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I've seen Bisping's whole UFC career, so here's a story about the man from a longtime follower's perspective:
The UFC really tried to push him to get more English fans on board. So they gave him TUF'ers, and then some more TUF'ers to keep that train rolling. Then he ran into a wall named Hamill and still got the nod despite clearly losing. So now you set him up with another unproven TUF rookie far away from his prime in Shad, who beat him in an awkward fight.
Bisping then decided to move to 185, where he faced Jason Day & Charles "Chainsaw" McCarthy, neither being contenders. Now for the 1st real MW test in Leben, who had mixed results, but still was a KO threat. Bisping cruised to an easy UD.
UFC 100 comes along, TUF with Hendo to hype that milestone up real good, and the result was as expected, a timid Bisping running away from a headhunting Hendo, losing the 1st round without doing anything other than circling towards Dan's power hand. H-Bomb, clean KO and a new logo at Team Quest (I believe it was coined "The Indian Falcon Punch", which today shows up every time Hendo turns on his TV).
Back to the drawing board for Mike. 2 title eliminator losses now. Bisping showed up and got the biggest win of his career up to that date by subbing a hot & cold Denis Kang. Next for Mike was the crafty veteran/legend test Joe Silva likes to see if a fighter is ready for that big next step. Bisping fought a war-torn 35-year-old Wanderlei, who was still too much for him and came close twice to finishing Mike. But a decision it was. A unanimous at that.
Now's a time in Bisping's career where he has a solid following, but just can't get into contention, so he has to start crawling his way to the top in his (supposed) prime years. A crafty Dan Miller, a shopworn Akiyama, a past-his-prime once top 15 MW in Jorge Rivera and finally Jason "Mayhem" Miller, who got the UFC call because his show, "Bully Beatdown" was doing big enough numbers for a TUF stint and a main event against Mike (he also subbed a 41-year-old Sakuraba to get those spots, and we do know of Mayhem's escapades and cage showings during his 2nd UFC run).
Another opportunity comes around, this time a short-notice title eliminator against the Bad Guy from Portland, Chael P. Sonnen. Close contest, but Sonnen rightfully got the nod. Another loss in a crucial fight, but Bisping did well in losing, so now he gets the hard-hitting War Hero, Brian Stann, who's submission defense and takedown defense was iffy throughout his run. Bisping took advantage and outgrappled the then top 10 middleweight for a clear UD.
At this point Bisping is getting up in years as a fighter. The mid-30's are looming and there's no time for tune-up's, so it's on to the toughest test to date: A juiced up cartoon version of Vitor Belfort, who could be the most devastating warrior the Octagon has seen. And the 4th title eliminator went as expected - high kick, lights out for Mike. No title shot...again.
But Bisping is resilient, he won't give up no matter how many times he has to stand up. Went 2-1 with good wins against a game Alan Belcher and a near 42-year-old Cung Le. And, of course, the clear 5-round decision loss against a top 10 ranked Tim Kennedy.
All top contenders booked, a surging contender and recent Strikeforce MW champ, Luke Rockhold, calls out Bisping. They verbally jab at each other, past training victories and defeats are brought up to keep some moral alive in the fight game, and in the end Bisping eats a high kick again and Luke chokes him out with 1 arm. After all these beatings you'd think Bisping, now 36, would have enough (fans, at this point, see Mike as a good, but no great fighter). But no, CB Dollaway awaits and Bisping, albeit getting dropped twice, wins a just decision. Leites' newly found stand-up aggression posed problems for Mike, but he got through it via SD.
And now it's time for the biggest fight of Bisping's career, a fight in England against a 40-year-old Anderson Silva who comes off a broken leg rehab holiday and a lengthy PED suspension (a NC against a WW, Nick Diaz, his only fight after losing to Weidman 2 years earlier). Anderson clowns, but his old reflexes aren't there and Bisping capitalizes with short combinations that hurt the shopworn former champ several times. Silva lands a flying knee that nearly KO's Bisping, but "The Count" gets saved by the bell and wins a controversial decision.
Time to call it a career? No, Mike doesn't want to stop until he gets that elusive title shot, and in a shocking turn of events Chris Weidman gets injured and Mike steps in on 10-days notice against the guy who recently chocked him out with 1 arm. Rockhold thinks fights are won by showing his presence alone. Hands down, no respect for Bisping's striking, and BOOM, left hand to the chin, another one flush and some follow-up shots to bounce Luke's head off the cage a few times for good measure. Michael Bisping, UFC MW champ at age 37 and seemingly one-eyed.
Now to ride this train until the wheels fall off. 10 years of crawling to the top can't be for nothing if you go and get your eye kicked in once more. Flashback to 2009, 7 years past, to the then coined "Indian Falcon punch" logo creator, now 45-year-old Dan Henderson (a fight I personally love).
And there it is. A story of chance, hype, shortcomings (over and over) and perseverance. Bisping was overrated for a long ass time, his best wins came against 35 to 40-year-old past their prime big names. Then he was rated correctly, until now after the fluke win vs Rockhold.
