Michael Bisping at middleweight?

Season three winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and undefeated UFC light heavyweight contender, Michael Bisping, could possibly move down to the middleweight division sometime in the future, according to the Orange County Regester.
Here's the snip:
"Juanito [Ibarra] said Bisping is destined to be a UFC champion. He hinted that Bisping might be moving out of the 205-pound weight class in the future. Bisping confirmed he believes he can make the 185-pound limit. Bisping's dynamic striking and the added strength he would have at a lower weight class would make him a serious force, as if he weren't a force already. Bisping said he has a nine-fight contract with the UFC and he wants to take his time moving up the ladder and improving with each fight."
"The Count" is currently training up in the mountains of Big Bear, Calif., preparing for his showdown with Matt Hamill at UFC 75: "Champion vs. Champion" on September 8 in London, England. The British star took time away from the Wolf's Laire MMA Academy to train with notables such as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Brandon Vera and Cheick Congo.
Ibarra is primarily known as the trainer for Rampage.
In just the last few months, the UFC light heavyweight division has been reinvigorated with new talent such as PRIDE FC Middleweight Champion Dan Henderson, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura, among others. Former champs Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, as well Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and Jason Lambert are also in the mix.
Put simply, the 205 pound division is crowded. Meanwhile, the 185-pound division is not.
Current titleholder Anderson Silva and former division king Rich Franklin lead the middleweight pack. Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt, Terry Martin and a handful of others are also worth noting.
However, the addition of Bisping into the 185-pound fray would no doubt give perhaps the most lackluster division in the organization a much-needed lift.
Not to mention a little charisma.
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69 comments
Comments
So basically.. Mr.Bisping run for your life after the Hamill fight because..Temperature is rising..When it’s too hot in the octagon..Drop weight..2 185..
but at 185..Anderson Silva would tear him up..he can be better at that weight..maybe one of the top five contenders,but thats it..no belt as long as the da spida is in the building.. His first fight at 185…Kendall Grove vs Bisping or throw him Okami.
by PhilQNY on Aug 22, 2007 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey Pal its only a rumor .. RELAX.
Bisping Would destroy kendall..
im a huge fan of both guys . But bisping is a top level fighter. Bisping is undefeated and all his wins are from TKO’s ..and the matt hamill fight is a good seller because they hate each other… and its a free tv fight. its not like its a payperview.
by MR.WOLF on Aug 22, 2007 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really like Bisping, mainly because has 1,000 followers on this site that seem to think he could devastate god with his supreme striking or submit a kangaroo with his under-rated BJJ. For some reason, I really like this move if it happens. Bisping looks like he could drop a few more pounds, and I think he would be one of the bigger/stronger guys in that division if he moved down. MMA is just moving that way—fighters want every advantage possible. I don’t think we will see many guys like Chuck in 10 years that fight at 205 with a beer gut.
by Jackie on Aug 22, 2007 12:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bisping is a small Light Heavy. He would be a big middleweight much like Franklin and Okami. He could definitely make the cut. Judging by how stacked the light heavyweight division has just become, it might not be a bad move….
by Frizz on Aug 22, 2007 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he just figured he would be toast with all the talent 205 now has..
Maybe he got freaked out that he would have to fight.. W. Silva, Shogun, Hendo, Jackson, Liddle if he wants to fight the top competitors.. which surely is intimidating..
None the less this remains a rumor until its official..
by Likwidfox on Aug 22, 2007 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hearing Sokoudjo was hunting for him he decides to avoid devastation…It would be more pleasant for me to watch him fight at Middleweight than to be destroyed as LHW.
by UFC_FAN on Aug 22, 2007 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t like Bisping, but i would like to see him fight at 185. I think Grove would pose a challenge for him because of his reach. 205 is way too stacked for Bisping to make a dent. I agree he could be top 5 at 185 and silva will own that division until he retires. Bisping would add a little needed excitement to the devision. If nothing else he’s one more person at 185 to watch silva knock into dreamland.
by James on Aug 22, 2007 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Move to middleweight(a big middleweight) and be one of the top 3 in your weightclass. Or, stay put and be, at best, a top 7 contender. Pretty easy choice I’d say.
by Clintojo on Aug 22, 2007 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
something else that just came to mind. A future bisping vs filho fight. i know filho is in the wec now, but lets face it, its only a matter of time before he crosses over to the ufc. His name just popped into mind when i thought of bisping at 185. His name pops into mind when i think of 185 period.
by James on Aug 22, 2007 12:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Bisping, unlike the majority of the haters here. I do think however that he’s better suited to the 185 point division. That division in general needs some spice and another big 185er to the mix would do wonders.
