“I want to go out and show my skills, my last fight hit the ground too much – he (Jason Day) gave me the opportunity to take him down, and he couldn’t handle the ground-and-pound…. Your next fight is always your biggest fight, you’re only as good as your last fight, so yeah this is the biggest fight of my life. I’m not gonna go more cautious because it’s Chris Leben. I’ll do what I normally do, look to stand on the feet and set the pace. It’s the same in every fight, you assess the situation, play it by ear, punches get thrown –- and hopefully we’ll get the stand-up brawl we all want.”
– Michael Bisping tells Setanta Sports that he is looking to bang with Chris Leben at UFC 89 at The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, England, on October 18. He shouldn’t have to look too much … “The Crippler” has made quite a name for himself standing and trading win, lose or draw.
98 Comments »
I think Bisping will take it if his chin can hold up. He seems a lot stronger to me than Leben.
I’m not so sure Bisping’s chin holds up well. Obviously he’s got a better overall game than Leben. But Bisping has been rocked before, Ross Pointoon and Sinosic. So if he stands & bangs it will be his chin that will win or loose the fight for him.
Can someone correct me if I am wrong, was it not Elvis’s knee that rocked Bisping??
Can’t remember Pointon rocking Bisping either.
Bisping has a great chin but is too intelligent to test it with Leben.
As stated below, Bisping will fight like Keith Jardine did against Chuck Liddell.
It doesn’t matter how Bisping fights, all Leben needs is one shot. Watched the Leben/Marting fight last night, Leben is a much more intelligent fighter than he was when he faced Silva. He is in much better shape, has improved all elements of his game, and still has the strong chin and HEAVY hands. While I like Bisping, Leben will take this fight. Call me crazy, but Leben is the one 185er I think can really challenge Silva (regardless of what happened last time - that was when Silva was unknown in the ufc - I think Leben would have a different approach the second time around))
WADZ your crazy
Damn you JV!!!!!!!!!!! lol
All my posts are moderated, I assume because of my nickname
Automation, Ross Piontoon dropped Bisping in the UF when they brought him back to replace Hamill. And I dont remember what Sinosic dropped him with. Sorry about your name bro.(lol) I’ll tell you what, I’ll let you off the hook since you kept your word. If it was money then I would definatly hold you to it.
Elvis dropped Bisping with a knee, then Elvis try to finish the fight but Bisping didn’t let it happen.
what is he now bisping ? 16-1 ? thats a lot of fights without being knocked out im sure his chin all that bad
JV you’re a gent, I would have kept it for however long. A bet is a bet :).
Pointon was more like knocking him off balance, thats how I saw that one and it was Elvis’ knee that rocked him which we all know that knees rock anybody.
As I said above, Bisping is not going to test the integrity of his chin with Leben. Bisping will kick and jab at distance
Leben’s chin is very under rated. Go back to his cage rage days, he took some shots from some powerful lHW’s…Leben’s chin will get all the credit but Bisping’s is no slouch either.
Should make for a hell of a fight and even a possible fight of the year candidate.
Just makes us appreciate Anderson Sliva more… he just cut Leben apart. This fight is hard to call, it’s a toss up IMO. I disagree with alot of people when I say, I think this is a worthy main event, for a free tv deal. Your thoughts? Is it normal to wake-up every morning thinking it’s July 19th???????????????????
This is going to be a FIGHT. I am beginning to look forward to the war of words between these two that will undoubtedly be taking place as the fight approaches.
I am so very interested in finding out the opening odds for this fight, and you know what??? I just found some on a site called bookmaker.com
Bisping -175
Leben +145
I am curious to see which way the initial money is going to be bet. I love Leben at +175 or better, and I like Bisping at -115 or better. As the odds are right now, I would of course be betting on Leben, mostly because of pride in the fact that if he does win, I would be pissed at myself for not betting on my boy.
I wont bet the opening odds on this fight. In a close fight like this, who the hell really knows who will win this one? I sure dont, so I will wait to see how the odds on fold and bet according to the odds. If either fighter is a plus 175 underdog or more, then thats who I am going with.
