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SB Nation Thomas Myers' Thoughts
Michael Bisping doesn't hold sway over the UFC or MMA fan faithful that Chael Sonnen does. But he deserves more respect. And if he beats Jason Miller at the finale for season 14 of Spike TV's 'The Ultimate Fighter', he deserves a chance at the middleweight championship.
Nov 26, 2011 - It wasn't too long ago that coaching The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) actually meant something.
Whether it was to build the rematch between Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell at UFC 52 (TUF) 1, offer "comeback" fighters (Matt Serra and Travis Lutter) the opportunity to earn unlikely title shots (TUF 4), or settle scores between rivals (B.J. Penn vs. Jens Pulver and Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans, among others), the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series leveraged Spike TV to flex its marketing muscle.
Not anymore.
Unforeseen injuries, new television deals and an overall apathetic recent reaction to the once fabled franchise, one that was the genesis for the sport's rise to mainstream popularity, have collectively handicapped its intrigue. Or, perhaps, it just jumped the shark along with Kimbo Slice and his inclusion on TUF 10.
Not even the polarizing Michael Bisping and his goofy coaching counterpart, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, can seemingly turn the ship around, in a season that has actually been packed with solid MMA action and quality entertainment. It's certainly not their fault that their "rivalry" will culminate inside the Octagon at TUF 14 Finale one week from today (Dec. 3, 2011) and it has flown relatively under the radar.
It's because the outcome of the fight, seemingly, has no significant impact on the middleweight contender picture, even though it should. At least not immediately. And Chael Sonnen, along with his forked tongue, is to blame. Despite a submission loss to Anderson Silva, a positive post-fight test for banned performance-enhancing substances and admitting to a felony, he is the unquestioned number one 185-pound division contender.
Sure, his performance against "The Spider" was eye-opening and impressive to say the least. And, sure, his convincing submission won over Brian Stann at UFC 136 in his triumphant return to the eight-walled cage was noteworthy. And, naturally, his post-fight "loser retires" challenge to the Brazilian was brilliant.
However, let's not forget about Michael Bisping, who has compiled an impressive record (7-2) since making the drop down from light heavyweight more than three years ago. "The Count" was knocking on the championship door right around the time TUF stopped being meaningful for coaches back in 2009.
That is when, of course, Dan Henderson scored one of the greatest knockouts ever at UFC 100. Had the result been reversed, Bisping undoubtedly would have contended for Silva's middleweight belt rather than toying around with Forrest Griffin in a 205-pound "super" fight. Bisping has climbed his way back to the top of the division since that devastating defeat, winning four of his last five fights.
Another win at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, will make it five straight and six of his last seven, which should mean something.
"Chael Sonnen had his chance, put on a great performance, but lost," Bisping declared in a recent conference call. "He got tapped out, got finished. And then after that he failed a steroids test. As far as I can see he had his chance and he blew it. I feel I deserve a shot. I have got to beat Miller, he is tough and I am not looking past him. I'm the contender. Vitor Belfort has just been beat, Yushin Okami has just been beat, Sonnen got beat. What are they going to do -- are they all going to keep beating each other up and then having another shot at him? No, I'm the contender."
At the very least, if Bisping silences "Mayhem" he should have the opportunity to do the same against Sonnen in a true number one contender eliminator match to earn the right to fight Silva, who is on the shelf rehabbing injuries until mid-2012. And it should be a five-round, non-title main event-type bout that leaves no question, or debate, as to who truly deserves the honor.
That would mean something.
10 comments
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Dec 3
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Nov 28
Thomas Myers:
With A Win Over Jason Miller, Michael Bisping Deserves To Fight For Number One Contender Status
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Nov 26
Comments
how does he derserve a title shot when he hasnt beaten a top ten guy, he needs bigger wins but it dont even matter anyways cause miller is gonna beat his ass in a week.
by Henderson27 on Nov 26, 2011 1:39 PM PST reply actions
....So if Bisping defeats Jason Miller, who has no meaningful wins in the MW division for 4 years
He should get #1 contender status consideration? Since when does Dan Miller, Jorge Rivera, Akiyama, and Mayhem = Top 5 MW? Three of those four fighters aren’t even ranked anymore and Dan doesn’t have a single win over a current UFC fighter, which is unfortunate as I like the guy.
