UFC on FX 7: Bisping vs. Belfort Staff Predictions
Anton Gurevich: I’ve always been a Vitor Belfort fan. But even with my feelings aside, I really can’t see Michael Bisping winning this fight. I believe Belfort has the perfect skillset to finish the Brit early. Yes, Bisping showed tons of improvement in his last few fights, but Belfort could definitely come across as the toughest challenge The Count has ever faced inside the Octagon. The biggest difference between those two fighters is the killer instinct Vitor Belfort is so well-known for, and the one that Michael Bisping still needs to acquire if he wants to beat the Top 5 fighters in the UFC Middleweight division. I just hope that this time I’ll pick the right guy to win. The Phenom via KO in Round 1.
Bryan Fontez: This fight is interesting. Both fighters have managed to stay at the top of their division despite age, injuries and new prospects. There’s no doubt Vitor can end this with one swing, but based on his previous history, he’ll have only 5mins to land it. If this goes passed the 1st round, I think it’ll end up being the Michael Bisping show. Overall this one is a coin toss for me. Bisping’s Cardio is as solid as Vitor’s hands. The deciding factor will be who shows up mentally and who fights the smarter fight. I just can’t help but feel that with a title shot looming so closely, Bisping is taking things more serious than ever. I’m going to go with Bisping to stay out of danger and fight a smart 5-round cardio war earning him a Unanimous Decision in the process.
Mike Drahota: Michael Bisping versus Vitor Belfort is an interesting fight in many ways. First off, it features two supremely talented strikers, although they are quite different. Belfort is known well for his speed and knockout power, while Bisping is more known for his point scoring brand of kickboxing. Belfort may possess the edge in submissions, but I doubt he can submit the crafty Bisping here. The Brit has much more at stake here, as he may find himself facing Anderson Silva with a win. Both fighters seem to be quite hungry heading into this bout, but I think Bisping may be more motivated by a slight margin. My heart says Belfort all the way, but my head seems to disagree. I see Bisping winning a workman-like decision, perhaps mixing in a few surprising takedowns with his strikes.