Leben cannot be one-punched. You can only knock him out with like an eight punch/kick combo. Ask Terry Martin. He chrushed Leben’s face with a monster right hand about 10 seconds before Leben one-punched him.
I agree with VM on this one I would like better that +150 to put money on Leben. Althoug I do have $20 bet straight up with a friend.
I will probably stop at the book book and bet money on Leben fight day no matter what the odds are.
this fight will be too close to call.
Quick question. Is the winner of this fight one win away from a title shot? Or does Bisping become #1 contender with a win and Leben still needs one or two more wins after if he wins?
AFFLICTION IS FREE ON BRAVO!!!
(for all the UK fans out there, 9pm on Sunday!)
Thanks for the info Nick J.Thats good news.
Bravo Bravo
F_@k Setanta
Bisping is gonna engage in a strikefest with Leben?! Are you kiddin’ me?! He’s gonna bite off more than he can chew.HE shouldn’t underestimate Leben’s stand up. If he looks to bang with Leben, he’s gonna get it. Bisping may be the more technical striker, but he’s gonna get KTFO!!
Never, as in never, underestimate the power of a heavy handed striker like Leben. Look at what happened to GSP when Serra knocked him out. That was totally unexpected. I expect an upset here. Leben and Bisping are gonna exchange a flurry of punches, and Bisping’s chin will be put to the test against Chris “The Crippler/Ex-Convict” Leben!
I gotta agree , Leben has ko power even on the brink of defeat , just ask Terry Martin … And Sakara had his face all pink , red and cut when Leben put him away out of nowhere.
Im a big fan of Leben since he moved too Hawaii , hes a different righter and if Bisping really decides too stand he will end up like Martin/Sakara.
Finally a real test for Bisping.
You need to carefully read his quote. Standing on the feet and setting the pace is different then wildly throwing and exchanging.
Setting a pace against a guy like Leben is hard to do. Words are easier said than done, a lot of guys say they’ll stand up with you but the moment a real brawler hits thim in the face consecutively they go “hey this is a terrible idea”. Bisbing will end up trying to wrestle Leben down and I’m pretty sure Leben will stuff him with a couple of bombs. I’m not counting Bisbing out of this one I’m just going with who I think is going to take the cake here
Easy to be confident when the UFC continually hand you very beatable opponents. The UFC is pretty confiedent that Bisping is faster and better than Leben, otherwise they would NOT of made the fight.
After 8 or so fights, dont know the exact number, just when will this guy get off teh gravy train and have to fight a real striker and well rounded fighter that will make for a great fight????
Just when will he have to fight good competition. What about Kampmann or McFedries??? Forgot about Franklin or Henderson or Okami….What about even people like Grove or Kote????
Just how long will gie this guy such winnable fights???
So are you saying Leben is another one of the cans that Bisping has been facing? And then saying he should face Drew McFedries instead for a true opponent? Cuz I don’t think I really just read that.
Yep, right on! Leben is no can!
I didnt mean can, but just a MW that will never be a title holder or top of the division….after 8 or 9 fights and talk of possible title shots down the line, he better start facing top MW’s, period. that is all I meant. Sure Leben is a decent, midlevel B fighter, maybe closer to an A on his best day…..but he will never be top of the division.
in a way he is, he’s just a brawler which isn’t that much skill when you think about it.. he takes like 5 punches to land 1 that’s not exactly a skill but hey he wins fights like that, more credit to leben but bisping is gonna outpoint him in striking
I guess you’re right. LEben will never be on top of the game. But in MMA ladies and gentlemen, you’ll never know what’s gonna happen. In this bloodsport, you could always be ready for an upset. That’s the reason why I ain’t countin’ Leben out in this one. Bisping may have the tools to operate on Leben, but the crippler’s punches will be operatin’ on the Count like a surgeon…
Leben is 8-3 in the UFC 18-4 overall. That is no easy task and he should not be looked at as an easy opponent. Leben can probably knock Bisbing out with one punch if he can land it.
After this fight I think the winner should fight Hendo or Franklin for #1 conterder status.