I’m not saying that Bisping can’t do well at 205, with more experience and better all-around training (which he seems to be trying to get training with Rampage/Ibarra) he can probably fare well at 205 but in the larger picture 185 is a division that is struggling to stay interesting and could use more talent include someone like Bisping who is interesting and entertaining to watch compete.
by pr0cs on Aug 22, 2007 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Juanito is an awesome striking trainer. GSP should train with Juanito instead of Jackson.
by Pat on Aug 22, 2007 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This isnt all about pride. This is about getting to the pinnacle of their profession. It doesnt matter where they fight. They want to be on top!Whatever profession that you may be in, you would stay right there once you saw that there was no more room for growth or a very competitive future ahead of you to fight through. Or would you transfer companies that has a much easier road to drive down for you to reach your goals?
Of course, all the keyboard tough guy typists would say, “bring it on!”
(I hate Bisping. I am not a nuthugger.)
by muto on Aug 22, 2007 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think bisping can easily make 185. Rich franklin was a big 205 i thought and he made the drop to 185 and now he is a huge middleweight in my opinion probably the biggest middleweight in all of mma. I dont think mike at 185 will be nearly as big as rich. Overall i think it would be a smart career choice for him because when he gets to the top of the food chain in the 205 class those guys are huge look at rampage he would tower over bisping i think that is what made bisping want to drop down training with rampage.
by matt on Aug 22, 2007 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Keep in mind Bisping is relatively new to the UFC. Most people that come in realize after a few fights that in the big leagues you need to be at your lowest possible weight class, cause the guys in your current weight class are at THEIR lowest possible weight class and are bigger and stronger than you. If he can cut weight down to 185, he should do it.
I haven’t heard any “rumors” if Bisping is an ever improving fighter like many others, but if he is, I could see him fighting for the title. He is decent right now in comparison to others, but he definitely has potential to be a champion in my opinion. I like his attitude more than anything. Doesn’t take shit, regardless if you can hear or not. haha..
Bisping is gonna dominate Hamill.. haha..
by Matt on Aug 22, 2007 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This would be a great move for Bisping and great addition to the shallow MW div.
by AT on Aug 22, 2007 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I told you ….
No Shame, its not like hes lost at LHW and then moved down ,Ala Mike Swick or numerous other fighters…
Silva is going to HAMMER Franklin again , no doubt. No one else left at the moment in the MW divsion… Henderson ?
Trust me next UFC event in the UK after 75, SILVA V THE COUNT MW TITLE BOUT …..
by BISBINGisaMIDDLEweight.. on Aug 22, 2007 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
great move if you ask me, he is a small lhw, he isnt even going to be a huge middle weight, i just remember at the end of tuf 3, he looked smaller than both Kendall and Ed herman..they are both tall, but Bisping isnt much thicker than ED..I think he matches up well in 185 also, he can bang, and is good on the ground, not to mention the 185 pounders are for the most part lacking in wresting (Bispings biggest weakness)..people give the middleweights shit for not being deep, but i think its the most entertaining weightclasses..
by MMA Dude on Aug 22, 2007 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did you guys watch the Couture vs. Gonzaga prefight stuff? Randy commented that Forrest wieghs about 240 right now… That seems like a lot of weight to cut to fight next?
by TRavis on Aug 22, 2007 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did you guys watch the Couture vs. Gonzaga prefight stuff? Randy commented that Forrest wieghs about 240 right now… That seems like a lot of weight to cut to fight next?
where can we watch it .
by MR.WOLF on Aug 22, 2007 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
People have been telling Bisping he should drop weight since 2005. This is nothing new and i think he will be a bigger force at 185 than 205
by Ian Dean on Aug 22, 2007 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
UFC needs to have middleweights on the next TUF show. No need to add more fighters to already stacked divisions (welter, lheavy).
by A Lynch on Aug 22, 2007 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thats the guy who trains Rampage right,he says Bisping is destined to be a UFC champion,who should I listen to?
by mcanena on Aug 22, 2007 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
While were on the subject why all the hate for the count ?
by BISPINGisaMIDDLEweight.. on Aug 22, 2007 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“BISBINGisaMIDDLEweight..
