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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) put on quite the show in London, England last Saturday night (Feb. 27, 2016), as UFC Fight Night 84: "Silva vs Bisping" provided a wild evening of mixed martial arts (MMA) action from inside the O2 Arena.
In the main event of the evening, two legends battled it out in a wild and controversial 25-minute affair that earned both Michael Bisping and Anderson Silva $50,000 bonus checks for "Fight on the Night" (highlights here). In the end, Bisping earned the unanimous decision victory over "The Spider."
The co-main event featured an uninspiring unanimous decision victory from Gegard Mousasi, as he completely dominated Thales Leites from start to finish in typical nonchalant fashion.
With that quick recap of last night's marquee bouts, it's now time to play matchmaker with our "Next Matches To Make."
Winner: Michael Bisping
Who Should He Fight Next: Luke Rockhold or Chris Weidman
It has been long overdue, and now it is finally time for Michael Bisping to fight for UFC gold.
There will be a lot of people who disagree, but when you look at the Englishman's body of work, it is hard to deny that he deserves his opportunity.
Sure, Bisping failed to capitalize on numerous No. 1 contender fights during his decade-long UFC career, but it is hardly fair to say he was fighting on a level playing field in at least two of those fights.
"The Count" has been a perennial contender for 10 years, has the most victories in Middleweight division history at 14, has the second most victories in UFC history with 18, and just defeated the legendary Anderson Silva via decision to win his third straight fight.
While you may not agree with his most recent decision, or believe he deserves to leapfrog Yoel Romero or Jacare Souza, it is hard to discount what Bisping has meant to the sport of MMA and UFC over the last decade.
It would be a shame if Bisping never fought for a UFC title, and it is hard to imagine having him fight in a No.1 contender bout following a victory over "The Spider."
Let Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman settle their score, and then give Bisping the opportunity to fight for a UFC Championship.
Winner: Gegard Mousasi
Who Should He Fight Next: Vitor Belfort or Yoel Romero
Gegard Mousasi completely dominated Thales Leites in London, proving that he is still a major contender in the Middleweight division.
Unfortunately for him, his uninspiring decision victory won't have fight fans clamoring to see him fight again, which puts him in a precarious position.
Mousasi noted at the post-fight press conference (replay here) that he wanted a big name to get excited for, and even called out Vitor Belfort.
With "The Phenom" scheduled to fight Jacare Souza at UFC 198, it is unlikely Mousasi will get his wish.
Hopefully Yoel Romero will serve as an intriguing replacement.
Winner: Tom Breese
Who Should He Fight Next: Lorenz Larkin
Had Tom Breese earned another violent finish in London last night, I would have absolutely wanted to see him fight a top 15 contender.
With a unanimous decision victory over Keita Nakamura, Breese proved he still needs a bit more work before taking on the elite in the Welterweight division.
With that being said, I would love to see Breese take on Lorenz Larkin.
Winner: Brad Pickett
Who Should He Fight Next: Johnny Eduardo
It is very difficult to predict who Brad Pickett will or even should fight next.
The longtime ZUFFA veteran barely eked out a split decision victory against Francisco Rivera last night, and many believe it had to do with some hometown favoritism.
Regardless, "One Punch" can still put on a show, and the win put a pause on Pickett's retirement plans.
Obviously the Englishman is not going to fight any contenders, so hopefully UFC brass gives him an opponent willing to brawl.
Personally, I think Johnny Eduardo is a good fit.
For complete results from UFC Fight Night 84: "Silva vs. Bisping," including play-by-play updates click here.
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