It’s the Roger Huerta/Chuck Liddell treatment.
People like you, people want to pay money to see you fight.
They will make sure you win so that the desire for those two things not dissipate and that they can market you for a longer duration to sell more tickets and make more money.
It is not rocket science.
Totally agree that Huerta has been used that way. His only real fight was with Guida, and he nearly lost it. I would hardly call any of Liddell’s title fights sure wins though. And as far as Bisping, if they were feeding him wins they surely have gave up on that now. If Leben comes to win we will surely see what Bisping is made of. Call him what you may, but Leben is no can.
And I’m sure of that.lol
Let’s not Forget, Leben beat Cote!!!!
and lost to Starnes
Stanes showed skill in his previous fights people forget otherwise he wouldn’t have been put up against a great fighter as Marquardt. Marquardt is a beast and if he was hitting me in the face like that I’d run away too.
He was running from Quarry.
Sorry my fault I get Quarry and Marquardt mixed up pretty often
The Count has a better chin then everyone gives him credit, I think he can stand in front of Leben and throw.
Elvis Sinosic almost knocked him out.
As far as I can remember, Elvis caught him with a knee that rocked him
Yeah knees rock everybody, Bispings chin is solid.
I haven’t seen anybody shake off a knee like Sherk did against Franca. It puts in perspective the power that BJ has, who rocked Sherk with his hands.
Leben has been beat up by Anderson Silva..
Bisping almost lost a decision to Matt Hamill..
Leben has been to the brink of a lot of troubles and pains in his life and is on a different track now.
Bisping has yet to be in that kind of situation.
I’m going to say Leben by heart & willpower.
And I would NOT be surprised if Leben took him down to secure the rounds or imposed his jiujitsu game that nobody thinks he has, as Bisping has never looked that great on the ground. (Sinosic?)
LMAO!!!!:
I can see the UFC now, putting up the attributes of Leben on the screen: -
Knock out power
Great chin
Troubled past but ok now (beware) LMFAO!!
So to be a champion, you have to come through a troubled past?? Is that you 50 Cent?? LMAO!!!
Yeah I’d say the guy gave him some pretty good advise. Being beat down or in a slump really helps you refocus your game man. Lol you kind of look bad here because if you look at all the current champs they have all had a pretty bad slump. BJ Penn lost to Hughes and GSP and then re focused and came back to beat Pulver, Stevenson, then Sherk. GSP lost to Hughes then sent people to the canvas to get his shot again, got it and won then lost to Serra and came back to put a mad hurt on Serra and I do believe a family member had died when he lost to Serra so he was probably in a bit of a broken state. Forrest got hurt bad by Jardine and came back to beat Rua and Rampage and now owns the title. Big Nog has always been a big title contender but got stomped by the top ie. Fedor but now he has the title and is calling out Randy and I don’t doubt he’d take Fedor. To make wrap this story up a troubled past is actually a pretty good thing it makes the fighters re focus on their fighting and they usually come back for the better.
Bic:
I think DirtyML was referring to upbringing and life in general, outside the cage, which makes the statement even more ludicrous.
That means Evan Tanner will f-@king destroy everyone in his path.
That means Jon Fitch’s chance of being champion is stuffed.
That means Diego Sanchez should just give up.
That means, unless you’ve got an alcoholic dad that has cheated on your mum, who unfortunately passed away due to an overdose because her husband was cheating, you’ll never be champion.
What a crock and what a ludicrous statement.
Champions are mentally strong end of. Thats their own psychology, they don’t have to go through pain in life to be mentally strong.
I like his tone. Go in there and bang away. Sounds confident. Maybe overconfident, but hey, that’s a learning experience.
Also, Jason Day wasn’t a can. A lot of people thought he had a good chance.
BTW, you don’t need to go to jail or be in deep trouble to find yourself. It’s great that Leben’s on a different track, but that doesn’t mean he suddenly has heart, or that Bisping doesn’t.
I mean more about his not drinking and taking things seriously, opening his own school and stuff like that, not so much the jail issue.
