Michael Bisping Says Chael Sonnen Will Defeat Anderson Silva at UFC 148

Michael Bisping says Chael Sonnen's confidence and style will be the overriding factors in defeating Anderson Silva when the pair lock horns in the main event of UFC 148.

From Bisping, originally reported by Fiveouncesopain.com:

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"As well all know, styles make fights, and Chael Sonnen's style as a fighter is a bad recipe for Anderson Silva," began Bisping on this week's episode of UFC Tonight.

"You have to be a madman to bet against Anderson Silva. The guy continues to win fights and every time he does it, it looks like something out of a video game," he continued. "But if you look at the previous fight, Chael did very, very well for a long time. I believe the fact he did so well for so long is going to give Chael a lot of confidence. He's gonna come into this fight very confident and that's a big thing in a fight. Confidence is a huge thing. And I think it's a bad style match-up and with the confidence I think Chael gets it done."

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Back at UFC on FOX 2, "The Count" and "Uncle Chael" faced off in an eliminator bout to determine who would vie for Silva's 185-pound crown. In a closely contested fight, it was the Oregon native who took the honors; that said, some observers believed Bisping just about edged it and should've taken home the decision.

With regards to his analysis of Silva and Sonnen's first encounter at UFC 117, Bisping is right—styles do make fights, and the confidence garnered from that first meeting should, in all honesty, stand the 35-year-old in good stead.

Prior to succumbing to a triangle-armbar submission in the final frame of the aforementioned meeting, Sonnen had taken Silva down at will and even out struck the consummate striker, to boot.

Nevertheless, that bout took place nearly two years ago. Sonnen tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following the match and, as a consequence, received a 12-month ban (later reduced to six months on appeal).

Furthermore, his performance against Bisping (his last outing) was way below par. In contrast, Silva's last fight was an impressive stoppage of Yushin Okami.

With that in mind, it's really hard to make a case for Sonnen (27-11- MMA, 6-4 UFC) usurping "The Spider's" title, especially with regards to his confidence going into the fight. However, style-wise, his wrestling pedigree will pose problems for Silva.

UFC 148 is scheduled for July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

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