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After Saturday night’s performance against Chris Leben at UFC 89, many are asking where it places Michael Bisping in the big picture of MMA and the middleweight weight class. While I am not a fan of Bisping’s by any stretch of the imagination, I thought he fought a very intelligent and masterful game plan. He did the very thing he HAD to do to win based on his skillset. It was perfectly executed strategy, which unfortunately for Bisping is not appreciated by the mainstream fan that wants to see blood, fighters getting Nelmarked, choked out or limbs twisted until a fighter taps. A win is a win and though not a win that should propel him towards a challenge for the belt, it certainly moves him up the ranks, regardless of what he did to get there.

The UFC has announced that ex-middleweight champ Rich Franklin will be taking on Dan Henderson at UFC 93. The winner will become a coach for TUF 9, and will be the opposing coach to Michael Bisping. TUF 9 will feature a Team U.S. vs. Team U.K. format, and as usual, at the end of the season both fighters will square off. Shooting for TUF 9 begins in January. This is a MASSIVE step up for Bisping. Based on his performance Saturday night, it’s one I believe to be premature. Bisping needs to fight some more before taking on one of these titans.

Noticeable is how much less Bisping talks about challenging Anderson Silva and how much more he has been demonstrating humility as of late, which to me says that he has given more thought to going straight at Anderson. “All people seem to be talking about is a title fight. You’ve got to earn that right for a title shot. Whenever it comes, I’ll be happy. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Have I done it yet? I probably haven’t yet. I don’t think I have. I don’t just want to be given it because I’m from the UK. I want to earn that right.”

If he can somehow redeem himself in a dramatic stoppage win over Hendo or Franklin then he will have catapulted his was to certainly be considered to challenge for the belt. I don’t see it happening. Sure, I’ve been wrong a million times about fights. Up and down, left and right, here and there I can’t see how Bisping beats a Hendo or Franklin.

However, great fighters are made because they rise to the occasion regardless of past performances. Bisping is talented enough, passionate enough, and capable. Let’s just hope he does so in a far more dramatic fashion that Saturday night’s fight.

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UFC 88 ‘Breakthrough’ will take place on September 6, 2008 at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. Weigh-ins are on Friday.

Main Card
Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans wins by KO in RD2!
Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares wins by decision!
Martin Kampmann vs. Nate Marquardt wins by TKO in RD1!
Rich Franklin vs. Matt Hamill wins by liver kick in RD3!
Karo Parisyan vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (Fight was canceled due to injury)

Preliminary Bouts
Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellegrino wins by decision!
Jason Lambert vs. Jason MacDonald wins by RNC in RD2!
Mike Patt vs. Tim Boetsch wins by TKO in RD1!
Roan Carneiro and Ryo Chonan wins by split decision!
Matt Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim wins by split decision!

The Lowdown: Main Card
Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans will be a fight to determine whether Chuck’s training and fights have finally caught up with him. Is this the case of out with the old and in with the new? Chuck is starting to sound like Thomas Hearns and I can’t discern whether it’s because of NyQuil or years of physical abuse. My initial reaction to his fight is that Evans will finally get KOed, but his wrestling prowess and defense may help him make it all the way to losing a decision. I simply can’t imagine it in my little brain that Evans will KO or submit Chuck (LOL….kind of funny), so that leaves him with winning a decision. The only way to beat Chuck by decision is to outstrike him. That’s another funny.

However, there is the possibility that Evans ends up John Ruizing Chuck. Remote but a possibility.

Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares is a fight that kind of has me stumped. On the one hand you have a submission machine in Palhares, but his biggest win is against Ivan Salaverry. Now, on paper when you compare resumes it just looks awful. Like a complete mismatch and you say WTF are these two doing fighting one another? However, I am seeing a trend with NEW fighters with shallow records beating guys that have been in the sport for a long time. IMO that has to do with making their training resemble one style: MMA instead of a hodge podge of training…but that’s another article.

So while I am cringing and thinking that this X-factor is going to rear it’s ugly head in this fight, I think the safe bet is that Henderson has just way too much experience and is just too much of an animal. Dan’s conditioning, aggression, powerful right hand should lead him to a win.