His heart comes from his wins over Terry Martin and other fights of that nature, he never has ever given up in a fight either.
I just hope Leben can get into 3 round shape for this fight. I have never seen him with enough gas to go three solid rounds.
I can’t wait for this fight! I was really bummed when it didn’t happen the first time it was scheduled. I’m going with Leben. Either way, should be a great fight.
Oh yeah, and does it seem like Bisping is on some sort of fast track? This guy fights a lot!
He does fight a lot, but a fast track tends to be a fast track to somewhere, like a title shot. Maybe “easy track” is a better term. But he is finally facing good competition in Leben, so maybe this is the start of a new trend. I am so excited for this one. I plan on a mountain of hot wings and a pitcher of cold beer to help me through.Mmmmmmmmmm……beer.
It’s gonna be a good fight, Leben doesn’t quit and as much as some you might disagree Bisping want quit either.
THE JOKE IS LEBEN IS A HEADLINER ANYWHERE?? HE IS A WILD HACK STRIKER THAT DOESNT DESERVE A MAIN FEATURE, EVEN IF IT IS FOR THE BRITS. ALL ANYONE HAS TO DO AGAINST THAT WILD THROWING AMATEUR IS STEP, AND LET HIM WALK RIGHT INTO YOUR SHOTS. WITNESS A. SILVA. LEBEN WOULDNT MAKE IT AS A JOURNEYMAN ON ANY FIGHT CARD I KNOW OF, EXCEPT ON UFC.. HE IS A PLODDER. I WILL FIGHT THAT HACK MYSELF TO PROVE MY POINT.. HE IS SO PEDESTRIAN AS A FIGHTER IT IS REDICULOUS.. MATCH ME UP. I WILL FIGHT THAT BLUDGER FOR FREE AND EXPOSE MMA AND THE UFC FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS. MOSTLY HACK TALENT THAT THROWS PUNCHES LIKE DRUNK HOES ON A STREETCORNER..
Now that is a fight I would pay for!
LEBEN IS A HACK. WE GIVE THE BRITS OUR SLOPPY SECONDS. HE THROWS REATARDED WILD STRIKES. HE WALKS RIGHT IN. WITNESS HIS FIGHT WITH SILVA. ALL SILVA DID WAS DROP BACK A HALF STEP AND THROW STRAIGHT. LEBEN LOSER WALKED RIGHT IN. HE COULDNT BE A JOURNEYMAN BOXER, SO WHY IS HE A HEADLINER UFC FIGHTER?? DANA WHITE IS FULL OF ISH.. I WILL FIGHT LEBEN.. HOOK IT UP. THE FIRST BLOGGER AGAINST FIGHTER EVER.. PLEASE HOOK IT UP.. I KNOW I COULD OUTBOX THAT CLOWN
Of course you could. After all, if Anderson Silva can out-strike a guy then anyone can, right?
Hey PW, I wonder if this Wildman, back from training Fedor in Russia?
Wow you figured out how to use the Caps Lock button. Good job.
Great match-up. I give the edge to Bisping as i think he is the more technical fighter. Leben is very dangerous and I never count him out, but I really see Bisping taking this.
I think Bisping will lose if he stands with Leben. He isn’t the same fighter as when he fought Anderson; he’s focused much more on his technical striking, and as always he has a formidable chin (moreso than Charles McCarthy..). His win over Terry Martin showed just how much he has improved. Look for an early TKO if Leben stands.
Leben by KO in the second.
This is a good match up, the obvious next step for Bisping, who I don’t think intends to slug it out toe to toe with Leben, but more to stick and move and look to catch him with a big knee. Bisping can probably out box Leben, who will stalk him the whole fight.
If it gets too hairy Bisping will try to take him down, which is when it gets interesting. Not sure who has the better ground game persay, but I’d give the fitness edge to Bisping by a lot. They don’t feed you too good in prison.
I like Leben, this is a win win fight, but I think Bisping will gas him and get a decision. But Leben will a danger until the fight is over with his right hand. Time to test the Count’s chin.
