Anderson Silva Takes Aim At Michael Bisping For Manchester Rematch
Add another name to the rapidly growing list of fighters that want a bout against UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping after he shockingly ripped the belt from Luke Rockhold’s hands at UFC 199 on June 4.
That man is former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, and he has a legitimate beef with “The Count” from their controversial main event at UFC Fight Night 84 from London.
Silva famously bloodied and battered Bisping when he mistakenly pointed at his mouthpiece towards the end of the second round, but “The Spider” also went through long bouts of inactivity as Bisping pushed the pace with his boxing, actually dropping the formerly iron-chinned Silva. Silva thought he finished Bisping with a flying knee, but he jumped onto the cage wall to celebrate rather than actually finishing the hometown favorite as the time ticked down on the round.
Bisping recovered and took home a unanimous decision, which became his biggest win at the time as it propelled him to his now-infamous title fight against Rockhold. Now that Bisping has the belt, Silva took to Instagram to call out the champ, stating that he has never asked the UFC for a rematch before. “The Spider” also cited Bisping’s refusal of a rematch at UFC 198 from Brazil and would even fight him in Manchester:
“Well, I could give you million reasons to make the fight against Bisping happen, but the truth is that he is afraid. I’m not going to compare myself to others even mention someone else, but in my perspective I believe I have the right to a fight with him once again, because I have won London’s fight and a rematch was promised. However, as he was injured by me during the fight, he wouldn’t be prepared to fight too soon, then he was ready to replace someone, but not to face me in Brazil, right?
“You know I lived an unexpected situation having a surgery, but if it wasn’t happened I could fight in Brazil. So, I think it’s time to show that I’m serious, I’ve never asked for a rematch with no adversary, but I do want to have an opportunity of a fight with Bisping, I deserve that for everything I have achieve into the organization saving last time fights’ events even in upper categories, fighting injured , broke a leg. I have proved why I am the best in world in this sport and I humbly say that none of my adversaries who supposedly defeated me have achieved or will my actions into the organization. Undoubtedly, I believe this rematch will be the best step for UFC and Dana is aware of it, because numbers does tell and as we always have to stand by the group let it be from both sides. If I could help him to feel more confident and less afraid I would agree to fight him in his hometown, Manchester.”
He may be losing a step, but the always-entertaining Silva brings headlines wherever he goes. But he’s got one of the fullest slate of vocal title challengers a UFC champion has ever had to answer to, with Georges St. Pierre, Dan Henderson, Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Jacare Souza, and now Silva wanting the next crack at the brash Brit.
Based on the shape Bisping left the last fight, he might not want to take on the still-dangerous Muay Thai of “The Spider.””
