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While it looks like the UFC will be ignoring his appeals to create a Middleweight interim title, Michael Bisping still has a lot riding on his fight in January. At UFC On FX 7, the British fighter will face off against former Light Heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort. A win over Belfort would be Bisping's second consecutive top 10 win in the division and give him a good case to become the next contender.
In an interview with Tatame, Bisping responded to some to Belfort calling him a "hooligan":
He called me a hooligan and said he will send me back to England? Seriously? Well ... That hooligan will find him in the fifth round, when he is completely out of gas.
He thinks he will knock out everyone, but believe me, he has ten defeats on his record and 21 wins. He is not invincible, he is not Jesus Christ. He is just a man who was beaten many, many times, and will be defeated again.
I have to be ready. That is the struggle. I will not be running away from him, I'm gonna fight moving forward. I believe I can beat him. I'll meet you in the middle of the Octagon and do my best
I'm a great boxer and hard to hit. Let's see if he is as fast as you think it is. It will be a tough fight, but I believe in me. He believes he can beat me, and that's what makes a fight.
Bisping is coming off a decision win over Brian Stann at UFC 152. He's 5-1 in his last 6 fights with his sole loss a very close decision to #2 Middleweight Chael Sonnen. Belfort also last fought at UFC 152 as a late replacement challenger to champion Jon Jones. He came close to submitting the 205 lb. kingpin with an armbar in the first round, but was eventually submitted himself.
UFC On FX 7 is coming up on January 19 at the
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