Rev James:
I agree that Bisping won’t stand and trade to see who will fall first, he isn’t that stupid. But he will box and watch the kicks flow too.
Bisping is going to fight this fight in the exact same way that Keith Jardine beat Chuck Liddell.
Personally, I can’t see this going to the ground much. The only time it will go to ground is when Bisping or Leben get rocked and they pull guard. I don’t doubt that there will be a few rocks endured by each fighter.
It’s exciting on paper and I’ll be there to watch this fight, it will be a good fight.
100% Totally Agree. Good analysis
i like leben more than bisping even though im sort of hoping back on the bisping train( i got off after the hamill fight)
but i will actually go for bisping in this fight because i could care less for spider/leben 2 but bisping/silva could be a potetially cool fight
either way it will be an awesome fight
I have alaways been a fan of Lebans and have always backed him everytime he has stepped into the Octagan. Being from the UK I have obviously always supported Bisping, so this is a lose lose situation for me. Bisping is without doubt the more technical and skilled fighter of the two, but seriously Cote cracked Leban a few times and couldn’t knock him out, Terry Martin landed plenty of power shots and Sakarra hit him with everything but the kitchen sink and could not take Leban out. Lebans ability to take punches and punishment is more dangerous then Lebans punching itself. Bisping better hope he hits harder than the three above or he really will be in trouble. If his game plan is to stand and bang, he needs to change it. He needs to use his reach speed and leg kicks to wear down Leban and then go for the takedown and pound him out. Lebans head is really not worth wearing yourself out on.
Come on guys did you see the sinosic fight? sinosics face? Bisping is so aggresive he always has the chance of getting caught! he doesnt have a bad chin! a bad chin is james thompson or kendall grove who go down like a sack of shit of any punch! And as for Hamill! can’t you see it was because of his size and mikes wrong division? Hamill is a top fighter why can’t you see that! Hamill could beat Evans! Hamill Evans are good fights he has had in his wrong weight class! Mike is moving up in class and i imagine if he beats Leben he will get a tougher fight! I want to see Bisping v Cote and i believe Bisping would destroy him.
i would much rather see the winner of this fight take on Franklin or Hendo.
Wheres my comments mania?
I’ll be there this will be my first ufc! Bring your body bag Leben!
Bisping has been learning boxing and power shots from David Haye the next HeavyWeight Boxing champ.
Some haymakers coming from the count!
Cote, Matrin and Sakara thought they could KO Leben but i think Bisping will use his far more technical footwork and just out box him. that where sakara went wrong he went toe 2 toe he should of backed off and used his head movement
I agree, thats just what David Haye calls his punches.
Leben needs to work on his head movement. Anybody’s game here. Leben has more KO power IMO but Bisping the more technical striker. This should also be fight of the night, maybe even KO of the night.
Elvis Sinosic did not rock Bisping - were did this come from. I saw the fight again last night and am struggling with this. There was a failed armbar attempt but that is all elvis did.
Also - Bisping has never been ko’d in 18 pro fights so what the hell is this about a week chin.
Leben is pretty ferocious too but I am going for Bisping via decision - so clever at avoiding damage.
Ha ha, i can’t remember the Elvis fight, was there and was pissed!!
I keep doing that at the live shows, can’t remember Hendo Rampage either.
Note to self - get drunk after not during the show.
The longer this fight goes, the better Bisbings chances are of winning. Leben has power in his shots, he showed that in the 3rd round against Terry Martin. The problem with that fight is that both of them were completely gassed and sloppy by the end. I think Bisbings cardio will carry him if can make the fight go into the third. Leben will be tired and Bisbing will have his way with him.
Unless Bisping starts pulling out strikes like Anderon Silva, Leben aint goin down. Even so, did you see how many punches Leben took from Anderson before he finally went completely out? (compared to others Anderson KOd)…I think this fight could go either way….but it will go like this, if Bisping doesnt get KO’d, I expect him to win.
Cant wait…I’ll be there in ringside seats!!
Bisping gets such huge support from his fans at home and he has lost his nerves now that he had when he was at UFC 75 and before. The crowd was so loud when he came out although you dont really hear how loud it is on the broadcast.
