were mid-level fighters. He wouldn't be able to survive against names like Marquardt and Palhares.
Dan who? Miller?...who?
be decision except kang
Bisping is really lucky Nate switched weight classes, Chael can't fight, and Hector Lombard fights for Bellator because Bisping can't beat anyone of them. He would have a hard time against Vitor. Ace would beat him if he didn't go up a weight class. Of course Anderson would kill him and Okami would probably grind Mike out. The only person I could see Bisping beating that is considered a top guy is Maia and that's because he has no hands.
yeah dan miller your boy nate marquardt last win and stann goes out and beats leben now hes mr big shot so what about that
To think chael would beat bisping easily is crazy. Y because he dominated a champ for five rounds just to come out a loser. Chael a good wrestler but whoever out there believes chael knockout or too bisping is dumb because has NO power in his punches at all. He could only win through decision. But bisping on the other hand could too chael. I'm no bisping fan but I do believe that he is alot better than you guys make him out to be.
Exactly. Chael would win by decision. Got it.
bisping by second round ko i truly belive bisping would finish sonnen do to sonnen layoff and bisping has inproved on siting down on his punches he finished jorge on the feet and the shot that really hurt jorge was a bomb of a straight right hand
Sorry austin but I really think the knee changed that fight. Just my opinion though. Bisping wouldn't stop those takedowns by Chael.
Though Bisping's fighting behaviour against Rivera was below any level, I find myself cheering for the guy. I hope he does well in his next fight and gets the shot.
(p.s. what is the correct spelling for rooting or routing, as in 'rooting for the guy'; online dictionaries proved no help ;))
Rooting haha.
hopefully he will get a shot at the title just so we can all watch him get his ass kicked by silva
Silva vs. Bisping would be a bitch slap to the sport.
I know his personality will not win him nice bloke of the year contest, but his MMA record speaks for itself. Finshes alot of fights and has a MUCH BETTER record than Belfort or Sonnen, yet idiots make out he is nowhere near nor ever will be near deserving of a title shot. He may or may not get one in the future, time will tell, but the trolls who think only with prepubescent minds really do lower the tone of MMA sites.
Bisping couldn't handle the LHW division, so he drops down to MW. He has managed to lose to every top contender in Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans. Matt Hamill should be included in there as well.
His most praised victories come in the form of Akiyama, Leben, Kang and Rivera. Not an impressive list at all. For the love of god, Bisping was rocked by Leben, Kang and Rivera because the idiot still circles right into the power punch.
Michael is overrated trash from the UK. He has still yet to fight or win against Marquardt, Maia, Belfort, Palhares, Sonnen, Wanderlei, Henderson, Belcher, Munoz, Hamill, Okami, etc and you think he's worthy of a title shot with Anderson?
Nevermind the fact that Bisping would be obliterated in under a round, he hasn't earned anything. His 21-3 record is a joke. Most of his wins come via cans and no names.
leben never rocked him marquardt turn down a fight with him bisping ask for him twice he domiant akiyamia who beat alan belcher he made a bad mistake in the henderson fight learned from it and moved on did well agianist wandy beat hamill and lost a spilt decison to rashad evans bisping out triked him in that fight and he could beat most of them guys u listed up there
... and the winner of "fag of the year award goes to ....... (drumroll) ......... Doomsdayapex!!!!!"
Congrats dude, I know you worked really hard for this award
Yes, I'm sure he could little boy... in a dream within a dream.
bro just cause your the ****ing fag of the year doesn't mean u get to hate on people and bisping would knock you out cold cause your prolly just a little bitch like almost all bisping haters
Yes, I'm sure he could kid *sarcasm*
I've seen his striking and wrestling, not intimidated.
He has to fight them to beat them. He shouldn't be close to a title shot.
Im not saying hes the best or anything like that. I just think hes not given the credit he deserves. And so what if he moved down a weight class, fighters do that all the time. And why is that people discount fighters as a joke or unworthy if they are not in the top 5 or 10 in the world. "His 21-3 record is a joke' ???? Thats quite a statement, How many MMA guys are there in the world? And out of all of them, how many can say they have a 21 -3 record? In any sport, a 21-3 record is a great accomplishment.
I really don't care if his record is 100-0.
Bisping's record is meaningless because he's lost to the top competition and only beaten has-beens, cans, no names, etc. That is a fact.
Until he beats top competition back to back, he is NOT a top fighter nor does he deserve a title shot or credit.
I could care less what you Michael fans have to say, until he proves himself to be a top tier fighter by fighting and beating elite competition, he's a joke. And that's not just me stating this claim -- it's 90% of the MMA community. Get over it.
well the ufc never gives him top fighters anymore and his next fight is going to be a top guy and i cant what till he wins so u haters will shut up
Who? Sonnen's career is probably over.
That would mean his next opponent would be Marquardt, and if you think he has a shot then your just a delusional nut-hugger.
do u so ****ing stupid y do realize Nate Marquardt did drop to welterweight he already has a fight against Anthony Johnson
And you do realize that he's still considering fighting Bisping?
Bisping isn't scheduled to fight anyone yet in 2011, and Nate has stated that he wouldn't mind fighting Michael after Anthony idiot.
nate said he to small for middleweight and it doesn't make sense to keep switching weightclass if he ever wants to fight for a title again ''idiot''
If he has improved so much .. how about a rematch with Hendo?
im sure he would mind fighting hendo again
Difference is that Sonnen can trash talk with the best of them, and Bisping is just immature.
Can't wait for Bisbing to get smaashed by another Team Quest guy!Chael's gonna drag him to the ground and smash on him.
Bisping nuthugger central