Bisping keeps motivation handy
Michael Bisping’s most recent UFC victory was impressive enough, but it couldn’t blot out the memories of his most devastating defeat — mainly because he won’t allow it to.
Bisping got his mixed martial arts career back on track in November with a second-round knockout of Denis Kang on the Ultimate Fighting Championship 105 card in Manchester, England.
The bout was selected "Fight of the Night," earning Bisping a bonus and setting the stage for his UFC 110 middleweight matchup against Wanderlei Silva on Sunday at Sydney, Australia.
Knocking out Kang wasn’t enough, however, to erase the sting of Bisping’s previous fight, in which he suffered a highlight-reel, one-punch knockout against Dan Henderson in July. That unflattering finish has been the topic of many questions leading up the Silva bout.
Bisping claims the setback has served as motivation to improve as a fighter.
"It’s a cliche, but you learn from all your losses," the British fighter said on a conference call from Australia. "People (say) you come back bigger and stronger. … I’ve come back reinvigorated with an even hungrier desire to get to the top."
That defeat left Bisping craving a rematch with Henderson, an opportunity that won’t present itself anytime soon. Henderson has left the UFC for a lucrative deal with upstart Strikeforce.
"I still feel I could beat him on another night. It was a poor performance, and I’d love to get a rematch," Bisping said.
What lies ahead is a pivotal showdown against the veteran Silva, who was one of the most feared strikers in the Pride Fighting Championships but is 1-3 since returning to the UFC in late 2007.
Silva uses a wild striking style that would appear to be tricky to prepare for. Bisping contends that’s not the case.
"In some respects he isn’t the most difficult guy to prepare for," Bisping said. "(He has a) distracting element and the loopy punches. Outside of that, I think it’s pretty much all he has to (rely) on."
Training in his native England provides Bisping with ample partners to simulate Silva’s style.
"One thing that England isn’t short of is lots of brawlers. We haven’t had to look too far to bring in guys that like to swing a lot and just all out brawl," he said.
Bisping has one other advantage, having trained with friend Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Jackson has fought Silva three times, losing twice, and knows the Brazilian well from their days in Japan as two of Pride’s biggest stars.
"He’s told me what to expect. And just having someone like Rampage with his vast experience around camp is a good thing psychologically," Bisping said.
Bisping has been known to talk a big game and has been called cocky, but he admits he is far from a complete fighter.
"I don’t think I’m the finished product. I’ve still got a lot of work to do," he said. "I’m very humble, contrary to popular belief."
Bisping-Silva is part of a card that includes a main event between heavyweight contenders Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez. The card is on Sunday afternoon in Australia in order to air live at 7 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, the regular time slot for UFC cards.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.