Aug 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm Quote this comment
I told you ….
No Shame, its not like hes lost at LHW and then moved down ,Ala Mike Swick or numerous other fighters… "
He has not lost yet because he is the Golden Boy of the UK and the UFC hasn’t ALLOWED him to fight anyone where he could lose. Elvis Sinosec nearly crippled Dana White’s plan to take over Europe, and Mr. White knows that this kind of stuff just cannot occur. Too much money to lose with a Bisping defeat.
100% wheter this is a rumor or not, it makes zero sense for Bisping to stay at 205lb. because he cannot ever win the title there … EVER !!! Bisping nut huggers cannot dispute this.
Quinton Jackson is young and will be around awhile as are the following whom Bisping cannot defeat,
1. Shogun
2. Silva
3. Griffen
4. Ortiz
You may even make a case that Bisping has no shot against Liddell while Chuck fights for another 1-2 years and he probably would get whooped by Machida and Alexander.
So in closing, the move to 185 can only help.
Any disagreements ? Anyone with sense in the U.S. that is….
by Kevin Kelly on Aug 22, 2007 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Back to Filho, did anybody else watch his wec fight and notice that Anderson Silva would demolish him. He would pick Filho’s striking apart like a surgeon.
by RT on Aug 22, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he just figured he would be toast with all the talent 205 now has..
Maybe he got freaked out that he would have to fight.. W. Silva, Shogun, Hendo, Jackson, Liddle if he wants to fight the top competitors.. which surely is intimidating..
None the less this remains a rumor until its official..
I am sick of telling people this but trust me when I tell you fighters like Bisping do not think the way you do,you may get intimidated alot but someone who is a fighter at heart always wants to proove themself as the best,they enjoy the challenge,just like you enjoy the challenge of how long you can play the Xbox without falling asleep.
Do you think Kieth Jardine is intimidated at fighting Chuck,I somehow doubt it,you obviously are not a fighter yourself but before you comment on how you think you would be intimidated if it was you fighting just remember you are at the other end of the spectrum of human beings from fighters.
by mcanena on Aug 22, 2007 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really like Bisping, mainly because has 1,000 followers on this site that seem to think he could devastate god with his supreme striking or submit a kangaroo with his under-rated BJJ.
Submitting a kangaroo would be impressive. Especially if you could somehow lock one of their short arms into an armbar.
To add to that. I think there are a few people in that division that could drop down. Machida, Rashad and Shogun (I wont mention Alexander til he proves he is worth mentioning) all fight at light heavyweight without cutting weight. In fact, Rashad and Machida came in under weight in their last fights.
by Mahde on Aug 22, 2007 2:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“BISBINGisaMIDDLEweight..
Aug 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm Quote this comment
I told you ….
No Shame, its not like hes lost at LHW and then moved down ,Ala Mike Swick or numerous other fighters… "
He has not lost yet because he is the Golden Boy of the UK and the UFC hasn’t ALLOWED him to fight anyone where he could lose. Elvis Sinosec nearly crippled Dana White’s plan to take over Europe, and Mr. White knows that this kind of stuff just cannot occur. Too much money to lose with a Bisping defeat.
100% wheter this is a rumor or not, it makes zero sense for Bisping to stay at 205lb. because he cannot ever win the title there … EVER !!! Bisping nut huggers cannot dispute this.
Quinton Jackson is young and will be around awhile as are the following whom Bisping cannot defeat,
1. Shogun
2. Silva
3. Griffen
4. Ortiz
You may even make a case that Bisping has no shot against Liddell while Chuck fights for another 1-2 years and he probably would get whooped by Machida and Alexander.
So in closing, the move to 185 can only help.
Any disagreements ? Anyone with sense in the U.S. that is….
