UFC 127: Recapping Michael Bisping's Last Four Fights and His Week 7 Video Blog
Michael "The Count" Bisping (20-3, 10-3 UFC) will co-headline UFC 127 next Saturday night opposite of veteran middleweight, Jorge Rivera.
Bisping will be seeking his eleventh Octagon win and has progressed nicely since his days as a light heavyweight on the Ultimate Fighter Season 3.
On June 24, 2006, he defeated Josh Haynes to become the winner of TUF 3 and on February 27, 2011 he will try to take one step closer towards a title shot.
Over his last four fights, he is 3-1 with his lone loss coming at the hands of former Pride champion, Wanderlei Silva. His wins have come against Denis Kang (33-12-2, 2NC) Dan Miller (13-4-0, 1NC) and most recently Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3-0, 2NC).
A round by round description of the aformentioned four fights are provided in this slide with "The Counts" most recent video blog for UFC 127.
Bisping Defeats Denis Kang Via TKO at UFC 105
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The opening round started with Kang missing a right hand and Bisping catching a kick from his opponent that he would release. Bisping gets caught by a Kang right hand and hits the canvas where Kang would follow him and began to work briefly from side control before Bisping was able to gain half guard. Kang worked for a side choke, but Bisping defended well. The remainder of the round would see Bisping defending Kang's offense and scrambling to gain better positioning on the ground. Overall, a tough first round for "The Count", but he was able to keep his opponent from unleashing any major ground and pound.
Round two kicked off with a Bisping low kick followed by a Kang body shot, and a close miss on a head kick attempt by the Brit. Bisping flipped the script on his opponent and took the fight to the mat where he would make him eat strikes from top position. Kang managed to return to his feet but looked badly winded and busted up with a bloody nose. Bisping would send Kang back down to the canvas and deliver multiple shots that would go unanswered that included punches and knees to the body. Failing to defend himself from the barrage of strikes that Bisping was delivering to his head and body, Kang was unable to continue and the referee put a stop to the fight.
A shaky first round saw Bisping in working from the bottom and showing that he can survive and take minimal damage. That allowed him to make it to the second round where the fight was a different story. Bisping took Kang to the mat and punished him with strikes that went unanswered and secured the TKO victory for "The Count".
Silva Defeats Bisping In a Close Decision at UFC 110
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Round one saw both Silva and Bisping missing low kicks early, but Bisping countered a Silva right hand with a takedown. Silva escaped back to his feet, but only briefly before "The Count" took the action back to the canvas. Once again, Silva popped back to his feet and both fighters would reset with Bisping displaying better movement. Silva would be on the wrong end of a Bisping punch that was immediately followed by another takedown. The Brazilian would yet again return to his feet but not without absorbing a few strikes on the way up. Silva would push forward and swing wildly but was dased by a Bisping left hand, but again attempted to unload a flurry of punches. Bisping would shoot again right before the end of the round and Silva would prevent the takedown.
The second round would see Silva landing low kicks and catching a Bisping body kick that he would use to put his opponent on his back. Silva followed the Brit to the mat, landed a few shots, and then defended against an armbar. However, much like Silva did in the first round of action, Bisping returned to his feet. Upon standing, Silva landed a big right and Bisping returned with a group of lefts and a takedown. However, Silva would stand and begin working low kicks with Bisping countering with jabs and both fighters traded strikes before Silva was put on his back again, but this time he locked on a tight guillotine and although he squeezed with all his might he could not get the submission and the round ended.
Silva again landed low kicks to begin the round, but also absorbed a right hand. Both men exchanged kicks and punches with a Silva right hand that connected. Bisping answered with a right of his own and Silva returned back to the low kicks. Bisping would attempt a takedown without success and Silva landed a body kick. Both fighters would swing away, with Silva catching a Bisping kick and the Brazilian would kick Bisping's opposite leg out from under him to send him to the canvas. Bisping quickly returned standing and each man attempted kicks, with Silva charging and landing on Bisping as the fight ended.
Bisping opened with a strong first round and took Silva down on multiple occasions and while he was unable to keep him down for a prolonged period of time, Bisping controlled the action. Rounds two and three would see Silva ending each of the rounds with strong attacks, a guillotine attempt in the round two and strikes that dropped Bisping in the final frame. Silva earned the decision victory and Bisping earned self confidence knowing that he fought three hard rounds against a legend in the sport.