He will go in and get the job done…but like many said it will not be an easy KO for by any means.
GO BISPING!
Ca$z - are you richer than stinky fingers?
I agree the roar for Bisping is loud in UK - best entrance though was Manchester though - went to O2 shows too but nothing like a local hero.
I still cant get over that idiot stinky fingers - people like that just dont exist in my world. still makes me chuckle almost a week later. were are you stinky ???? - please amuse this humble lancastrian some more. I want your betting tips!
Why does every fighter seem to think that the only way to make a fight exciting is to keep it standing?
Some of the most exciting moments in MMA have been where there are huge slams, exciting submissions, and relentless ground and pound. I get so fed up when I hear this bullshit.
Either way it goes, if Leben comes out with the gremlin stance and Bisping with the bunny hop - this is going to be fight of the night.
Good call.
Unfortunately that is the way the majority see it, especially the crowd in attendance. The Leban / Martin and Quarry / Sell fights were outstanding and without doubt exciting matches for example, and I suppose for a live audience these are the type of fights that leave the biggest impression. I remember watching an amazing technical display put on between Matt Serra and Ivan Menjivar. It was a real back and forth ground chess game. The crowd were continually booing throughout the whole match. Unfortunately the crowd did not appreciate it. I do not mind a good technical MMA performances on the ground Sanchez v Diaz for example , but some ground and pound, especially watching Sherk, puts me to sleep. Each to his own.
Sanchez v Diaz is one of the best examples of good ground fighter that I can think of. The rolled around like a couple of rabid squirrels. It was great.
Its because here in England we don’t like wrestling much! Wrestling is in your schools you a brought up with it! we like to see a fight not people cuddling like Evans did to Bisping.
Sanchez v Alves and Kelly v Stout will be good fights too! this card is going to be good. hopefully they dont add that french fella and markus davis.
Jess Liaudin is a proper decent guy and i for one hope he is on the card
No he’s not, he’s arrogant as fu*k. Have you ever trained at Pancrase? He strolls round that place like he’s Fedor.
I know that Leben is more a brawler, but I think Bisping lacks the technical striking and reflexes to pick him off on the feet like Anderson did, or what Chuck did with Wanderlei.
Bisping needs to play it safe and try to clinch with Leben or take him down.
Leben can box, but Bisping has incredible handspeed & footspeed @ MW, which makes me worried for Leben - i mean he did get caught by FLORIAN!!! I would laugh so hard if this fight somehow went to the ground for the simple fact Bisping doesn’t want to go there. We all thought Swick Davis would be a standup slugfest, but that wasn’t the case. Hopefully, Dana throws an incentive at them to keep the fight standing ALL 3 ROUNDS!!!
Bisping doesn’t want to stand in front of Leben if he does it will be a short fight.
Who wouldnt want to stand up with Leben?? Anyone with some striking skill will have a wide open target rushing in. Silva exposed Leben as a plodding, slow puncher. Yeah he has power, but he throws wide, and is a catcher.. Bisping will just take a half step back and drop a few straight shots and Leben will be sucking canvas….. Again……..
I have always liked Leben. And have always hated Bisping. So I hope Leben hits him so hard that he is knocked up and out of the ring like on the old boxing game “Ring King”. Plus I want to see lots of foot-stomps.
Nothing Anderson Silva (the best striker in MMA) did to Leben can really compare to what Bisping is capable of. Bisping doesn’t hit that hard or have half the tool kit that Silva has. But he’s a very cagey fighter who comes in great shape and fights smart. However, he did get tagged more than once by Hamill, who’s not exactly noted for his striking ability. I think Bisping is wily enough to avoid getting KO’d by Leben, therefore he will win by staying busy and having more gas in the tank.
I am curious to see if he could take Leben’s best shot, though. If Bisping wins this, he should fight Nate Quarry. I’m of the opinion that the Count needs to be brought along slowly. The top 5 in the division (AS, Hendo, Franklin, Marquardt, Okami) would fairly wreck him right now.