I dont think you can really put a fighter down unless he actually loses to someone. Undefeated sounds pretty nice to me. I know he hasnt beaten any great talent yet but he hasnt lost either. He already beat a BJJ speacilist (Sinosic). I dont think he has beaten a great striker yet. However, I do agree the move to middleweight is a good move. I think he will be a force to be reckoned with. He would actually be very close to a title shot as well if he moves down. Until Bisping loses in an undisputed fashion, I dont want to count him out of any such fight.
by c-war on Aug 22, 2007 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not really a Bisping hater. Frankly, I don’t care when fighters move weight classes. If they think they can do better somewhere else, I’m all in favor of that move. Bottom line is, I want to see the very best of each fighter. If we’ll see the best Bisping at middleweight, I hope he moves to middleweight then.
by Shadyone33 on Aug 22, 2007 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i like it if bisping goes to mw, he has a much better chance of being champ there only because in lhw he might not ever even get a title fight with so many good fighters ahead of him, i’m not saying he’ll ever beat the spider, but at least at mw he could get a shot at the champ, i say do it bisping, lets see bisping vs. terry martin
by tha spida on Aug 22, 2007 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
RT
Silva could pick apart anyone’s standup game. Filho’s ground game is possibly the best in mma. Silva, in my mind, is damn near invincible. I doubt there is anyone capable of knocking him out. ( there is a great video of Siva sparring with big nog, where big nog wears head gear and silva opts to go without) The only time I have ever questioned his ability was in the Lutter fight. Filho is way better equiped to capitalize on takedowns than Lutter. if he was to stand up with silva …..dead man walking.
by James on Aug 22, 2007 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not to mention now that he trains with Junaito he’s not going to fight Rampage. So why not move down to 185 and make a move at that title. It’s Business Baby!
by Stafo on Aug 22, 2007 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Go read the rest of the interview!
Juanito accuses Silva and Shogun of steriods.
and it makes me wonder….
by Hoodlum on Aug 22, 2007 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if it will take a loss for Bisping to consider dropping in weight? Why would he drop a weight class if he is running through his division still undefeated? Only time will tell what Bisping’s intentions are.
by Red on Aug 22, 2007 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
[quote comment=“131736”]I don’t really like Bisping, mainly because has 1,000 followers on this site that seem to think he could devastate god with his supreme striking or submit a kangaroo with his under-rated BJJ.
What are you talking about? Everyone hates Bisbing on this site. He’s by far the most hated guy on a winning streak since Diego Sanchez. I enjoy watching him fight though, haters should just stop watching or atleast stop posting about the guy.
by BLOodyMEss on Aug 22, 2007 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Its better to be a big Middleweight than a small Light Heavyweight… I think this is a good move for Bisping
by oskarbravo on Aug 22, 2007 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wrong Nakamura mentioned in this article.
by derrick on Aug 22, 2007 2:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i can see it now, in his quest for the 185 title bisping will fight only the best…..Bisping vs Leben ufc 70something.
by RoB on Aug 22, 2007 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wasn’t the fight between Gomi and Diaz in Pride. That was ruled no contest for weed. I would think they would test for juice if they test for weed. I can’t remember if that was pride or not. Somebody set me straight?
by James on Aug 22, 2007 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wrong Nakamura mentioned in this article.
Word, thanks.
by UFCmania on Aug 22, 2007 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he has no chance to be champ in any of the weight classes
by raf on Aug 22, 2007 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that once Bisping actually left England to come train in the US, he started to notice a lot of things. He may have been the best fighter over in his country, but over in America, I don’t think so. ESPECIALLY since fighters from all over the world come to the UFC and the U.S. to fight. I have yet to hear of a fighter leave the UFC to join a British MMA Organization. He then realized that you can only be as good as your training partner. So he must have decided to train with some of the UFC’s ‘top talent’. Early on in his venture of training with the ‘top talent’, he comes across Big Bear where he trains with Rampage. Bisping straight up looks like a little boy standing next to Rampage. There is nothing that Bisping can do to Rampage that hasn’t already seen and weathered the storm. Bisping knows that if he ever stepped into the octagon with Rampage, that he would get owned. Bisping trained with Rampage and realized what the LHW division is all about. If two fighters that can destroy Rampage just entered the UFC LHW division (Shogun and Wandi of course), why in the world would Bisping think he can be champ at 205.
Any disagreements ? Anyone with sense in the U.S. that is….
I love he last sentence Kevin, and I agree with just about everything except I must disagree with saying that Bisping wouldn’t have a shot against Forrest or Tito. Bisping vs Forrest is a dream match up that will never happen. I actually think that he can beat Tito Ortiz. Tito is very vulnerable to crisp strikers. If Rashad, an undersized LHW can fight Tito to a draw, then Bisping can at least do the same, in my opinion of course.
by ViolentMike on Aug 22, 2007 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wasn’t the fight between Gomi and Diaz in Pride. That was ruled no contest for weed. I would think they would test for juice if they test for weed. I can’t remember if that was pride or not. Somebody set me straight?
