Michael Bisping: Fedor to Fight Tim Sylvia Injured

by Luke Thomas on Jul 7, 2008 8:42 PM EDT in MMA News

Russian legend Emelianenko, 31, squares up against former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia in a fight for new MMA promotion Affliction on 19 July.

But speaking exclusively to SunSport, British star Bisping, 29, claims The Last Emperor will go into the bout with 32-year-old American Sylvia at less than full fitness.

Bisping said: "It’s going to be good to see if Fedor is still the man but I’ve heard on the grapevine from inside sources that he could be injured."

"But this is time for Fedor to step up. Everyone knows what Tim Sylvia is all about but Fedor’s had an aura about him for a long time."

...

But Bisping admitted: "I think the fight will play out similar to when Randy Couture fought Tim Sylvia, but I’m picking Fedor to beat Tim."

We all know that virtually every fighter in the world enters their bout nursing some sort of affliction (pun intended). We also know that Bisping's sources could be completely without merit. Nonetheless, I thought I'd pass this along.

HT: reader T. Burke

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Who knew Michael Bisping had “inside sources?” Maybe Fedor’s injury is a result of gazing at Affliction T-shirts. They make me kind of nauseous.

by Cannon Jacques on Jul 7, 2008 9:01 PM EDT reply actions

Safe to say that the most likely injury (if there is one) involves his hands?

by Mike Fagan on Jul 7, 2008 9:05 PM EDT reply actions

Fedor could go into this fight Black Knight style and I’d still pick him. Timmeh disappoints me every time.

by Chris Nelson on Jul 7, 2008 9:08 PM EDT reply actions

This correlates exactly with a post I made earlier.

If Fedor loses it’s because he’s injured, but if Tim loses it’s because Fedor is better than him? I think if Tim came down to the ring in a wheelchair wearing a halo and then lost people STILL wouldn’t say it’s because he was injured.

If someone they want to win wins, it’s because their opponent was better that night.
If someone they want to win loses, there was obviously an injury or a hampering because there’s no possible way they could ever lose legitimately.

Luke, please don’t post anything more like this. You’re gonna turn this place into a great big doctor’s excuse for losses.

by N. Rodriguez on Jul 7, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions

Correstion:

“If someone they want to win wins, it’s because their opponent was better that night. “

Change to “If someone they want to win wins, it’s because they were better than their opponent that night.”

Sorry.

by N. Rodriguez on Jul 7, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, this is just great. If Fedor loses, his fans will immediately use this as an excuse. I think I will have to avoid the comment forums for a while should this happen, cause I’m afraid I may end up losing it.

by pud333 on Jul 7, 2008 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

Whatever, he was injured when he fought Cro Cop at his prime and he beat him. If Fedor’s hands are hurt he’ll take Sylvia down and submit him. Simple as that.

If Fedor loses though I don’t think I can watch this sport anymore.

by FeloniousFunk on Jul 7, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions

Well

Fedor has fought injured before. I don’t think it means that he’ll lose; it just means he’ll win by armbar.

by KneeToTheFace on Jul 7, 2008 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

I'm all about this news...

...but maybe that’s just because I got in on Sylvia at some really meaty odds.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jul 8, 2008 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

Like a few said above if Big Tim some how beats Fedor which I don’t see even with a injury it will just be used as a exuse buy his fans. I really hope for Afflictions sake this injury does not get any worse and makes Fedor pull out of this fight. That would most certanily be the final nail in the coffin for them !!!!

by Shocbomb on Jul 8, 2008 6:42 AM EDT reply actions