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[Sakara=Excitement]

Michael Bisping sees silver lining in UFC on FOX 2 loss, promises future title | MMAjunkie.com

CHICAGO – Admittedly, moral victories still bloody suck.

But for UFC on FOX 2 co-headliner Michael Bisping, who suffered a close unanimous-decision loss to No. 1 contender Chael Sonnen on Saturday at Chicago's United Center, the Brit sees the silver lining.

Despite the defeat, Bisping has plenty of reasons to be pleased with his performance.

Against Sonnen (27-11-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC), a truly world-class wrestler and one of the best to ply the trade in MMA, Bisping (22-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) showcased some vastly improved skills. His takedown defense was sharp, his scrambles were effective, and as usual, his striking was on point.

Ultimately, though, Bisping suffered a decision loss via 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 scores. Yet even UFC president Dana White publicly admonished the 30-27 score.

"I can't lie; I thought I won rounds one and two," Bisping said. "I think in this modern day of social networking and stuff, you just have to look at the Internet, and I think the general consensus was I won the fight."

Even opponent Sonnen admitted the first two rounds could have gone either way. While never one to back down from self-promoting, Sonnen had nothing but a glowing review for Bisping, who badly rocked the former title challenger in the first round. And like White, Bisping didn't hold back his contempt for judge Clay Goodman, who issued the shutout score for Sonnen.

"There's no way that fight was 30-27, and the judge who scored that needs to reconsider his job options," Bisping flatly said.

Still, it was hard for "The Ultimate Fighter 3" winner and longtime contender to ignore the positives he took from the fight. Bisping, who pulled out of a scheduled bout with Demian Maia and instead took the Sonnen fight on 10 days' notice as an injury replacement for Mark Munoz, believes this latest victory should quiet his many critics.

"If you look at my career, I've fought a who's who of MMA," he said. "If you look at the conspiracy, 'Oh, they're giving him hand-picked opponents.' Well, why is an English guy fighting wrestler after wrestler after wrestler? I fought Rashad Evans, Matt Hamill, Chael Sonnen, Denis Kang and Dan Henderson, to name a few. It's such a crock."

Most predicted an easy night for Sonnen, largely because of his wrestling edge. But Sonnen, who earned a guaranteed title shot and rematch with middleweight champ Anderson Silva with the close win, admits he had his hands full.

"I have no excuse for tonight," Sonnen said. "I fought as hard as I could fight. I fought a really good fighter that we didn't know was a really good fighter."

Sonnen further pushed the compliments by saying he'd favor Bisping in a match with Silva. Sure, it may just be bluster, and Silva obviously would be a significant favorite over Bisping, but the Brit believes his time will come soon enough.

Like Sonnen, he sees a title in his future, so don't expect a single loss to derail his plans.

"Yeah, I'm going to nowhere," Bisping said. "I've been doing this for a long, long time, and I intend to do it a lot longer. It was a close fight, a good fight. I could have won that; I could have stopped it.

"But this isn't the last you'll see me, and I will be fighting for a title, and I will bloody win it."

[Goremire]

And like White, Bisping didn't hold back his contempt for judge Clay Goodman, who issued the shutout score for Sonnen.

"There's no way that fight was 30-27, and the judge who scored that needs to reconsider his job options," Bisping flatly said.

Lol, wasnt that judge the guy who actually scored the fight 30-27 for Bisping?

[Repenter]

Originally Posted by Goremire

Lol, wasnt that judge the guy who actually scored the fight 30-27 for Bisping?

yes

[Dr. MMA]

Originally Posted by Goremire

Lol, wasnt that judge the guy who actually scored the fight 30-27 for Bisping?

Yeah that's crazy.

There is way more of an argument to score that a 30-27 for Sonnen than 30-27 for Bisping. Sonnen was dominating that round. He took him down, landed some good shots, got the back with hooks and then transitioned into mount. Bisping, on the other hand, defended well and was able to get up, but in terms of offense, he took Sonnen down at the very end and landed a couple good elbows... all in the last 15-20 seconds.