Bisping Returns To Win Column by Defeating Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Dan Miller
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A slight delay getting the fight started as Bisping received an eye poke during the pre-fight application of vaseline to his face. Miller started the fight with a combination that missed its' mark. Bisping followed suit and missed with punches himself. Low blow by Miller stopped the action very briefly and Bisping was ready to go again. Miller was keeping his hands tight and used good head movement early on. Bisping was throwing and landing 1-2's to his opponent. Another right hand landed for the Brit and a right hand landed for Miller. Bisping circled away from Miller and the two exchanged punches. Right hand found a home for Bisping but his opponent presses forward. Lead left hand missed for Miller and Bisping moves forward and was the more successful fighter in the round, which was purely a kickboxing round.
Opening up round two, Bisping took the center of the Octagon but Miller lands a low kick on him. Both fighters exchanged with Bisping getting the better of it. Lead left head kick by Bisping landed and Miller followed followed back with a low kick. Right hand landed for Bisping and he threw yet another right hand that is successful and Miller is bleeding. Bisping seems to of found his range and is picking Miller apart on the feet with crisp boxing. The right side of Miller's face is bloody and he wipes it out of his eye. Both middleweights trade punches as the round ends and Miller lands. Again, Miller would not or could not take the fight to mat and he went into the third frame down 2-0 to his British counterpart.
The final round kicked off with a touch of gloves and a hug. Both men immediately began to trade punches and Miller landed a clean right hand on his opponent. Bisping circled out and the two continue to make it a battle of striking. Jab landed for Bisping and he threw a combination but missed which allows Miller to take the fight to the mat. Bisping got to the cage where he wall walked his way to his feet. Bisping took the center with at the 1:45 mark and both guys missed with punches. One minute left in the fight and Miller attempted a takedown, pinned Bisping against the cage, but Bisping reversed and backed out of harms' way. Straight right finds a home for Bisping and Miller desperately pushed forward during the final fifteen seconds, but Bisping defends well to win yet another round.
Bisping without a doubt won all three rounds and picked Miller apart standing. Jabs and right hands by "The Count" left Miller bloodied and with a loss on his record. Miller was only successful once in taking the fight to the mat and Bisping proved vastly superior standing. Excellent fight on Bisping's behalf to return to win column over a talented middleweight and he would now look forward to UFC 120 where he headlined opposite of Yoshihiro Akiyama.
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Bisping Headlines UFC 120 and Defeats Yoshihiro Akiyama Via Unanimous Decision
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Bisping met Akiyama in the center to start the fight and Akiyama landed a big right hand. Bisping landed multiple jabs and Akiyama kicked low. Bisping attempted a takedown and was unsuccessful on the first attempt, but found success in a second attempt. Akiyama scrambled and "The Count" attacked with strikes. Bisping was much active toward the second half of the round. Akiyama threw and landed a few low kicks. Bisping returned with a flying knee that missed its' mark to close out an exciting opening round.
Akiyama kicked off round two with another powerful right hand, but this time it missed. Much like the Miller fight, Bisping successfully found a home for jab. Akiyama with the heavier strikes, but they came in slower than Bisping's. Bisping ate a low kick and sent his opponent backwards with a push kick. Akiyama returned with kicks, Bisping caught one but Akiyama gets out of harms way. Bisping loaded up on combos that score and Akiyama again found success with the right hand. Both men delivered strikes as the round comes to close.
Bisping opened the final round of action with a front kick and Akiyama basically stood still. Bisping followed up with a big combo and a low kick. Akiyama attempted to score with a combo of his own, but was met by Bisping right hand. Unintentional inside low kick by Bisping landed, but it was on Akiyama's cup and that would put a brief stop in the action. Restarted, Akiyama charged forward but was met by a Bisping counter. Akiyama caught a kick and lands on Bisping, but Bisping pulled Akiyama into the clinch where he landed a knee. Akiyama pushed forward, but without success as he was met by a Bisping combo and more shots from Bisping. Right hands continued to land for the British superstar and he finishes the fight light on his feet to avoid a final Akiyama push.
This was a much closer fight that his contest at UFC 114 against Dan Miller, but Akiyama is also the talented striker of two opponents. To be fair, round two could of possibly went to Akiyama depending on how you score the power shots he was throwing. However, Bisping was more successful in implementing his gameplan and landing his jab and combinations. All three judges scored the fight for Bisping, 30-27.
UFC 127 Video Blog: Week 7 Of Camp Bisping
5 of 5It is only fitting that after detailing Bisping's most recent fights that you are provided with a bit of insight on how the middleweight contender is finishing up camp for his fight on February 27.
The UK middleweight finishes up his final training session at home, tells Rivera, "You're going to be sorry, mate, you're going to be sorry", and shows a glimpse of his training at the Elite Fight Gym in Australia.
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