UFC Fight Night London: Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping
by Constance Rigot | by Constance Rigot
Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping
What's at Stake?
Bisping has always desired that elusive title shot whilst Anderson has recently gone back on his previous comments and expressed an interest in regaining the title he held for nearly 7 years with 10 straight defences of his belt. Since the beginning of Anderson Silva’s demise at the hands of Chris Weidman at UFC 162 the middleweight division has been shaken up to the benefit of fans. A couple of years removed there is now a clear top 4 in the division that includes champion Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza. Formerly Yoel Romero made up the top 4 but he has recently been tested for PEDs and so his short-term future is unclear. Therefore that leaves a space for either one of these two combattants to make their mark. Depending on how Jacare vs Vitor Belfort plays out, the winner of this fight could be the next in line to face Rockhold.
Recent form
Anderson has been out for one year due to testing positive for 2 performance-enhancing drugs after his much anticipated fight with Nick Diaz Jan 2015. He was already coming off a long lay-off after his leg break in the second Weidman fight at UFC 168. Being the age he was at the time (39) and coming off the horrendous break it is understnadable that Anderson was not his usual playful, relaxed self in the Octagon against the Stockton-based fighter. He evaded most of Diaz’s shots and managed to do damage to the American’s face. Apart from moving and jabbing well there was nothing overly impressive. Anderson just looked different in a ‘not-so-flashy’ way at UFC 183.
Michael Bisping is coming off a split decision win in Scotland back in July 2015 against Thales Leites (whom is co-main eventing this event against Bisping’s original opponents Gegard Mousasi). Bisping won once again by decision against the Brazilian in Glasgow. Leites rocked the Mancunian early on with his heavy hands but as the fight wore on the odds, as they always do, began to shift into the hands of the less heavy handed but better cardiovascular athlete, Bisping, who found his striking rhythm and continually stuck and move against a tired Leites.
Prediction
There are questions galore surrounding Anderson Silva both physically and mentally. How will his PED scandal affect him when fight night comes? Has it affected his training camp? One would assume so. In addition he is now 40 years old. For a heavyweight this age would seemingly be passable but Anderson has been in his fair share of fights. On the other hand Bisping is 36 and has also been in more five rounders than Anderson (Total fight time 4:55 compared to Silva’s 2:59). The eternal question surrounding Bisping is can he for the first time beat someone who is seen as an elite level fighter?
The two are strikers who prefer to do just that from the outside. Bisping circles more using his boxing for the most part, throwing a kick set up by his hands whereas Silva utilises more head movement whilst also circling for evasion. In attack Silva is comfortable on the outside and when in range he uses scary Muay Thai clinching to wear down opponents and land effectively. Ultimately it is likely both could cancel each other out if they remain unwilling to fully engage. It is likely that Bisping will not wish to for the first few rounds whilst Silva is notorious for not unleashing too many techniques in the first round and a half.
- Anderson silva by decision or technical decision –
- Anderson to win 2nd Round –
- Over 4.5 rounds –
Advantages and Disadvantages of both
Striking Power:
Both are very experienced. Both have around the same reach and height as one another. Both are very much strikers that like to stick-and-move although Anderson doesn’t move as much, thus generating more power on his strikes. This will make Bisping more tentative throughout the fight. However Silva will be wary of not wanting to be outstruck by too big of a margin. Bisping holds the record for most significant strikes landed in UFC history (1258).
That could be misleading as Silva holds the 3rd highest number for striking accuracy (64%) in UFC history (compared to Bisping’s 39%). So the Englishman will throw a lot but not as accurately as his opponent. Another aspect of that is Silva is accustomed to hitting significantly within the clinch. His thai-plum techniques where he can utilise his knees and elbows are formidable.
Silva’s record, highlight reels and air of confidence he carries will supposedly strike hesitancy into Bisping.
Silva can also evade strikes using less energy via his historic head movement. Bisping is seemingly not as good in the pocket. So both would like to pick each other off from outside the other’s range.
Anderson’s kicks are more refined than Bisping’s thus allowing him to be able to control the striking distance in more ways than just simply within boxing range.
Grappling
The fight is not likley to go to the ground, both favour striking. However Bisping could attempt a takedown but would have to get past Silva’s supreme takedown defence (69%). If it did go to the ground we have not seen enough of a dominant top-game from Bisping over the years to believe that he could hang on without being submitted by Anderson who has submitted superior wrestlers and grapplers such as Chael Sonnen, Dan henderson and Travis Lutter.
In terms of endurance both have the 5 round pedigree. Bisping is notorious for going to and winning decisions in 3 and 5 rounders whilst Silva can certainly hold his own for the distance, the first Sonnen fight being an apt example.
