UFC 120 Preview: Michael Bisping Talks Yoshihiro Akiyama - "He Is Tailor Made For Me"
by Nick Thomas on Aug 10, 2010 1:08 PM EDT
in MMA News
Email
Print
"[Yoshihiro Akiyama] He's definitely an interesting fight for me. ...That said, I think he is tailor made for me. I respect him, I respect his skills and I respect everyone that steps into the Octagon and fights because you're no slouch to do that but I think I can pick him apart all day long."Video interview after the jump.
"I think I can go out there and have a little bit of fun in this fight. I think I'm better at everything than he is, apart from Judo. ... I actually think I'm one of the stronger wrestlers in the middleweight division. I'm sure a lot of people disagree, but I stand by it."
"I think it will be a good night for myself, the Wolfslair and UK martial arts."
"I'm looking forward to getting a good win against Akiyama. After that, one more win and I should get a title shot. ... I truly believe I will have the belt around my waist some time next year. My time has come, I've paid my dues."
Michael "The Count" Bisping (19-3)
Win Dan Miller - Decision (Unanimous) UFC 114
Loss Wanderlei Silva- Decision (Unanimous) UFC 110
Win Denis Kang - TKO (Punches) UFC 105
Loss Dan Henderson - KO (Punch) UFC 100
Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-2)HT: telegraph.co.uk
Loss Chris Leben - Submission (Triangle Choke) UFC 116
Win Alan Belcher - Decision (Split) UFC 100
Win Masanori Tonooka - Submission (Armbar) Dream 6
Win Katsuyori Shibata - Submission (Ezekiel Choke) Dream 5
44 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Tough fight to call
But I’m going to take Akiyama – mostly on hope, though… Either way, Bisping doesn’t finish this fight.
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
- Frank Zappa
by grizzlyatoms on Aug 10, 2010 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I do too...
I have never been a Bisping fan. I almost always cheer against him no matter who he fights. Just cant stand him.
www.facebook.com/djpullout
www.twitter.com/djpullout
www.myspace.com/djpullout
www.djpullout.com
AIM = djpullout
info@djpullout.com
I didn't know
that Wolfslair even trained in wrestling. ;)
Sexyama is no slouch and will outgrapple Bisping IMO. As long as he comes in w/a better gameplan than he did for the Leben fight, and doesn’t feel the need to stand and bang w/Bisping, I’m calling a Sexyama UD.
I'm not so sure Akiyama can outgrapple Bisping.
Other than a few flashy throws, Akiyama did little to threaten or control Leben on the ground and he was constantly having to defend armbars. Bisping has shown excellent defensive BJJ against Denis Kang and Charles McCarthy, and even if Akiyama manages to get him down, I don’t see it staying on the mat for very long at all.
I actually think I’m one of the stronger wrestlers in the middleweight division.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I’m sure a lot of people disagree
Yes, everyone :P
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on Aug 10, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t know that I buy Munoz as having great functional MMA wrestling.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 10, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Even if you can name 10 people with better wrestling (and Hendricks isn't at 185)
I’d still say being the 11th best wrestler in the division would fit into “one of the stronger wrestlers in the middleweight division”
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 10, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree...
Munoz struggled to take Grove down… Better MMA wrestling than Bisping is debatable at best
Everyone sleeps on his wrestling...
he’s actually got quite good wrestling.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 10, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
...and he is very good at getting up.
The biggest problem with Bisping’s game is that he is a striker with very little power. His wrestling and anti wrestling are very good. He has solid GnP, but his ways to finish are limited.
perhaps I still have the image of him
shooting on Henderson last year and Hendo straight up laughing at him. He’s VERY good off his back (more BJJ than wrestling) and can get up very well a’la Liddell, but for starters, I’ll take Okami and Sonnen as easy gimmes, possibly Munoz and Marquardt, Shields should he come back up to 185 and Hendo should he stay there. Insofar as straight up grappling, I’d take Maia, Souza and probably Mayhem over him. Yea its a lot better than I originally thought now that I’m looking down the names, but boy… I still can’t shake that image of him shooting on Hendo and getting laughed at.
