How come the equation keeps working out though? All i’ve seen is dudes tapping like there is no tomorrow against maia. Soon bisping or nate will join the long list of tap-ees.

Also Hendo beats him up in the clinch then takedown gnp finish. Bisping is overrated like crazy.

Bisping will use the same gameplan against Chris Leben. Leben and Hendo are basically the same fighter in purely the stand up. Both have great KO power, but not very technical. And I think Bisping will win on that. I think Hendo wont be smart enough to use the takedown, and he may clinch, but not enough to win the fight.

On the other side, this fight is alot like Hendo’s fight against Franklin. Franklin was the better technical and all around fighter, but Hendo overwhelmed him in the clinch/wrestling.

Its a tough fight to call, but I’ll go with the more technical, younger and seemingly hungier fighter in Bisping

To add, Bisping’s wrestling has improved the most out of MMA outside of GSP. Thats a bold statement, and debatable, but his wrestling has vastly improved.

And Bisping will tap to Maia in the first round.

We can agree to disagree on Maia, He has great BJJ thats not in doubt but what else does he have?

I dont think Bispings overrated, How can he be overrated? he isnt in the top ten and he is almost universaly written off in evry fight he has by “MMA Experts” and fans alike (particularly in the US).

Like I said, regardless of what you think of bisping he has proven enough that he shouldn’t be written off for any fight.

As for henderson, I genuinely dont understand what people are talking about. I never saw him fight in pride Ive only seen him fight in the UFC and to be honest he didn’t blow me away.

In fighting your only as good as your last fight, how many fights has he had in the UFC now? can you honestly say hes been a standout in any of them.

Im sticking with Bisping for this fight, I keep on getting told that fighter is going to KTFO Bisping and it still hasn’t happened.

I think we are well past the point of bisping being “Exposed” as a bad fighter. he may lose this fight but like it/him or not bisping can fight.

Confused-

I mostly agree with you. I don’t think Bisping is overrated, but I think he was given a few easy fights. I mean, for a TUF winner, and a guy whose only loss so far has been to Rashad Evans, he should have had tougher fights than weak Chainsaw McCarthy and Jason Day. He could’ve fought MacDonald, or Kampmann instead, but for some reason he got cans. I know he doesn’t pick his opponents, and its disrespectful to turn down guys because you think you are above them, so I’m not upset with him, just his opponents. But thats the only problem I have with Bisping. He proved me wrong against Leben though, and I’m going with him here.

And on Maia, hes is relatively one-dimensional, in just jits, but so far its worked for him. He recognized that a long time ago, and has been training with Wanderlei, so hes putting in the effort. Remember, hes only got like 10 fights so hes still VERY young in the sport.

Agreed.

I dont think that bisping has fought the standard of fighter he should be fighting either, only Rashad and Leben and he performed well in both fights.

McCarthy was his Middleweight freebie for changing division and Day remember was a late replacement for Leben who got jail time. I think the UFC was suprised at the interest generated by the prospect of the Leben fight and had no option but to rearange it. I would have liked to see bisping fight more established Middleweights but TuF came along and now we get to see him against Henderson (a test atlast).

Maia can and will only get better but Id like to see him survive 3 or 4 minutes of pressure from strikes and still come back and win. when your BJJ is that good though you can get away with being “one dimensional”..lol

synyster: great posts…you too Confused!

It pisses me off to see all the hate Bisping gets. He is a very entertaining fighter who I would put probably in the top 7 of last years most improved fighters.

I also think that Bisping will just recycle the strategy that he used against Leben, and use it to out point Hendo in a decision. Bispings speed and footwork will be too much to handle!

Bisping’s chin is very under rated. I havent really ever even seen him rocked, let alone Ko’ed…Hendo’s is Legendary of course…but Hendo was ROCKED against Anderson, Bisping has never been staggered!

Should be a great fight, but I will be very surprised if Bisping loses. I think its his fight to win, and as a big underdog, I will definitely be betting some cash on Bisping!

wait til you guys see how much Maia will improve by 2010! He trains his striking with wanderlei…Nuff Said! I think as impressive as Maia has been, he still hasnt reached his comfort zone….his striking isnt as bad as many of the other ju jitsu legends that have crossed over to mma. For example, I am a big fan of almeida, but Maia’s striking is all ready light years ahead of guys like aoki, almeida, Lister, Jermey Horn, Galvao, palhares and probably even Jacre….

