Michael Bisping Predicts Rich Franklin Will Defeat Dan Henderson

by Luke Thomas on Jan 8, 2009 2:19 PM EST in MMA News

Michael_bisping-031_medium Courtesy MMA Weekly:

"I wanted one of those two guys cause their two of the best in the world, and probably No. 2 and 3 in the middleweight division," Bisping told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "So they're the guys I want to fight. There's idiots on the Internet that say I dodge good fighters and this and that, and that kind of annoys me a little bit and that's why I want to fight these guys."
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"I've been watching that fight very closely," he stated. "I think it's a fantastic fight. I think it's definitely got the potential, apart from the fact that it's in January, I'd say Fight of the Year."
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"Rich Franklin is probably the smarter fighter out of the two. I think he's got better footwork, probably more technically composed fighter. Dan's got great knockout power obviously. They're both fantastic fighters," Bisping commented.

"If I had to pick a winner, I'd probably go out on a limb and say Rich Franklin by decision, to be honest."

I don't see a stoppage here either unless Henderson lands a bomb on Franklin and even then there's no guarantee. Franklin's well-roundedness and technical ability gives him more offensive opportunities and better defensive fundamentals. It's no major advantage over Henderson, but probably enough to earn the nod.

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I don’t see Henderson getting a flailing over hand right KO and I don’t see Rich being able to KO Dan. His chin is too good.

by Discman2 on Jan 8, 2009 2:25 PM EST reply actions

" I'd probably go out on a limb and say Rich Franklin by decision, to be honest."

Ah his favorite kind of victory….

Please, someone punch him in the mouth.

by Razreshat on Jan 8, 2009 2:36 PM EST reply actions

I didnt watch the TUF, so I guess i just dont understand the bisping hate

Record: 17-1

Wins:

11 TKO’s
4 Subs
1 UD
1 SD

Loss:

1 SD

And if you are bitchign about the leben fight… he beat the dude bloody. Machida does the same thign and he is praised as a god

by dbcb on Jan 8, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

That should read 16-2

Because he lost to Hamill no matter what fightfinder says. And I hate Hamill.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 8, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

I like him, I like his story, and he’s seems like a cool guy to hang with.

by lbk on Jan 8, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

I actually liked him a lot on that season of TUF.

It seems to me that the hate has mostly come since then, around the Hamill fight (which was clearly debatable, clearly close, and defensible as a win for either of them, in my viewing) and some of the comments he made surrounding that fight. He’s just not been able to get past it.

I am actually impressed at how ripped he managed to get to drop down to MW, too.

by Kierkegaard on Jan 8, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t get it either.

Even if he lost to Hammill, he went to close decisions at 205 against Hammill and Rashad.

Bisping is now at 185 and is much faster. He’s in great shape. His technical skills are continually improving.

Bisping is a really good fighter.

by Hardcharger on Jan 8, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

I think a lot of the hate stems from disagreements with his nuthuggers, not so much with him. At least this is the reasoning for my not liking him. There are many claims at his greatness and claims that he would absolutely destroy some of the best fighters in the division with next to no evidence that he could pull it off.

Is he a good fighter? Yes. Is he top dog material? Depends who you ask. I haven’t seen anything that would suggest that he would beat Franklin, Hendo, Okami, even Maia (although that would be a great fight, stylistically).

But his nuthuggers claim he could destroy Anderson Silva if the fight were scheduled for tomorrow. I disagree.

by Dabashire on Jan 8, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

I hate Bisping because he is being babied by the UFC and then Bisping has the balls to say he’s one of the top MWs in the sport.

Sure you are Mike… After all those quality wins against Josh Haynes, Elvis Sinosic(LOLOL), Eric Shafer, Charles McCarthey, Jason Day and Chris Leben… You’re the next Anderson Silva!

Lets not even get started on the Hamill fight. He clearly lost that one and was given another gift and he gloated post fight as if he won…

by Discman2 on Jan 8, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

i didnt watch tuf too. But i actually disliked bisping when he was in 205. Too much low caliber opponents, two controversial decisions plus the lame sinosic fight, and he was still getting main event fights.. He was being babied and he really didnt look good even when facing the low level fighters…

But now, even if leben was the only relevant fighter he faced in MW, he has looked like a totally different fighter. He’s more exciting to watch at his new weight.. His striking has looked crisp and he is more technical now, He’s faster, plus his cardio is wayy better.. Thats why he’s gained some respect from me.

I guess the only way to convince the others and gain more respect is to beat the guy he faces in TUF..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2009 7:22 AM EST up reply actions

Ace by TKO in the 3rd.

by lbk on Jan 8, 2009 3:54 PM EST reply actions

I agree with Bisping. Franklin will when by decision. And why does Bisping take so much shit here. His record speaks for itself and he more often than not puts on a good show. What’s up?

by donkeypunch on Jan 8, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Franklin,by stoppage i just cant see him losing anywhere, he is better at everything apart from the wrestling,but its very hard to keep him on his back so that gets rid of that

by RealIrish on Jan 8, 2009 4:02 PM EST reply actions

… totally off-topic, but nice profile picture!

by Kierkegaard on Jan 8, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Franklin stepped up in competition exactly 3 times in his career

And got KO’d each of them. Even by feather fisted Machida. Had Okami not been still stoned on heroin for the first 2 rounds of their fight he would have lost to him too. Okami won the 3rd round so much more dominantly than anything Franklin did in rounds 1 and 2, I would have scored it 10-8 and given the draw.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 8, 2009 5:19 PM EST reply actions