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on Aug 10, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't care of Bisping was the nicest guy ever
I’d still hate him for his stupid, stupid hair.
by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 10, 2010 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don’t get it either.
Maybe he mean Garith?
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Aug 10, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Should and will...
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 10, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
new weight classes?
Bisping will probably have about 10 pounds on Akiyama come fight night, maybe more. A 178 pound class for guys like Akiyama and Thiago Alves would make things a bit fairer. Chris Leben showed massive heart beating Akiyama, but his natural size and strength played a huge part aswell.
Meh
No more weight classes unless heavyweight finally starts having enough talent to warent a cruiserweight division. Alves could simply reduce a little muscle, leaving Akiyama the lone exception. Even if Alves didn’t do that – can you really expect the UFC to make a division for two guys who don’t quite fit in a weight class?
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
- Frank Zappa
by grizzlyatoms on Aug 10, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd like to see
The winner of this fight get Sonnen next. Sonnen will probably paste them, and then he’s right back in line for a shot against Silva/Belfort. If he fights Belfort I think he wins, so either way the stage is set for a massive rematch.
WHAT!??
“After that, one more win and I should get a title shot.”
OK, let me get this straight. Michael Bisping thinks that he deserves a title shot after: getting KTFO’d by Hendo, stopping Kang, dropping a decision to Wandy, then beating Akiyama (who’s also coming off a loss), then just one more win for a title shot??
Is this guy delusional?
He beat Dan Miller after the Wanderlei loss. So if he did defeat Akiyama then say Marquart, Sonnen or Okami he would be ready I would think.
by Tats16 on Aug 10, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
depends who the win is against...
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 10, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
This fight does nothing for Bisping considering he’s facing an opponent coming off a loss. Coming off a win against Dan Miller, its a fairly lateral move.
i absolutely agree.
I don’t see how this fight will get him any closer to a title shot.
Sorry Mike, but your fight with Wanderlei was not close.
This fight reads close, but I think Akiyama has much more power in his hands than Bisping, however, we were all able to see many of his flaws with his fight with Leben. I hope Akiyama’s conditioning is better for this fight than his last. I would love nothing more than to see Bisping lose in England.
I can't think of anything nice to say about this fight.
so I’m just going to keep quiet.
@rask4p on Twitter
I think either winner would be good for Okami, but I’m not sure it works out timing wise. I say sign a fight between Okami and Belfort for number 1 contender, since Anderson will be out a while. I’m still not convinced about the Chael rematch. I know the arguments, but I just don’t like immediate rematches (Machida/Shogun notwithstanding). Chael lost and lost decisively. I don’t care what happened for 22 minutes of the fight – I care what happened at the end.
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
- Frank Zappa
by grizzlyatoms on Aug 10, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Really?......
“After that, one more win and I should get a title shot. … I truly believe I will have the belt around my waist some time next year. My time has come, I’ve paid my dues.”
how can this guy be serious? he has never defeated a top 15 opponent. the only guys he’s ever finished(not decisioned) are no longer in the UFC. The only people he has ever fought that have actually challenged and failed against A. Silva are Dan Hendo and Chris Leben. we all know what happened against Hendo and the Leben fight was far from dominant. Why hasn’t he fought Marquardt, Maia, SONNEN, Belfort, Okami? I don’t even think he would be victorious against the likes of Belcher,Cote, Quarry, Munoz or even Jorge Rivera. Will someone please attempt to justify this guys claim to fame? I personally think he’s one of the biggest d-bags in the sport, but asside from that, i think i make a very valid point.
this guy......
really chaps my ass hole! good lord the sight of him raises my blood pressure.
WTF??? 2 losses in his last 4 fights!!
He better not be gettin a title shot. Put him against Chael so he can get beat on!!
by purplehazelett on Aug 10, 2010 10:12 PM EDT reply actions
BUCK FISPING.
If I wake up tomorrow and see that the world has ended, then that means God has finally granted my prayers.
GO Armageddon!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
