185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Wanderlei Silva
Odds: (+130 Bisping / -160 Silva) at Sportsbook.com
In the semi-main event, MMA legend Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva makes his first ever appearance at Middleweight, where he will take on Ultimate Fighter winner and top contender Michael “The Count” Bisping. Wanderlei is at the tail end of his career, but has still shown flashes of the offensive brilliance that made him one of the most feared and respected fighters in the world. Bisping, for his part, is coming off a dominant victory over Denis Kang and has cemented himself as a top figure in the 185 pound scene.
There is no fighter on Earth with a highlight reel to match Wanderlei Silva’s. A Muay Thai wrecking machine, Silva’s power, technique, and aggression made him one of the most dominant Light Heavyweights on the planet, with a slew of brutal wins against top competition. Unfortunately, years of brutal fights and fighting above his weight have caught up with him, and he is not the same unstoppable freak he was at his prime. Even so, he is a powerful striker who is great from the clinch and has an incredibly underrated jiu-jitsu game. He may have lost a step, but he hasn’t lost any of his ruthless aggression, and he has the skills to bulldoze Bisping out of the gate if he isn’t careful. A start like he had against Kang could prove Bisping’s end against Wanderlei’s striking and pressure.
Bisping, who captured championships in Cage Warriors and Cage Rage before winning the Ultimate Fighter Season Three title, has become one of the most successful fighters in UFC, with his only two losses coming to former champions in Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. Originally a kickboxer and jiu jitsu artist, Bisping still has those skills but has added a very effective wrestling and ground and pound attack to his game, making him a very dangerous and well-rounded opponent. The most important thing for Bisping in this fight is going to be his striking defense. He has the skills to hurt Wanderlei on the feet, to take him down, and to hurt him on the mat, but he is a notoriously slow starter and if he gets clipped like he did against Kang, Wanderlei has the kind of style that could easily swarm him under and hand him his third career loss.
I think Bisping’s wrestling is going to be a deciding factor, which is interesting since Bisping never wrestled a day in his life before becoming an MMA fighter. His skills have grown leaps and bounds, though, and he has developed into a deadly ground and pound fighter with a very active top game. If this turns into a boxing match, he may will beat Silva on the feet, but if Silva pushes the pace too hard, Bisping has the skills to take him down. I expect him to do just that eventually, and to put on another ground and pound clinic to earn a T/KO victory.
Prediction: Michael “The Count” Bisping via second round T/KO.
- Bet on Bisping @+130 underdog for the win.
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