Wanderlei Silva Offers His Predictions for Belfort vs. Bisping

MMA legend Wanderlei Silva has decided to provide his two cents on the upcoming UFC on FX 7 main event, a middleweight bout between Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort.

Silva has in-Octagon experience with each of the two combatants who will slug it out this Jan. 19, owning a 2010 victory over Bisping and a loss to Belfort that comes from all the way back in 1998.

UFC on FX 7's 185-pound showdown has the distinct feel of a title eliminator—Bisping on the brink of a shot and Belfort not far behind.

"The Axe Murderer" recently spoke with Sherdog to shed a little light on how this meaningful contest might play out:

"

It is a very well-matched fight. I think Belfort has all the tools to knock out Bisping in a two-round fight. If it goes three to five rounds, I think Bisping swallows Vitor. One of the things about Vitor is that he is very fast – he lands a lot of blows in succession, so he may get tired. And the Englishman talks a lot, but he also trains a lot, so he will be prepared

"

There seems to be a lot of wisdom in the prediction Silva provides, given Bisping's sterling reputation as a cardio machine and Belfort's as a sort of blitzkrieg expert.

But even with the fight outline Silva gives, we're still left wondering whether Belfort's early onslaught will be enough to put away his foe or if Bisping will weather the storm and take the bout later on.

It's certainly an interesting matchup in terms of style and how each man will attempt to take away a W. 

How do you think it will play out? Will it be Bisping's tempered persistence or Belfort's explosiveness that seals the deal? 

Leave it in the comments.