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- Mar 23, 2008
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This is hilarious. I don't think I've ever seen Bisping this ecstatic before! He wasn't even this overjoyed when he finally won a title. Like pretty much everyone, he knew entering the cage that Whittaker was going to get awarded the decision having won three rounds to two. Watch how Bisping relishes in the opportunity to huff and puff in Romero's face knowing FULL WELL it's not the Cuban he'll be fighting to unify the title. I'm firmly convinced at this point that Bisping will never feel confident about facing Romero until the latter is in his 50s or both are about to retire.
Styles make fights and both Romero and Whittaker had the perfect styles to neutralize each other. Explosive, deceptive and unorthodox on Romero's part; lighting quick blitz attacks, timing and incredible takedown defense on Whittaker's part. It came down to who would impose his will and force the other to fight according to his terms down the stretch. Whittaker achieved that. Congrats to him.
However, when it comes to who Bisping has a better chance of beating stylistically, it's of course Whittaker. Love or hate the Englishman, he strings together combinations, volume and pressure striking like no other in the division right now. Romero's been finished by strikes once before (at light heavyweight) and he was rocked against Kennedy but the guy's chin is legendary and among the best in the game despite his age. Some of those strikes that Whittaker landed would have easily buckled or finished Bisping. If Whittaker doesn't blitz Bisping out the gate and finish it within the first three rounds most know in their hearts that the fight favors Bisping's higher work rate and output down the stretch. That's exactly why Bisping is on cloud 9 at the moment. Does Whittaker have a KO fighter's chance? Sure! Youth and speed is also on his side. But Romero would have been the much tougher stylistic matchup for Bisping on any day of the week. Bisping is one happy camper because of this fact.
Styles make fights and both Romero and Whittaker had the perfect styles to neutralize each other. Explosive, deceptive and unorthodox on Romero's part; lighting quick blitz attacks, timing and incredible takedown defense on Whittaker's part. It came down to who would impose his will and force the other to fight according to his terms down the stretch. Whittaker achieved that. Congrats to him.
However, when it comes to who Bisping has a better chance of beating stylistically, it's of course Whittaker. Love or hate the Englishman, he strings together combinations, volume and pressure striking like no other in the division right now. Romero's been finished by strikes once before (at light heavyweight) and he was rocked against Kennedy but the guy's chin is legendary and among the best in the game despite his age. Some of those strikes that Whittaker landed would have easily buckled or finished Bisping. If Whittaker doesn't blitz Bisping out the gate and finish it within the first three rounds most know in their hearts that the fight favors Bisping's higher work rate and output down the stretch. That's exactly why Bisping is on cloud 9 at the moment. Does Whittaker have a KO fighter's chance? Sure! Youth and speed is also on his side. But Romero would have been the much tougher stylistic matchup for Bisping on any day of the week. Bisping is one happy camper because of this fact.
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