Bisping

By FCF Staff

While the UFC and fans continue to push hard for a superfight between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, Michael Bisping is campaigning for a title shot sometime next year. The polarizing middleweight is scheduled to fight Vitor Belfort on January 19th, and according to Bisping, a win that night will entrench him as the number one contender.

While appearing on the MMA Hour recently, Bisping reportedly stated:

“If I beat Vitor Belfort, I think there’s no question that I’m the No. 1 contender, and I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. I think I deserve it. If I beat Vitor, I deserve it. If I don’t beat him, then I don’t deserve to be in a title fight anyway.”

Bisping acknowledged that a bout between Silva and GSP is likely first on the promotion’s agenda, if the latter can defeat Carlos Condit next Saturday at UFC 154. The 33 year-old veteran said he understood the UFC’s desire to promote such a fight, due to the massive gate and pay-per-views it’s sure to draw.

Aside from a tightly contested, unanimous decision loss to Chael Sonnen in January, the only other man to defeat Bisping (23-4) since 2010 is Wanderlei Silva. The British fighter is coming off a UD victory over Brian Stann in September.

Of course, rising star Chris Weidman has also been campaigning for a shot at Silva, and is set to fight the top ranked Tim Boetsch on December 29th.