Martin Kampmann vs. Nate Marquardt is a fight that I am pretty damn excited about and IMO has the makings to be fight of the night. I am keen on both fighters and there is something about Kampmann that I really like. He isn’t afraid to stand in the pocket and bang away and has heavy hands and lately demonstrated his submission game. Could this be upset of the night? Can Kampmann make a statement and explode on the scene by beating Nate? I think so. Nate is a tough dude and had some moments in the Silva fight. He is certainly capable of annihilating Kampmann and odds are on his side. Either way I think this fight should be a VERY technical one and don’t be surprised if this fight wins one or more of the bonuses.

Rich Franklin vs. Matt Hamill makes me feel blarg. Another fight where I like both fighters. Can’t Joe Silva make fights where I hate at least one of the fighters? I think this fight has a lot of similarities to the Evans/Liddell fight. Franklin will most likely work to keep this standing, and Hamill will probably mix some striking with takedowns. However, Franklin is VERY dangerous standing and has the ability to finish it on the ground. Hamill’s way to win this fight is to smother Franklin in the clinch or take him down repeatedly and G&P him, though being in Franklin’s guard may prove to be dangerous.

Karo Parisyan vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida is a fight that most people will give to Karo by popularity default as to the mainstream fan, little is known about Yoshida. So let me be the one to tell you, in case you aren’t aware: this fight is not a “gimme” fro Karo. ESPECIALLY considering his recent performances. Yoshida is a TOUGH fighter that can strike and grapple. Stylistically this should make for a good fight as both guys have similar styles. I don’t see this fight lasting long. I think Yoshida may pull out the “upset”.

The Lowdown: Preliminary Bouts
Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellegrino is a case of 2 fighters who have the “big fight” curse fighting one another to see who’s curse will lose out. Do two negatives make a positive? Tavares will have a difficult time on the ground with Kurt and Kurt is dangerous pretty much everywhere. I figure Kurt’s moment is now and his aggression will be a big factor in this fight.

Jason Lambert vs. Jason MacDonald is the 2nd fight on this card that may not only make FOTN, but may vene manage FOTY and win some of those bonuses BLAF has. As I mentioned in a previous article, these 2 are incapable of being in a boring fight even in losing. Once again, yet ANOTHER fight where I like both guys. If Lambert wasn’t coming down a weight class, I would say this fight is too close to call, but Lambert is a monster of a guy and has ridiculous strenf and power. Lambert will try to bully MacDonald around and it MAY backfire, but is the way to go to win this fight.

Mike Patt vs. Tim Boetsch is a fight that I simply don’t know much about. I’m going to go with the guy with two first names.

Roan Carneiro vs. Ryo Chonan…um, Ryo by flying heelhook? Please?!

Matt Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim I LOVE Kim Chee, so I’m picking Dong in the hopes that he will send me a case.

Discuss UFC 88, MMA, Boxing, Training and much more on out free forum!

Forrest Griffin KOed by Wanderlei in Training?
A rumor is afoot that a few weeks ago in an open training session, Wanderlei Silva KOed Forrest Griffin a la Nate Quarry by Rich Franklin. Rampage was discussing it on Sherdog yesterday. The discussion the past few weeks on MixedMartialArts.com was whether Forrest had a suspect chin or not, and this is certainly fodder for those who think he does. What do you say? I say it’s a non factor and it’s not true.

Dan Henderson News:
Dan Henderson said on TAGG Radio:“I told [UFC officials] I was open to anything but to keep in mind that I wanted someone who would get me another shot at Anderson Silva.”He must first get past Rousimar Palhares at UFC 88. About the possible matchup against Brandon Verahe said: “[Vera] was offered, and then he was taken away.”

BJ Penn says he should be fighting the winner of GSP/Fitch!
BJ Penn stated that he would be fighting the winner of the GSP/Fitch fight (which takes place at UFC 87) at the UFC’s annual New Year’s Eve card this December 27th in Las Vegas. This would be a move from 155# to 170#, which is just another day at the office for BJ. He stated he would still keep his Lightweight Belt and then defend it against the winner of the Huerta/Florian fight which takes place at UFC 87 also. BJ is trying to cement his place in the sport and if he wins these next 2 fights he is locked in for the HOF.