It was at the last Pride event, 33-The Second Coming.
by i bread on Aug 22, 2007 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m really happy to see this news. I actually really like Bisping but like many of you I think he’s outclassed in LHW. MDLWT would be much better for his frame and his career, in my opinion. I don’t think it’s a matter of whether he can lose the weight. Of course he can.
When I saw Denis Kang (face to face, not at a distance) at Dynamite in LA, that guy was huge. I swear, even his back had cleavage. The dude was walking around at like 215 or something. If he can cut from there to 185, Bisping can too. Plus, MDLWT’s aren’t anything to joke about. Henderson, Kang (if he ever fucking signs!), Silva, Franklin… this division has a lot of potential, and The Count isn’t going to have an easy time in it but he’s got a better shot than as a LHW.
Bisping must now be feeling like a first year Harvard student. In his former school he was a bad-ass, but in Harvard he’s just an average Joe trying to survive.
No one likes feeling hungry and thirsty, but deal with it Bisping.
by Doug on Aug 22, 2007 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Violent Mike,
We’ll come to the Tito-Bisping conversation again after Ortiz-Evans II. Although Tito is an “old” 31, he is 31 none the less and I think he may be able to put on a ground and pound clinic, or at least get enough take downs on Bisping that would warrant a DVD titles “Takedowns by Tito Ortiz”. A ton of guys who out strike Tito but I would imagine he is smart enough to not fool around with a young swing for the fences kind of Bisping with AVERAGE takedown defense.
by Kevin Kelly on Aug 22, 2007 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he has no chance to be champ in any of the weight classes
I dont agree with that.
Im all for bisping whatever he does.. Hes an exciting fighter to watch and he gets better every fight. Ive been watchin this guy fight since back in cage rage. Hes gonna smoke Matt Hamill in seconds.
by Sour Diesel on Aug 22, 2007 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kevin,
OK. I can’t argue that. Tito is the oldest 31 year old walking this earth. Rashad was able to hang with Tito because he has great wrestling. That is probably Bisping’s weakest aspect of his game. But Forrest was also able to hold his own against Tito, and you will never hear Forrest brag about his wrestling.
by ViolentMike on Aug 22, 2007 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tito-Forrest should have been a draw IMO (2nd & 3rd rounds to Forrest, 1st round 10-8 domination for Tito), and were it not for Tito’s rampant cheating, Rashad would have pounded him out in the second round. Tito has not had a notable and non-controversial win in years. I think Bisping would beat him if they fought any time soon.
by PW on Aug 22, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kevin, please go to the bottom of the thread with the Tim Sylvia/Vera promo poster. I think I got in trouble because I used your name.
by ViolentMike on Aug 22, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“BISBINGisaMIDDLEweight..
Aug 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm Quote this comment
I told you ….
No Shame, its not like hes lost at LHW and then moved down ,Ala Mike Swick or numerous other fighters… "
He has not lost yet because he is the Golden Boy of the UK and the UFC hasn’t ALLOWED him to fight anyone where he could lose. Elvis Sinosec nearly crippled Dana White’s plan to take over Europe, and Mr. White knows that this kind of stuff just cannot occur. Too much money to lose with a Bisping defeat.
100% wheter this is a rumor or not, it makes zero sense for Bisping to stay at 205lb. because he cannot ever win the title there … EVER !!! Bisping nut huggers cannot dispute this.
Quinton Jackson is young and will be around awhile as are the following whom Bisping cannot defeat,
1. Shogun
2. Silva
3. Griffen
4. Ortiz
You may even make a case that Bisping has no shot against Liddell while Chuck fights for another 1-2 years and he probably would get whooped by Machida and Alexander.
So in closing, the move to 185 can only help.
Any disagreements ? Anyone with sense in the U.S. that is….
I don’t think Bisping can win the title anytime soon. However, fighters improve, and Bisping has shown lots of potential. He’s not a contender right now, but I think he very well could be within a few years.
by IceMuncher on Aug 22, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bonnar vs Bisbing or Griffin vs Bisbing would be close fights. I think Rashad would have a much better chance of beating Bisbing, but the 2 fights above r pretty close.
by i bread on Aug 22, 2007 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hes gonna smoke Matt Hamill in seconds.
