|
|
  - MICHAEL BISPING GETS READY FOR THE SECOND TIME
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - by Damon Martin - MMAWeekly.com
For the second time in as many months, Michael Bisping has been working and training for a match-up against Chris Leben. The first time around, Leben had to pull out of the bout to serve time for a past legal offense, but now the fight is on and the British fighter has had plenty of time to think about this one.
Before fighting Jason Day in his last UFC bout, Bisping had game planned and prepared for Leben. He is now able to recycle that knowledge for the fight scheduled for UFC 89 this weekend in England.
“This time when the fight was scheduled I kind of already had an idea of how the fight was going to go and what I needed to do,” said the Brit in a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I was already watching his tapes, now I started doing that again. The gameplan’s still the same.”
While the gameplan itself hasn’t been revealed, one big key to Bisping’s success could be his patience to deal with Leben’s incredible chin and ability to withstand a ton of punishment.
“You’ve definitely got to be patient with fights like Chris. I’ve fought guys like Chris before in kickboxing and early in my MMA career, guys that could take a great shot and keep coming,” Bisping commented. “You can’t think you’ve hurt them and then stay in the pocket and get caught with that big shot.
“Take your time and just keep chipping away. If you don’t knock him down with your first first few shots, just keep chipping away and the knockout will come.”
Bisping has also had the chance to look at Leben’s past fights and understands that speed and quickness could be major problems for his American counterpart, who loves to unload big, devastating shots in his fights.
“That’s the way I’ve always liked to fight, even at light heavyweight,” said Bisping about his quickness. “Because, I was an undersized guy at light heavyweight, I liked to rely on speed as opposed to on raw power if you will, and I think that will be the case in this one. Now I’m lighter and I feel even faster.”
The one part of this fight that many fans expected to see prior to this weekend was a verbal war between Bisping and Leben, who have both been known to let their feelings show when an opponent has a few words for them.
Despite never backing down from either a physical or verbal challenge, Bisping and Leben have both remained pretty respectful going into this one, and the Englishman thinks its because they may be cut from the same cloth.
“Leben seems like my kind of guy, seems like the kind of guy I’d like to go out and have a beer with,” Bisping commented. “To be honest he’s said the same thing, he’s been pretty respectful towards me. All it takes is one of us to say one wrong thing, (then) it’s in the gutter.”
Michael Bisping will let his fight skill do the talking for him when he faces Chris Leben on Saturday night at UFC 89 in England.
BACK TO THE NEWS
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Related Articles :
- - UFC ANNOUNCES NEW JAPANESE TV DEAL (Monday, October 13, 2008)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Monday announced that it has reached an agreement to return to television in Japan...
- - UFC 89: THE NEW CHRIS LEBEN, STILL THE UNDERDOG (Monday, October 13, 2008)
Chris Leben promises a new and improved fighter - a version 2.0 if you will - but he's still the underdog stepping into the Octagon in front of a crowd that is whole-heartedly behind his opponent...
- - UFC 89: VERA READY FOR 205 AND JARDINE (Friday, October 10, 2008)
Brandon Vera is scheduled to take on Keith Jardine at UFC 89 in Birmingham, England on Oct. 18. It will be his second appearance as a light heavyweight and he says he's ready...
- - BISPING INTERESTED, NOT OFFERED TUF 9 JOB YET (Saturday, September 20, 2008)
While open to possibility, British fighter Michael Bisping, tells MMAWeekly.com that as of right now he is focused on his upcoming fight against Chris Leben and TUF 9 hasn't been offered to him yet...
- - KONGO JOINS RAMPAGE AT TEAM WOLFSLAIR (Thursday, September 11, 2008)
Hot on the heels of training partner Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo has joined the ranks of Team Wolfslair...
- - LYOTO MACHIDA OFF UFC 89 CARD (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)
Following the news first reported by MMAWeekly.com last weekend that Thiago Silva had been forced out of UFC 89 due to a back injury, his opponent, Lyoto Machida tells Tatame.com that he has been told no replacement will be found and to expect a move to a future card instead...
