For the first time in a long time, Michael Bisping had to drop out of a fight due to an injury. In fact, Bisping had not dropped out of a fight since 2013, but a lingering elbow injury forced him out of his fight with Robert Whittaker who took on Uriah Hall and won. Now, Bisping will face off with Gegard Mousasi who is looking for a win after a devastating loss to Uriah Hall.
Bisping is on his first winning streak for the first time in four years. Since his title eliminator loss to Chael Sonnen, Bisping has alternated wins and losses with Belfort and Luke Rockhold holding finishing wins over him. He was looking to go 3-0 n 2015 after he picked up wins overCB Dollaway and Thales Leites earlier this year. Bisping will face off with Mousasi at UFC Fight Night 83 which takes place at the O2 Arena in London, England on February 23rd.
The Mousasi and Bisping fight is not set as the main event yet, but it could end up being. The official statement is that the bout order has not been set, which means a bigger fight could become the main event or this fight could depending on negotiations. Gegard Mousasi comes into the fight having ha ups and downs at 185 so far. The former Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight champion came into the UFC having gone 20-1 before entering the Octagon. He picked up a win in his debut before dropping to 185.
Since that drop in weight, he has only gone 3-3. Machida picked up a win over him on his way to a title shot against current champion his Weidman. He rebounded with a win over Mark Munoz but then was finished by former foe Ronaldo Souza in his next bout. A TKO of Dan Henderson indecision over Costa Philippou gave him a winning streak and he looked well on his way to a third straight win until a flying knee finished him in his bout against Uriah Hall. Now, he has a chance to be a a stalwart of the division in Bisping.
Also lined up for the card is a bout between Makwan Amirkhani who is 2-0 in the UFC at Featherweight and Mike Wilkinson who sits at 2-1 in the division so far. Lastly, Rustam Khabilov looks for his first win in two years against Norma Parkewho is only 1-2 in his last three fights after his first four in the Octagon. Which fight has you the most excited for this early year card?