HAMILL HATER!!! HAMILL HATER!!!…lol, just kidding. But I got 2 go against ya. If I’m wrong, I’ll listen closer to u next time!
by i bread on Aug 22, 2007 4:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Violent Mike,
We’ll come to the Tito-Bisping conversation again after Ortiz-Evans II. Although Tito is an “old” 31, he is 31 none the less and I think he may be able to put on a ground and pound clinic, or at least get enough take downs on Bisping that would warrant a DVD titles “Takedowns by Tito Ortiz”. A ton of guys who out strike Tito but I would imagine he is smart enough to not fool around with a young swing for the fences kind of Bisping with AVERAGE takedown defense.
Hey Kev Kelly,being from the UK I support Bisping fully and am very interested to see how he progresses in his fighting career,I thought I had seen all his fights but you obviously know somthing that I dont,where do you get your facts to bad mouth Bisping so much,as far as I can figure hes only been in the sport for a couple of years and has demolished everyone hes faced,which of his fights have you taken these ideas from?
by mcanena on Aug 22, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really enjoy watching Bisping fight. He is very entertaining and has a world of potential and a very marketable personality.
Yes, I do believe he would beat Tito.
On thee other hand, I would also like to c him drop to 185, because lets be honest he is small for 205. If he can make the cut to 185 he would be a huge 185. There is nothing wrong wit dropping in weight classes. Rich Franklin started out at 205, then he moved down to 185 when he realized he could domiinate the division.
If the middle weight division gets these fighters, it could be a good division again:
Dan Henderson
Bisping
Paula Filho
matt lindland (highly unlikely)
Rich Franklin (if he can get over his mental hurddles)
Okami
Misaki
Have a middle weight TUF season.
and this division could be good again
by john on Aug 22, 2007 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well I thought he had a trial attempt at cutting the weight and he felt he couldn’t fight his best but he must have had a rethink.
I think he fought weighing 199lbs in Cage Rage and that was without cutting a lot so maybe he can.
by RobH86 on Aug 22, 2007 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
James i agree with you 100% and i saw that video, it was amazing.
by RT on Aug 22, 2007 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bisping is a big guy you know,if you where to see him in life you would probably change your mind that he has to drop down to 185.
He is 6,2 and he does not look bad at 205,I thought against Sinosic he looked in great shape,have you seen Shoguns latest picture on his profile on the UFC site,he looks terible,since he has stopped using the steroids his body has gone in terible shape,he hasnt got a bit of muscle leff just that realy soft fat that people get when they give up the juice,I have a bad bad feeling that the fact that he now has to go through drug testing,that ane the change of rules,Shogun may never be the same again and he could be a huge disapointment for his fans,unfortunatly that is very likly to be the case.
by mcanena on Aug 23, 2007 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what nobody seems to realize is that Shogun has fought in the US before using the unified rules, particularly at PRIDE 33, where Nick Diaz beat Gomi. Nick Diaz got busted for having pot in his sytem after the fight, so appearantly PRIDE fighters have been tested in the past..
by ViolentMike on Aug 23, 2007 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
McCenna: im not gonna get in a pissing match wit u, but I think u will be dead wrong. In his octagon Debut, Shogun will be facing a better fighter (Forrest)then any other Pride guy has faced in his octagon debut (with the exception of Hendo). I also expect him to have the best octagon debut of any pride fighter since Anderson Silva jumped on the scene and destroyed Leiben.
For the fans who don’t know, Shogun his the 205 lb version of Anderson Silva. No proof of him ever taking roids. To say something like that, without proof is very Sherdogish! I dont know how the Laws r in England, but in the USA we believe in this little concept called “guilty till proven innicent”.
Lets not discredit a fighter just because of speculation.
I have no knowledge of Shogun ever testing positive for roids, I may be wrong.
Has anyone on this site ever heard steriod accusations about Shogun" If so please inform me, because right now, Im not nuying that!
by john on Aug 23, 2007 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t get the whole “Wandi & Shogun” were on ’roids crap. Who said this? Probably the trainer of a fighter that those two left in a heap or hanging in the ropes of a Pride ring.
by AaronW on Aug 23, 2007 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
McCenna: im not gonna get in a pissing match wit u, but I think u will be dead wrong. In his octagon Debut, Shogun will be facing a better fighter (Forrest)then any other Pride guy has faced in his octagon debut (with the exception of Hendo). I also expect him to have the best octagon debut of any pride fighter since Anderson Silva jumped on the scene and destroyed Leiben.