The only reason why Bisping is in title contention is because MW is filled with guys who already lost to Anderson Silva.
I respect your opinion even though it's wrong.
by SSreporters on Nov 26, 2011 2:38 PM PST reply actions
At the point where
MW is so bad that you have to start calling Bisping a contender, take a break from the title picture and book Silva/St. Pierre. Because as much as I would love seeing Bisping get murdered by Anderson Silva, that’s PRIDE squashmatchmaking right there.
by Confucius on Nov 26, 2011 4:45 PM PST reply actions
As much as I hate Sonnen, he’s actually made Silva look vulnerable. Bisping would get Forrested. Or Vitored. Take your pick.
Also— "Had the result been reversed, Bisping undoubtedly would have contended for Silva’s middleweight belt rather than toying around with Forrest Griffin in a 205-pound “super” fight." This part is written confusingly. Subject agreement and whatnot. Bisping never toyed around with Griffin.
In addition, saying “had the result been reversed” is an important part. The result wasn’t reversed, because Bisping just isn’t really a top-10 kind of guy, imo. Putting him in with Silva is just kind of mean. But I guess he’d get a nice payday, so sure.
by thirdparty on Nov 27, 2011 11:22 AM PST reply actions
That is a heck of a lot of soothsaying and assumptions there about Bisping. So just ignore a fighter’s success in the UFC and go with a gut feeling instead?
Sonnen was roided up with extremely high levels of testosterone in the last fight and is being rewarded for it. That kinda irks me. I am fine with it in the end though. Silva haters are on the Sonnen bandwagon after the last fight. Odd so many root for a felony convicted fraudster who cheated in his last fight. People are strange. I for one hope he gets KTFO this time.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
by crizzy on Nov 27, 2011 7:17 PM PST up reply actions
Bisping himself has NOT fought any of the following
Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt (when he was there), Rousimar Palhares, Demian Maia, Chael Sonnen, Mark Munoz, Vitor Belfort. All of these guys would give him problems and some would most likely beat him.
I don’t see how he can get near title contention without having fought ANY of these guys. He lost to Wanderlei Silva, beat Akiyama, Jorge Rivera and Dan Miller. That does not make you a contender.
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by KJ Gould on Nov 28, 2011 4:31 AM PST up reply actions
OK, I see your point but is Bisping to blame for who the UFC puts him against? All he has done since coming to the UFC is win consistently. He is 11-3 in the UFC. He has 3 wins in row and if he beats Miller 4. Chael Sonnen is 5-4 in the UFC against a higher level of competition. Which is better? Difficult to tell.
I think Bisping deserves a shot at some point soon if he keeps winning. I don’t get the Miller pairing either. They should have paired him with Maia or Belfort.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
by crizzy on Nov 28, 2011 12:11 PM PST up reply actions
I didn't see anyone saying Bisping is to blame
They’re just pointing out why he doesn’t deserve to fight Silva. If he wins this fight give him a top 5 middleweight. Then he’ll have earned it.
by Andre on Nov 28, 2011 7:12 PM PST up reply actions
But Chael has earned it by going 5-4 in the UFC with being finished by Silva and one win afterward against Stann and having been shown to have cheated with sky high testosterone levels? That is what kinda irks me.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
by crizzy on Nov 29, 2011 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
HAHA UR CRAZY HE DNT DESEVE SHIT
We might be down now but when we get back up u better move out are way are ul get RAMED!!!
by Ramzman18 on Nov 29, 2011 4:02 PM PST reply actions
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