Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch in the works for UFC 148

A Middleweight showdown between top contenders Michael Bisping and Tim Boetsch is reportedly in the works for UFC 148 in Las Vegas.

ESPN.co.uk reports that verbal agreements are in place for the bout.

Boetsch (15-4) made the move to 185-pounds after posting a 1-1 mark at Light Heavyweight. In the time since, he has racked up three consecutive victories, defeating Kendall Grove and Nick Ring via unanimous decision before staging a dramatic comeback against former division title challenger Yushin Okami in February. The win over Okami came by third-round knockout, and skyrocketed “The Barbarian” into the Middleweight title mix.

Bisping (22-4) was last seen in action at UFC on Fox 2, where he came up short on the scorecards against Chael Sonnen. Prior to the controversial defeat, “The Count” had strung together four consecutive victories, including wins over Jason Miller, Jorge Rivera, and Yoshihiro Akiyama. He’ll look to get back into the title discussion with a decisive victory over his fast rising opponent in July.

UFC 148 is set to take place July 7th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bantamweight title clash between division champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Urijah Faber is expected to headline the card, while a Middleweight clash pitting Rich Franklin against Cung Le has also been confirmed for the event.

Further Reading: Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le at UFC 148, Guida vs. Maynard at UFC on FX 4

Photo: Francis Specker