UFC on FX7: Simulating Michael Bisping vs. Vitor Belfort with UFC Undisputed 3

The card for UFC on FX 7 is pretty impressive for a non-pay-per-view event. It is highlighted by a high-stakes middleweight clash between Michael "The Count" Bisping and Brazilian MMA legend, "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort.

Many have weighed in with predictions: B/R's Hunter Homistek, and Chael Sonnen (via The Telegraph) believe "The Count" will earn his title shot in the clash to determine the No. 1 contender to Anderson Silva's middleweight crown.

I happen to agree, but as usual, I thought it would be fun to see what the premier UFC simulation video game would predict.

THQ won't be producing UFC games moving forward, (EA Sports and the UFC agreed to a multi-year licensing deal in June, per MMA Junkie) but for now, UFC Undisputed 3 is still the most current sim-style MMA game available.

Apparently, Bisping is the favorite of man and machine.

In the simulation, he out-boxed and out-grappled the popular Brazilian en route to a third-round knockout. Belfort was dazed on more than one occasion in the simulation before he was put to sleep in the third.

The simulated fight was pretty exciting, and Bisping was in control for most of it.

You may notice, the simulation was done for only three rounds—which isn't on par with the five-round main event standards—but a hard left hook from "The Count" made the round specification a moot point. 

Both men looked like they had been in a fight afterwards, but Belfort was bloodied a bit more, and surprisingly, Bisping controlled him on the ground. 

Could this be an example of the game underestimating Belfort's grappling skills? We'll probably find that out on Saturday night when the men meet in real life.

I'm not sure Bisping will knock out Belfort on Saturday, but a unanimous decision victory would still get the job done for him.

Check out UFC on FX 7 live on Saturday, January 19 at 9 PM ET.

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