[foutch550]

Maybe they can "reward" Bisping by giving him Vitor in Brazil on the same card as Anderson/Chael.

[Goremire]

Originally Posted by Dr. MMA

Yeah that's crazy.

There is way more of an argument to score that a 30-27 for Sonnen than 30-27 for Bisping. Sonnen was dominating that round. He took him down, landed some good shots, got the back with hooks and then transitioned into mount. Bisping, on the other hand, defended well and was able to get up, but in terms of offense, he took Sonnen down at the very end and landed a couple good elbows... all in the last 15-20 seconds.

Sadly, I've yet to see any of the fights yet, but from what I've heard if a 30-27 score had to be given it's most plausible that it should have gone to Sonnen.

Nonetheless, I expect a 180 from Bisping on his opinion of Goodman's judging ability.

[beau420]

http://www.mmanews.com/forums/genera...ecision-2.html

It wasn't 30-27 Bisping. Story was a fake but a shit website.

As far as Bisping facing wrestlers like it says in this article and him referring to Rashad Evans, Matt Hamill, Chael Sonnen, Denis Kang and Dan Henderson. Denis Kang as a wrestler?? And mentioning Chael in the same breath....who he just fought just as hour earlier. And Hendo has great wrestling defence. But he doesn't wrestle to win his fights.

So that narrows it down to Hammill and Evans. So in his 16....yeah....16 UFC fights, he has faced 3 fighters, 2 before Chael, who used their wrestling to try and beat Bisping. That is why as Bisping says: "If you look at the conspiracy, 'Oh, they're giving him hand-picked opponents."

It is because compared to nearly every other fighter in the UFC...a lot of fans do feel that.

Now, that being said, I think Bisping looked good last night. He was quick, had good movement and was always working to get up immediately.

I gave it to Sonnen 2 rounds to 1, but I could see how a inept judge could have scored it 2 rounds to 1 for Bisping. If the fight was in Japan, Sonnen would have been the clear winner. He was easily the most dominant and he landed the bigger, more affective shots.

Sonnen, in my opinion, didn't look good. Crap head movement coming in, really sloppy at times not setting up his shots. I was hoping to see an improvement. Maybe it was just a complete lack of respect for Bisping's standup...which isn't known for it's power. He took way too many shots in the face.

I liked hearing Sonnen's fighting style being announced as Vale Tudo. Liked his little speech at the end. I was hoping Rogan would have cut him off and tell him that he scored the fight for Bisping, not Rogan.

I am not a Bisping fan, but I am kind of hoping that he DOES get a title shot in his next few fights. If Sonnen gets popped again or gets injured (which he says won't prevent him from fighting) or maybe if he just wins 1 or two fights in a row, I hope that Anderson fights Bisping. Bisping showed good speed and kept his stamina. I wouldn't mind seeing what Anderson could do to him.

And if it takes Bisping getting a title shot in order for me to see him get KOd....I am willing to wait and watch.

[Goremire]

^^Nice work Beau, rep'd.

[lwbrewer]

Normally I'd say Bispings opponet had a bad night, but I gotta give Bisping credit for a dam good fight. I and many others figured Sonnen should of rag dolled him, but I can almost write in stone Bisping will say or do something for me to dislike him again. I say his loss to Sonnen said more than a win over Maia would of. My opinion this was Mikes 2nd fight of a top 5 and his 2nd loss so you need to win 2 top 5 fights if ya want a title shot.

[Cat--Smasher]

After rewatching the fight ... I dont get people claiming Bisping should have taken round 1. Bisping won maybe the last minute of round 1 but that is it.

Round 2 Bisping was winning but was not doing anything significant. Ref split em up off the cage cuz Bisping was just holding position and throwing pillows. Chael gets the take down. And the round finishes with Bisping holding Chael up against the cage for a couple minutes. Bisping slight edge but really, most significant part of the round was Chael's take down.

And the 3rd was clearly Chael's round.

How can anyone complain about the outcome?

Bisping Okami anyone?