Mike Tyson putting out murder contracts?!
YahooSports.com has placed up an article called Gang witnesses link Tyson to NYC contract killing linking him not only to two murder schemes, but a hit that was out on the pro boxer, but was reneged on for religious reasons. It’s a damn interesting read. Check it out.

UFC 90 in Portland, Oregon!!
UFC 90 looks like it will take place in Portland, Oregon. RUMORED potential matches being discussed is Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami, Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Shogun Rua, and Wanderlei Silva vs. Thiago Silva. This is great news for MMA fans in Oregon!!

UFC 89: Diego Sanchez vs. Thiago Silva!
MMAweekly has reported that Diego Sanchez will be taking on Thiago Alves in which could be a Fight of the Year candidate!!! Where this places the winner in the picture with GSP/Fitch and BJ Penn is anyone’s guess. As usual the 170# weight class is just packed with great matchups. BJ/Sanchez? GSP/Sanchez?

Rick Roufus: “I’d like to make it to the UFC and fight Liddell or Wanderlei”!
Rick Roufus in an interview for MMAyou.com that he has been training MMA with the Lion’s Den in Scottsdale and has been training with Edwin Dewees, Joe Riggs, and an Olympic and All-American wrestler, Kenny Lester. The 63-9-1 Kickboxing legend has won 6 championship belts in 6 different weight classes in his career. Simply astounding. Now he wants to foray into MMA? Even more astounding! He expressed an interest to make it to the UFC and have a fight with either Chuck Liddell or Wanderlei Silva.

Jon Fitch gets his BJJ Black Belt!
Jon Fitch posted on MixedMartialArts.com:

“I received my Black Belt today from David Camarillo. I am his first student to go from white to black. It is a great honor for me to achieve this under Dave’s teaching. I did it in 4 and a half years and have to thank everyone that contributed. My team mates and all of the Jiu-jitsu students at AKA. Thank you all so much for your time and efforts.”

Getting a BB from Dave Camarillo isn’t remotely an easy thing to do. To get a BB in BJJ in 4 years is insane. The only people that come to mind that got it in that kind of timr frame ar BJ Penn, Dan Inosanto, and Lloyd Irvin. You guys know anyone else that got it that quick?

[1]. Mark Hunt has been officially added to DREAM.5!!! Word is that he was offered Sergei Kharitonov, but said it was too short of a notice. He will be offered another opponent.

[2]. The September 17th UFN 15 in Omaha, Nebraska is shaping up!! Look at this!

Houston Alexander vs. Eric Schafer
Gray Maynard vs. Matt Wiman
Josh Neer vs. Nate Diaz
Mac Danzig vs. Clay Guida
Ed Herman vs. Alan Belcher
Joe Lauzon vs. Kyle Bradley

[3]. A rumor is afoot that Karo Parisyan will be fighting Yoshida at UFC 88!

Another fight rumored on the card is Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares!

[4]. Brock Lesnar has brought in Comprido to help out at the MMMAA!!! Here are some pictures of them training:

[5]. Sergei Kharitonov has verbally agreed to face 6′ 4″ 300#s Antonio Silva on EliteXC’s 2nd episode of Saturday Night Fight on July 26th, pending approval from the California State Athletic Commission.

[6]. Added to the WEC’s August 3rd card are 2 more fights:

Brian Bowles (5-0) vs. Damacio ‘Angel of Death’ Page (10-3)
Micah Miller (9-1) vs. Josh Grispi (8-1)

You may recall the dismantling of Charlie Vallencia by Bowles, who is a fighter to keep your eye on. Though he only has 2 years of training under his belt, he is under the tutelage of Rory and Adam Singer at their Atlanta, Georgia Hardcore Gym, which has spawned Forrest Griffin, Stephen Ledbetter, & Cale Yarbrough. Grispi is coming off a huge win over Mark Hominick.

Also check out Spladdle’s article on the headline fights with Brian Stann, Carlos Condit, and Jamie Varner as well as a fighter spotlight on Marcus ‘The Wrecking Ball’ Hicks who will be challenging Jame Varner for his belt.

I will be doing a complete fight card summary and play by play so be sure to join the RSS feed or come back!