Michael Bisping's Next Test? Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson Winner
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 19, 2008 10:16 PM EDT
in MMA News
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PrintWhen Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson clash in Dublin, Ireland January of next year Michael Bisping will be paying very close attention. After knocking off his toughest test to date in Chris Leben the waters are only going to get deeper. Bisping will be facing the winner of Franklin/Henderson not only in the Octagon but as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter reality show.
One has to believe that should Bisping be the winner he'll be getting a shot at Anderson Silva. While Bisping has looked very solid since dropping down to 185 this would be a significant step up in competition. Leben presented a significant danger only in KO power where as Franklin has a much more versitile striking game and Henderson not only has dynamite in his fists, he has top shelf wrestling (which he sadly chooses to ignore much of the time).
From a personality standpoint I would have to think that Bisping vs. Franklin makes for the best TV but there is an odd dynamic as Franklin has moved UP to 205 while Bisping made the move DOWN to middleweight.
Either way we're fast going to learn if Bisping is truly ready for a title shot by the middle of 2009.
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A possible scenario would be, if Anderson were to really retire, the UFC might have the coaches fight at the end of the season to be for the vacated title. While none of the three probably deserve it right now, it would give instant-recognition to the ‘new champion’ (after just coming off a tv show).
Dunno, seems plausable.
weight class madness
I thought Henderson-Franklin would take place at 205. If the winner is to take on Bisping, it makes more sense to keep the fight at 185.
Now, if Bisping wins that fight, he’s earned a shot at Silva, whether or not we think he has a realistic chance of winning. (Who things Cote has a chance?) Defeating Leben and Henderson or Franklin certainly elevates a fighter to #1 contender status.
But if the winner of Henderson-Franklin defeats Bisping – highly likely IMO – it’s unclear where we go from there. I’m not interested in a Silva-Henderson rematch and certainly not another Silva-Franklin massacre. I’d rather see Silva uses his remaining fights against a variety of different opponents at both MW and LHW.
Franklin or Hendo
Although I like Franklin, I’d rather see Hendo get a turn coaching on TUF, since we’ve already seen Franklin on one season.
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
I wish Bisping would fight someone like Maia. Give him someone with a ground game. McCarthy was a joke, so don’t even mention him. I want to see if Bisping can stave off submissions.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
I want to see if Maia can stave off getting a beating from an excellent striker. I think Bisping would finish him in the first round.
Since when has Bisping become an “excellent striker”?
by Scott Haber on Oct 20, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions
When was he not? He’s hardly the best, but if you’re going to sit there and tell me he’s not well above average, you haven’t been paying attention.
Agreed.
He uses boxing technique as well as just about anyone in the sport right now. It isn’t flashy, but from a technique standpoint he is VERY solid.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 20, 2008 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
He proved it
I had thought of Bisping as a ground and pound guy but the way he put the hands on Leben has impressed me. He did a great job getting in for strikes and out before counters. I think Nate Quarry would beat the hell out of Bisping though.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
Bisping is the Sarah Palin of MMA
Give him Marquardt before he coaches TUF. If he survives that, then I’ll believe he has something to teach. Otherwise, he’s just a token brit intended to expand the company overseas. I’m sure the Bushwhackers helped sell WWF down under. Bisping is a couple notches above that kind of pandering. Or maybe he’s like Sarah Palin, if Alaskan votes mattered (it’s far right votes they’re after with that VP candidate, actually). He’s definitely like Palin in that they’re protecting him from real opportunities to prove himself before he becomes a big-money star (the press in Palin’s case, if you’re still following my analogy).
by Jaydoggydog on Oct 19, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Do us all a favor and keep your political analogies to yourself.
by Richard Wade on Oct 19, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I will second that however.
I’m a firm democrat so this isn’t me wanting to stifle anything about Palin…but is rather an enforcement of the standard BE rules of “No Politics”
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 19, 2008 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m all for following the BE rules. In this case, I would argue that Palin provides a popular culture reference that parallels the UFC’s decision to promote a relatively unqualified competitor to super-stardom because they posses particular characteristics. Seemed useful to me, but I’ll leave it at that. So… are the Bushwhackers still fair game?
by Jaydoggydog on Oct 19, 2008 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
A reference to a politician (especially one that makes a political point) meets the standard of “politics,” I think.
by Richard Wade on Oct 20, 2008 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Well..
the Sheepherders were GREAT brawlers who were good draws prior to the (then) WWF bringing them in as the Bushwhackers.