Bisping v. Maia would be a very interesting fight, and to me, it would be on eof the most intruiging match ups of the year. After Bisping wins this fight, no doubt he will face Maia next. I dont think the uFC wants to match up Maia against Marquardt!

Everybody gives him crap for fighting Day, if you all remember, Day was a last minuted stand in for Leben when he had to go to jail for a month. Then they gave him Leben when Leben was ready. You can’t hold that over somebodies head that they had to fight a can last minute, how many big name people you think would’ve stepped up to take that fight?

Bisping Vs Maia would be a great fight to watch at this point, Bisping’s stand up is crisp fast and accurate…judges love that but he has almost been caught out with submission holds in the past but has allways managed to power out of them even at LHW so his size would give him an advantage too, Maia has crazy jj skills and he can sink the holds in fast too..and that counts for alot, he also upended sonnen to get him on the deck so he can get people down…

Id love to see this fight.

I kinda agree with bisping though if it stays standing Bisping wins on the ground you have to give it to Maia but in all his fights when bisping gets taken down only one thing happens…..he gets back up.

Prediction – Bisping TKO strikes

Remember its allready confirmed (by bisping anyway)that barring injury the winner of Hendo/Bisping fights Silva next.

So if this fight happens it would be next year at the earliest (Boooo)

Yeah, there is actually a lot of 185 fights that I’d love to see happen. It wasn’t too long ago that 185 was the retarded weight class with no outstanding matchups.

Like you said, it would have to be awhile for this to happen, but if Bisping loses to Hendo or Silva, he could fight Maia as his next fight and get right back into contention. If Maia wins or loses vs Marquardt, then he could fight Bisping to get a title shot or to see who stays contender. So it could be a long shot away, or be real soon.

That trip/throw/takedown he had a Sonnen right into the triangle mount was beautiful. And as naturalist says below, Sonnen greco wrestling skills are world class – I believe he was an Olympic alternate.

WB: It was one of the best takedown transitions that I have ever seen. THat was a masterful takedown that Maia displayed!

he doesnt have world class takedowns say what you want, but there not good enough to champ. Someone with good takedown defense, and good standup will beat Maia I would bet money on it every time

i’m glad there’s some people who will still keep betting ( and losing) against Maia. If it wasn’t for people like you, my bets on Maia wouldn’t be nearly as profitable. Bisping will hit the mat and tap faster than your barkeep can pour you a pint.

I think the problem is judging him compared to wrestling style takedowns which are completely different to BJJ takedowns. The idea is to get people into vulnerable positions to secure a submission, which is exactly what Maia does. It is a lot more effective for him as it gets him straight into the ideal positions to work the sub rather than wrestlers who take you down to initiate some good ol’ GnP.

The bottom line is very good wrestlers can utilise their takedowns to smash people on the ground and control position very well as much as a great BJJ guy can control someone while looking for the sub. It is two very different approaches for very different reasons which can both be equally effective.

The thing is there is probably noone better than Maia at getting the sub and I dont see Bisping stopping him either.

good post Ca$Z. Maia doesnt need wrestling takedowns…All he needs to do is pull guard, and then use one of his world class sweeps to get top position….Then again, his guard is extremely dangerous as well.

What happens when he fights someone who wont let him clinch, or get close enough to pull gaurd?

Then he will either clinch or pull guard anyway.

Henderson hasn’t impressed me in a long ass time

did no one watch henderson vs page???? he was amazing in that fight….and he was out weighed and against a better striker. Hendo is the man, he may not be as hungry or crazy as he was in Pride… but he is still a top dog at anything over 185lbs

bullwhip, who is your top 20 for MW if you say Bisping is not on the list. And lets keep it to UFC fighters only (which DOES NOT mean I feel UFC is the only relevant organization).

[Read: Bigmcmac did not see the Chuck Lidell fight.]