For the fans who don’t know, Shogun his the 205 lb version of Anderson Silva. No proof of him ever taking roids. To say something like that, without proof is very Sherdogish! I dont know how the Laws r in England, but in the USA we believe in this little concept called “guilty till proven innicent”.
Lets not discredit a fighter just because of speculation.
I have no knowledge of Shogun ever testing positive for roids, I may be wrong.
Has anyone on this site ever heard steriod accusations about Shogun" If so please inform me, because right now, Im not nuying that!
It was Juanito, who I think was Rampage’s ex trainer. He’s just pissed that Shogun humiliated Rampage. Wandi destroyed him twice too. Shogun has never even been that big of a guy muscle wise, I really doubt he was on roids.
by AaronW on Aug 23, 2007 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh and Shogun and Wandi were both tested for the Pride events in Nevada and both were clean. Shogun destroyed his opponent while Wandi lost to Henderson, but was supposedly suffering from strep.
by AaronW on Aug 23, 2007 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It was Juanito, who I think was Rampage’s ex trainer. He’s just pissed that Shogun humiliated Rampage. Wandi destroyed him twice too. Shogun has never even been that big of a guy muscle wise, I really doubt he was on roids
WOW, do you two read anything on this site? Just yesterday, there was an article posted about some writer checking on on Rampage’s training camp, and then Henderson’s. While at Rampage’s, he was talking to Rampage’s CURRENT trainer, Juanito Ibarra who said that ‘Rampage lost to Shogun and Wandi over in Japan, where they don’t to post fight drug testing. If Rampage was to fight them over here, it would be a different story.’ I just paraphrased there, I didn’t copy/paste the exact quote. Just went from memory.
by ViolentMike on Aug 23, 2007 3:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
WOW, do you two read anything on this site?
Not really.
I wasn’t sure so I said I think it was instead of acting like I knew for sure. Chill out.
by AaronW on Aug 23, 2007 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
WOW, do you two read anything on this site? Just yesterday, there was an article posted about some writer checking on on Rampage’s training camp, and then Henderson’s. While at Rampage’s, he was talking to Rampage’s CURRENT trainer, Juanito Ibarra who said that ‘Rampage lost to Shogun and Wandi over in Japan, where they don’t to post fight drug testing. If Rampage was to fight them over here, it would be a different story.’ I just paraphrased there, I didn’t copy/paste the exact quote. Just went from memory.
My bad, That is probably the 1st post that I have ever skipped over. So basically there is no proof of shogun n Wandy taking roids.
by john on Aug 24, 2007 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey John,I wasnt making that up as you probably know now about the roids,I know how good Shogun was in PRIDE but I am not that confident he is just gonna destroy all at LH,and I think he may struggle at first adapting to the new rules,any other time I would agree Shogun would absolutly destroy Forrest but I realy do think Forrest has a real chance if he can exploit the fact that Shogun is new to the cage and the crowd,rules everything,this is one fight I realy wouldnt be suprised if there was an upset.
Also I think Bisping looks better shape at 205 then Shogun,have you seen his pic on ufc.com? he does not look right to me,look at that pic and then look back at older pics from PRIDE weigh ins and you will see what I mean.
by mcanena on Aug 24, 2007 7:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the Bisping hype is just that… but he would fit REALLY well at 185. World Champ? Im doubtful… but better then he is in the 205 arena? Sure…
by Luppers on Aug 27, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Having lived in London for a long time, I’m used to seeing 3rd rate fighters hyped up until they fight actual contenders from the rest of the planet, mainly from the US and Eastern Europe. Personally, I like Michael Bisping and he’s got a great attitude. But, he’s just like the others that fight great on the Isles and choke abroad.
He got his butt kicked. He was handed a decision since he was hometown. Now he’s going to drop weight before he has to fight again…god forbid in a place that is actually sanctioned.
Usually I pissed when I see judges hand a fight to someone who clearly lost (I still sting over Chavez’s decision in Mexico over SweetPea Whittaker). But in this case, it was so clearly lopsided, it doesn’t really sting, it’s just ridiculous. Like an old Monty Python skit.
It is, however, to see the UFC becoming more like Boxing and all the BS that comes with it.
by Peter on Sep 14, 2007 12:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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