UFC Quick Quote: Chris Leben might want to rethink his UFC 89 gameplan for Michael Bisping

I like Bisping. His speed will play a big roll in this fight. I think Bisping’s chin is way under rated. I have seen him take shots from heavy hitters like THE BEAST epstien. I am a fan of Leben’s as well and I think he is a very much improved fighter but I think highly of Bisping as a middleweight. speed and a good stick and move game plan should enable Bisping to get the decision win. of course i am aware that Bisping will take a beating in the process but I think in the end Bisping wins a decision.

Its kinda funny how everyone considers this to be such a big fight for Bisping and his career. Yes, he is the Main Event, but he is still fighting against Chris Leben. Chris has not been a in the Top 10 of the MW division since the arrival of Anderson Silva. I am a big fan of Leben and will really be pulling for him in this fight as always, but even if Bisping is able to beat Leben, does that really mean that Bisping has truely arrived, when he has still yet to face a Top 10 opponent. So many people on this site are very quick to diss Leben at every chance they get and say how much he sucks and that he doesn’t deserve to be in the UFC (I disagree with all), yet if Bisping beats him, he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Basically, if Bisping wins he will be held on this pedastal and be no more than 1 fight away from a title shot when in reality, there are MANY fighters ahead of him. Hendo, Marquardt, Kampmann, Leites, Patrick Cote, Ricardo Almeida, Yushin Okami, should I continue???

Yet, if Leben wins, everyone will just say that Bisping has always been overhyped and Chris proved it. And he will pretty much stay where he is in the division

If bisping gets a title shot after just this and one more win im gonna flip. neither of these guys should be anywhere in the title picture at this point. good call VM

John you’re right. He took a few sledgehammers to the dome from Epstein. Savage fights.

Still Leben could KO Mike but I don’t see it. I see Bisping picking him apart on the feet then dumping him on his back and g’n’p Leben from the side. He won’t even play in Leben’s guard it’s not his style. He’ll toss the legs to the side and drop some bombs.

I think Leben might catch him once and Bisping will weather it. All that being said, what’s the point in predicting it, things often don’t work out the way you foresee them, especially in mma. Should be entertainig anyways.

I agree with your entire post VM.

I actually think Leben is under rated. I believe he has gotten much better since Silva TORCHEd him. Leben is IMO a very tough gatekeeper because until he decides to become a “SMART” fighter, he wont ever be able to put together an imoressive winning streak to get him a title shot, but he is a very tough opponent for anyone not named Silva. Problem is he has the “cabbage syndrome” at times. Meaning he realies on his sturdy chin and leaves himself open to take big shots while he tries to throw a BOMB. Most of the time his chin withstands the blow and he isnted KO’ed but taking those shots till take a little something out of you. I think Bisping is skilled in every facet of the game, but until he fights SMART and implements gameplans t hat he actually sticks to, he will never be a contender. That why I look at Bisping as a solid gatekeeper for that division. Kind of like McDonald. They ar etough opponents for most but not championship material.

Bisping has the smarts and “marketability” that gives him a shot a tiitle shot. He beats Leben and thats 3-0 at middelweight. I know the 1st 2 wins were over cans, but beat Bisping and then beat a top 10 fighter or 2 and you know that the UFC will give The Count a title shot a little premature (like Forrest) in England.

We know what we are getting with Leben. But we dont know what we are getting with Bisping. He is always getting better and he has looked so good at middleweight (although against cans), that we havent been really able to analyze his game. But the potential is atleast there for Bisping to be a force in the division.

Lets say he steamrolls leben, we would then have to take him serious.

If he FINISHES Leben, then he is finally worthy of the attention he has been getting. Otherwise, the UFC did a great job setting up the smoke and mirrors for people to think that Bisping was legit to begin with.

I agree and I disagree. Depends on which Leben shows up to fight. If the intelligent Leben (not the exciting one) shows up he should be hard for Bisping to finish. But if the wild Leben shows up, Bisping will need t finish him to prove he is the real deal.

I think Bisping was very much IN the Rashad fight, and I really dont think Leben couuld have hung with Rashad like that. I wont be surprised if Bisping finishes Leben, but ifg i had to bet on it I say Bisping via decision.

To a degree, the smoke and mirrors have been in affect with Bisping (thus far), cant argue with that. 1st time we get to se ehim without the blinders….should be interesting!

you really cant analyze how bisping will do in MW division until after this fight…yeah he looked real good in his last two MW Fights..but they were againts very low ranking MW’s you cant say for sure just yet you know..this fight will determine how he does in the MW division…bisping has better boxing but not the KO power leben or silva have…reme,ber peeps silva hit him about 20 to 30 real good times before leben was floored completely…while bising was shooken by hamill and floored by sinosic (both do hit hard but no KO power) bisping is talking mad if he thinks he can eat 20 of lebens hooks or upper cuts or overhands. its still hard to say who would win..leben has very underrated jits game while bisping has a solid wrestling base. leben striking has become a whole lot more crisper while bisping has the added weight power to his striking from being a 205er most of his career…but i always like lebens style of in your face fighting.

QUICK 4:20 QUESTION: Who got the scoop on the 4 o’clock press conference? First one to post it wins …….. nothing besides bragging rights

Couture vs. Lesnar Nov 15
Couture 3 fight deal, winner fights winner of Mir/Nog

Agreed,I think Lutter would tap Bisping out in the 1st round.

yeah but he wanted it vice versa as well. im just saying him hitting leben 20 times probably wont do it..unless he hits like silva

Lorenzo helping him run the business is probably what got couture back ,and will make the UFC even bigger.

Actually, “The Truth” was sooo late, that he doesn’t even realize that the conference call got pushed back to 4 pm, NOT at 3 pm Eastern.

BW, you are probably right aBOUT bISPING BEING lEBEN’S toughest opponent since Silva. Should be an interesting fight.

I got the COUNT!

me too.

Cote is overrated.