The UFC really tried to push him to get more English fans on board. So they gave him TUF'ers, and then some more TUF'ers to keep that train rolling. Then he ran into a wall named Hamill and still got the nod despite clearly losing. So now you set him up with another unproven TUF rookie far away from his prime in Shad, who beat him in an awkward fight.
Bisping then decided to move to 185, where he faced Jason Day & Charles "Chainsaw" McCarthy, neither being contenders. Now for the 1st real MW test in Leben, who had mixed results, but still was a KO threat. Bisping cruised to an easy UD.
UFC 100 comes along, TUF with Hendo to hype that milestone up real good, and the result was as expected, a timid Bisping running away from a headhunting Hendo, losing the 1st round without doing anything other than circling towards Dan's power hand. H-Bomb, clean KO and a new logo at Team Quest (I believe it was coined "The Indian Falcon Punch", which today shows up every time Hendo turns on his TV).
Back to the drawing board for Mike. 2 title eliminator losses now. Bisping showed up and got the biggest win of his career up to that date by subbing a hot & cold Denis Kang. Next for Mike was the crafty veteran/legend test Joe Silva likes to see if a fighter is ready for that big next step. Bisping fought a war-torn 35-year-old Wanderlei, who was still too much for him and came close twice to finishing Mike. But a decision it was. A unanimous at that.
Now's a time in Bisping's career where he has a solid following, but just can't get into contention, so he has to start crawling his way to the top in his (supposed) prime years. A crafty Dan Miller, a shopworn Akiyama, a past-his-prime once top 15 MW in Jorge Rivera and finally Jason "Mayhem" Miller, who got the UFC call because his show, "Bully Beatdown" was doing big enough numbers for a TUF stint and a main event against Mike (he also subbed a 41-year-old Sakuraba to get those spots, and we do know of Mayhem's escapades and cage showings during his 2nd UFC run).
Another opportunity comes around, this time a short-notice title eliminator against the Bad Guy from Portland, Chael P. Sonnen. Close contest, but Sonnen rightfully got the nod. Another loss in a crucial fight, but Bisping did well in losing, so now he gets the hard-hitting War Hero, Brian Stann, who's submission defense and takedown defense was iffy throughout his run. Bisping took advantage and outgrappled the then top 10 middleweight for a clear UD.
At this point Bisping is getting up in years as a fighter. The mid-30's are looming and there's no time for tune-up's, so it's on to the toughest test to date: A juiced up cartoon version of Vitor Belfort, who could be the most devastating warrior the Octagon has seen. And the 4th title eliminator went as expected - high kick, lights out for Mike. No title shot...again.
But Bisping is resilient, he won't give up no matter how many times he has to stand up. Went 2-1 with good wins against a game Alan Belcher and a near 42-year-old Cung Le. And, of course, the clear 5-round decision loss against a top 10 ranked Tim Kennedy.
All top contenders booked, a surging contender and recent Strikeforce MW champ, Luke Rockhold, calls out Bisping. They verbally jab at each other, past training victories and defeats are brought up to keep some moral alive in the fight game, and in the end Bisping eats a high kick again and Luke chokes him out with 1 arm. After all these beatings you'd think Bisping, now 36, would have enough (fans, at this point, see Mike as a good, but no great fighter). But no, CB Dollaway awaits and Bisping, albeit getting dropped twice, wins a just decision. Leites' newly found stand-up aggression posed problems for Mike, but he got through it via SD.
And now it's time for the biggest fight of Bisping's career, a fight in England against a 40-year-old Anderson Silva who comes off a broken leg rehab holiday and a lengthy PED suspension (a NC against a WW, Nick Diaz, his only fight after losing to Weidman 2 years earlier). Anderson clowns, but his old reflexes aren't there and Bisping capitalizes with short combinations that hurt the shopworn former champ several times. Silva lands a flying knee that nearly KO's Bisping, but "The Count" gets saved by the bell and wins a controversial decision.
Time to call it a career? No, Mike doesn't want to stop until he gets that elusive title shot, and in a shocking turn of events Chris Weidman gets injured and Mike steps in on 10-days notice against the guy who recently chocked him out with 1 arm. Rockhold thinks fights are won by showing his presence alone. Hands down, no respect for Bisping's striking, and BOOM, left hand to the chin, another one flush and some follow-up shots to bounce Luke's head off the cage a few times for good measure. Michael Bisping, UFC MW champ at age 37 and seemingly one-eyed.
Now to ride this train until the wheels fall off. 10 years of crawling to the top can't be for nothing if you go and get your eye kicked in once more. Flashback to 2009, 7 years past, to the then coined "Indian Falcon punch" logo creator, now 45-year-old Dan Henderson (a fight I personally love).
And there it is. A story of chance, hype, shortcomings (over and over) and perseverance. Bisping was overrated for a long ass time, his best wins came against 35 to 40-year-old past their prime big names. Then he was rated correctly, until now after the fluke win vs Rockhold.
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