Because watching them debate might be more exciting!
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| image via hov-mma.com |
In a business where the ability to hype a fight is quickly becoming as important as striking and grappling, the two men set to face one another in Las Vegas Saturday night are without equal.
Good thing, because tonight's Bisping/Miller fight has all the hallmarks of a snoozer.
The Ultimate Fighter season 14 finale between coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller is an interesting fight mainly due to the fact that it’s between two of the biggest mouths in the UFC. Neither of these guys has knockout power, nor do they have outstanding stand-up technique. What strengths they do possess -- including talking shit -- pretty much cancel each other out.
Additionally, neither fighter is a real contender for a title shot, although both seem to be looking past one another in favour of Middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Of the two, Bisping (21-3) is more deserving of a shot. He’s been a UFC Middleweight since 2008 and has faced some of the toughest guys in the division, with varying degrees of success. A win over Miller will put him that much closer to a bittersweet encounter with Silva, who will almost certainly send him back to England with a sore face and a large gap in his memory.
Miller (24-7, 1 no contest) certainly has more to lose on this fight. An MMA veteran, he has spent the majority of his career outside the UFC, and was involved in an embarrassing post-fight brawl in 2010 at a Nashville Strikeforce event. A good performance on Saturday will underscore his undeniable appeal as a TV personality for the UFC and Spike. However, a lacklustre fight may put him on UFC president Dana White’s shit list, which can be a lonely place indeed.
I wish I could say this fight had the makings of a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but it just isn’t so. Miller’s ground game is excellent, (he briefly mounted Strikeforce champ Jake Shields -- who was ultimately saved by the bell) but Bisping has hip escapes that would make Houdini envious, and is very tough to take down in the first place. MIller also connects on many of his strikes, but he’s no power puncher and his style can best be described as “unorthodox”.
Bisping’s kickboxing is solid, and he’s one of the better strikers in the UFC in terms of stamina and shots landed. But his ground game is almost entirely defensive and geared toward creating an opportunity to get back to his feet, where he’s most comfortable.
Both fighters have excellent conditioning and should have no problem in the deeper waters of this five-round (non-title) fight.
Miller recently said that the fight will be “one of the most brutal, one-sided beat downs that the MMA world has ever seen”. Expect the exact opposite. Bisping will work his superior striking and footwork, and will find a way out of any danger Miller poses on the ground.
Prediction: Bisping, by decision.
-By Jody White
Paqman&Bull are pleased to welcome special guest correspondent Jody White on board to share his insight and musings on all things MMA. We also asked him to shave, but he just wouldn't listen to us.
Good thing, because tonight's Bisping/Miller fight has all the hallmarks of a snoozer.
The Ultimate Fighter season 14 finale between coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller is an interesting fight mainly due to the fact that it’s between two of the biggest mouths in the UFC. Neither of these guys has knockout power, nor do they have outstanding stand-up technique. What strengths they do possess -- including talking shit -- pretty much cancel each other out.
Additionally, neither fighter is a real contender for a title shot, although both seem to be looking past one another in favour of Middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Of the two, Bisping (21-3) is more deserving of a shot. He’s been a UFC Middleweight since 2008 and has faced some of the toughest guys in the division, with varying degrees of success. A win over Miller will put him that much closer to a bittersweet encounter with Silva, who will almost certainly send him back to England with a sore face and a large gap in his memory.
Miller (24-7, 1 no contest) certainly has more to lose on this fight. An MMA veteran, he has spent the majority of his career outside the UFC, and was involved in an embarrassing post-fight brawl in 2010 at a Nashville Strikeforce event. A good performance on Saturday will underscore his undeniable appeal as a TV personality for the UFC and Spike. However, a lacklustre fight may put him on UFC president Dana White’s shit list, which can be a lonely place indeed.
I wish I could say this fight had the makings of a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but it just isn’t so. Miller’s ground game is excellent, (he briefly mounted Strikeforce champ Jake Shields -- who was ultimately saved by the bell) but Bisping has hip escapes that would make Houdini envious, and is very tough to take down in the first place. MIller also connects on many of his strikes, but he’s no power puncher and his style can best be described as “unorthodox”.
Bisping’s kickboxing is solid, and he’s one of the better strikers in the UFC in terms of stamina and shots landed. But his ground game is almost entirely defensive and geared toward creating an opportunity to get back to his feet, where he’s most comfortable.
Both fighters have excellent conditioning and should have no problem in the deeper waters of this five-round (non-title) fight.
Miller recently said that the fight will be “one of the most brutal, one-sided beat downs that the MMA world has ever seen”. Expect the exact opposite. Bisping will work his superior striking and footwork, and will find a way out of any danger Miller poses on the ground.
Prediction: Bisping, by decision.
-By Jody White
Paqman&Bull are pleased to welcome special guest correspondent Jody White on board to share his insight and musings on all things MMA. We also asked him to shave, but he just wouldn't listen to us.
"who will almost certainly send him back to England with a sore face and a large gap in his memory".....
ReplyDeleteLove it! Awesome blog, Jody!
RT
Yup, we're glad to have Jody on board!
ReplyDelete