- - THIAGO SILVA OUT OF UFC 89 FIGHT WITH MACHIDA (Friday, September 05, 2008)
The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship show in England has lost one of its marquee fighters. MMAWeekly.com has confirmed that Thiago Silva has been forced out of his upcoming bout with Lyoto Machida at UFC 89...
- - MACHIDA THE NEXT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER? (Sunday, August 31, 2008)
Standing undefeated at 13-0 with nary a title shot in site, where does Lyoto Machida stand in the UFC's "money division" if he defeats Thiago Silva at UFC 89 in England?
- - UFC PRES CONFIRMS OREGON, FLORIAN VS STEVENSON (Thursday, August 21, 2008)
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White on Thursday confirmed that the promotion will head to Portland, Ore. on Nov. 15
- - STOUT, OTHERS ADDED TO UFC 89 IN ENGLAND (Thursday, August 21, 2008)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship late Wednesday announced two additional bouts for UFC 89 set to take place on Oct. 18 in Birmingham, England including Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim...
- - JIM MILLER VS DAVID BARON AT UFC 89 (Tuesday, August 12, 2008)
Two new additions to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight roster will square off at UFC 89 in England as Jim Miller is set to do battle with David Baron, as confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight...
- - KAMPMANN VS MARQUARDT SET FOR UFC 89 (Saturday, August 02, 2008)
The middleweight division will possibly crown another top contender when Martin Kampmann returns to action at UFC 89 in Birmingham, England to face Nate Marquardt in a 185lb match-up...
- - UFC 89 FREE ON SPIKE; VERA VS. JARDINE CONFIRMED (Monday, July 28, 2008)
Spike TV made the announcement today that UFC 89, which takes place at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England on Oct. 18, will air free on Spike TV on same-day tape delay.
- - ALVES VS SANCHEZ MOVED TO UFC 90 IN CHICAGO (Monday, July 21, 2008)
MMAWeekly.com has just learned that the fight between Thiago Alves and Diego Sanchez has been moved to the as of yet unannounced card for UFC 90 set to take place in Chicago, Ill. on Oct. 25 ...
- - LYOTO MACHIDA VS THIAGO SILVA AT UFC 89 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Wednesday that undefeated light heavyweight standout Lyoto Machida will face another unbeaten competitor on Oct. 18 in Birmingham, England as he faces fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva...
- - THREE MORE FIGHTS ANNOUNCED FOR UFC 89 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)
On Tuesday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced the addition of three more fights to the upcoming card set to take place on October 19 in Birmingham, England. The fights added include a light heavyweight clash between Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Brazilian fighter Luis Cane...
- - PAUL KELLY CONFIRMS UFC 89 MARCUS DAVIS BOUT (Friday, July 11, 2008)
As UFC 89 begins to take shape, Brit Paul Kelly confirms that he has signed to face American Marcus Davis in Birmingham, England...
- - LIAUDIN AND BIELKHEDEN TO MEET AT 155 AT UFC 89 (Thursday, July 10, 2008)
Jess Liaudin and David Bielkheden will both be dropping from welterweight down to 155-pounds when they meed at UFC 89 ...
- - THIAGO ALVES VS. DIEGO SANCHEZ LIKELY AT UFC 89 (Wednesday, July 02, 2008)
Top welterweights, Thiago "Pitbull" Alves and Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez are set to do battle on Oct. 19 at UFC 89 in England...
- - BISPING VS LEBEN AT UFC 89 IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (Tuesday, July 01, 2008)
The UFC on Tuesday confirmed that British superstar Michael Bisping will face Ultimate Fighter alum Chris Leben in the main event of an October return to the U.K. ...
- - UFC 89: OCTOBER 18 IN ENGLAND ()
Copyright 2009 MMA Weekly LLC. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of MMA Weekly content is expressly prohibited without expressed written consent of MMA Weekly. MMA Weekly will not be liable for any errors in content or any action taken in reliance thereof.
|
|
|
|