I think they’re bringing Bisping along well since the drop in weight. McCarthy was an adjustment fight, Day was a guy who would put a beating on a LOT of 185’ers and a good third tier guy, Leben is a solid threat and a second tier guy and Hendo or Franklin are top tier guys. It seems to me to be a logical progession.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 19, 2008 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m a Leben fan, but I think he’s not a contender. Leben’s transformation is mostly in terms of emotional maturity more than fighting skills. He may be off the sauce, but he dodges and throws punches like he’s had a few. Nonetheless, I root for him and I find his story compelling. So, it’s significant for Bisping to pass him while climbing the ladder. AND Leben said the fight was FUN. That means you didn’t quite beat him (in my book) Pahlares (sp?) or Marquart, maybe Quarry or Cote, all of them would handle Bisping, as well as plenty of the folks who will wind up being his pupils on TUF. Okay, this is all speculation.
by Jaydoggydog on Oct 19, 2008 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
there won't be anyone on the UK TUF team comparable to Bisping
That talent pool is SHALLOW. His top protege Paul Kelly got pwned by Davis on Saturday. Had NOTHING to offer against a good technical striker with decent wrestling.
Davis is 7-2 in the UFC WW division over the last three years. There are only four guys with better records in the division than him over that same time period: GSP, Fitch, Alves and Koscheck (all 7-1).
by Richard Wade on Oct 20, 2008 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
But to be fair, Davis hasn’t fought the level of competition those 4 guys have.
I believe Nate’s point stands that the UK TUF team will have a rather shallow talent pool to pull from, though the US talent pool isn’t nearly as deep as it was a few seasons ago—so that should make it a bit closer (the US TUF team should still be head and shoulders above the UK team, but a few years ago the disparity would have been even larger).
Granted. Still, losing to a guy that is 7-2 in the UFC over the last three years isn’t like losing to some random scrub.
by Richard Wade on Oct 20, 2008 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
So Rashad Evans wasn’t a real test against a real opponent? He was close to beating Rashad at 205. We know how tough Rashad is with his win over Chuck so I think Bisping is def the real deal. Especially against 185’rs.
No kidding
Guys will happily suckle from Brocks amazing 1-1 record, but a guy with 17-1 record is over-rated.
I would much rather see...
Chael Sonnen defeat Paulo Filho in November and then get the spot on TUF.
I like Sonnen but the dude is a tool and he conveys it very well. I really doubt Franklin as a coach would get the dynamic between the british and american fighters going. I’m not too sure Henderson has much of a personality outside of his fighting credentials while I think Sonnen would be quick to point out how the Americans have kicked the British out of their country before and will be sure to do it again.
Plus it would be WEC champ against Bisping for the No.1 contender spot. Good exposure for the WEC and a good fight too.
If Sonnen pulls that off, that would be a hell of an idea. He’d be great to sell for a matchup with Anderson, with both the “WEC champ” and “beat Anderson’s friend Filho” storylines to work with.
by Michaelthebox on Oct 20, 2008 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree that this is a great idea if Sonnen pulls it off (as there would be much more of a “personality clash” between coaches with Sonnen as the US coach). But I’d wager that Sonnen will eventually take Filho down and get submitted again (he has a proclivity for throwing his game plan out the window at some point during a fight, and though he should be able to beat Filho by keeping the fight standing—he’ll eventually get bored/over-confident/etc. and take him down again, and get subbed again).
This doesn’t really make any sense to me. I thought Franklin and Hendo are at 205 now for good. For example if Franklin beat Hendo (which I dont think will happen) Then he beats Bisping would he fight Silva again? I think what would make the most sense would be to leave Franklin and Hendo at 205 and Let marquart be the coach and have Nate vs Bisping for the number 1 contender spot. I know they want Rich or Dan because they are more popular than nate but I just dont get how this would work.
I agree
I think Nate is the best choice. They have Okami tied up right now and Franklin has already been beaten handily twice by Silva. Marquardt was beat down too but Henderson’s loss was much more recent. Marquardt’s beatdowns of Horn, Leites, and Kampmann solidify him as a top contender in the division, especially with Hendo v. Franklin being at 205.
The only way Bisping fighting the winner of that fight makes sense is if Silva is planning on relinquishing the belt and fighting at 205 for the rest of his contract. That doesn’t make sense because with each title defense Silva is further solidifying his legend. All he has to do is sit back and wait for new contenders to pop up so he can knock them back down.
Regardless of which one Bisping fights I don’t see him coming out with the victory.
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
IMO Rich is a serious challenger at 205. Can see him beating anyone up there, so I have him over Bisping also. Dan, on the other hand, I can see him beating. He should have a good chance at circle-circle-dot-dot to win a decision.
by ununkvadrium on Oct 20, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
There are 2 Dan's
1) The guy who uses strategy and allows his gifts to take him to victory.
2) The guy who looks to land a big punch and that’s about it. If that guy shows up then yeah, Bisping could do exactly what he did against Leben (use good, smart boxing to bust him up) for the win.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 20, 2008 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
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