I'm very surprised by the amount of people that think Bisping is a better striker than Belfort and think he can beat him by keeping him at range like he did to Stann. Bisping barely out struck Stann, first round was very even, second was clearly Bisping, and the third was much closer than most people think. I re watched that round in slow motion and Bisping missed more punches than it looked like watching it live and Stann landed some solid punches that I didn't see live. Stann throws a lot of short crosses, Vitor gets a lot more extension on his punches with a bit more speed and equal power. Bisping's striking is overrated to begin with if you look at his history against good strikers. He was getting tagged by Rivera and resorted to constantly taking him down and gassing him out, he got dropped by Kang and resorted to taking Kang down to beat him, everyone knows what happened against Hendo and the striking with a washed up and short reached loopy swinging Wandy was very even and he barely out struck Chael at best. His most impressive striking performance was probably against Stann, and as I said before, he didn't out strike him by as much as people think and it's easier to stand at range and out strike someone with jabs like Stann who throws short punches. I don't see Vitor's TDD being any worse than Stann's, Anthony Johnson, who has a good wrestling background and was a huge and very strong MW, struggled to take Vitor down. Vitor also has much better BJJ than Stann. I don't see Vitor's cardio being any worse than Stann's either, Stann started to looked gassed in the second round from Bisping's grappling. So let's assume at worst Vitor does equally as well as Stann did in the grappling and cardio department, unless he's aged terribly in the last year Vitor should without a doubt do significantly better in the stand up than Stann did.
Bisping's striking is extremely overrated. His cardio and pace are his main assets. However, Vitor is not a one-dimensional Brian Stann, Vitor has great grappling and even better striking. Vitor via KO.
Bisping's striking defense has never been really THAT good, or at least as good as he is offensively. That being said, Vitor by KO Edit: I forgot to say TL;DR
I think from a pure technique and skill point of view, Bisping can hang with Vitor. Hes very well rounded. However Vitor can finish the fight just about anywhere, and it capable to take a decision too. Bisping only really has a decision (or completely gassing Vitor). I can see him winning, but I have Vitor by KO.
Seings how Vitors best days are far behind him and he falls apart as soon as someone doesn't crumble right away I would say Bisping has a great chance.. I still favor Vitor a "little" bit. But won't be surprised at all if Bisping wins
almost all Bisping fights follow the same pattern: opponent has a strong start while Mike finds his range Mike ups the work rate continually throughout the fight opponent gasses and gets finished late or loses a decision. just ask Stann, Rivera, Akiyama, Kang and Leben. Granted Vitor is a better fighter and striker than these, but otherwise Vitor is tailor made for Mike.
Although bisping I feel is overrated as a fighter his cardio is not overrated. He can win based on that. I'm hoping for vitor of course
What are you basing Vitor's best days being far behind him on? His only two losses in the last five years are to Jones and Andy, and he has looked as fast and explosive as always in all of his wins. Also, he has a history of wilting against good wrestlers who grind on him the whole fight and don't let him breathe, I don't think Bisping can do that.
How exactly is Vitor tailor made for Bisping, Vitor has better striking, more power, better BJJ and his wrestling is on a similar level, Bisping's only clear edge is cardio. Bisping has lost every time he fought a fighter on Vitor's level. Stann is worse than Vitor at just about everything and Bisping only beat him 29-28.
Should be close this fight, looking forward to it, I'll be backing Vitor though purely because it's in Brazil.
I have to admit I certainly wont be backing against bisping again anyway. If it goes past the second Bisping will win.
