It is a fairly well known fact that Dana White has been using Michael Bisping to build his UK business. While this is true, Dana is always looking for new talent to replace the old.
For this purpose, and to get some of his proverbial eggs out of Bisping's basket, Dana staged a US vs. UK Ultimate Fighter show.
Despite the fact that there has not been a rivalry between the United States and Great Britain since the early 1800's, Dana managed to create one to boost his show and therefore his business in the United Kingdom.
Now instead of just Michael Bisping, he had a slew of new British fighters to market! Plenty of tomato cans to feed them as well. Enter Dan Hardy.
Ok wait one second here, did Hardy say something to make Dana angry? The question is raised because at UFC 105 he is going to get the garbage beaten out of him by Mike Swick. Sorry Dan—no tomato can for you. Looks like Hardy is in for a short career.
As for Michael, Dana made a big mistake. In choosing Danis Kang to fight Michael, he has displayed his lack of knowledge regarding the sport he so cherishes. It also exposes his desire to keep Bisping on the payroll a little longer. Certainly longer than Dan Hardy. Unfortunately for Dana, Denis Kang is no tomato can and Bisping is going to pay the price.
Glancing at Kang's record one might not be too impressed. Certainly Kang has fought in a prodigious number of events, winning 32 of 46 fights. The problem is that nobody has heard of most of his opponents.
The big fights that he has managed to get vs. Gregard and Alan Belcher resulted in disappointing losses. To his credit he was able to defeat Andrei Semenov, Marvin Eastman, and Akihiro Gono in spirited contests. So is he a can or not?
Most of the buzz circling around MMA circles seems to favor Kang. By Far. While this may certainly be the case it is by no means a certainty. Kang will have to finish Bisping or else face the notoriously biased English judges.
The problem with this fact is the manner in which Bisping fights (some call it running away).The casual nature of Kang's approach to events like such as these, Hints at an intentional attempt to arrange a fight that would go the distance. Only a very aggressive approach by Kang will give him the win. That he is aware of this fact, there is little doubt.
Should a very alert, aggressive, and determined Kang show up to fight Michael Bisping, it could result in another big dent in the UFC's UK marketing plan.
Since Hardy is almost certain to lose, you have to wonder what Dana was thinking when he told Joe Silva to pick this matchup for Bisping. Perhaps Dana knows something that no one else does.
More likely, however, it was a mistake, brought on by too much focus on money and not enough on the sport.
If Dana wanted a can well he got one. Unfortunately, for Dana, it looks like a can of Chunky. The soup that eats like a meal.
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