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[Sakara=Excitement]

UFC 148 Fight Card Lands Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch | MMAWeekly.com

UFC matchmakers are zeroing in on the promotion’s summer events, as witnessed by recent fight announcements.

Less than 24 hours after announcing the addition of Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le at UFC 148, UFC officials on Monday confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Michael Bisping would face Tim Boetsch on the July 7 event in Las Vegas, as well. The bout has been verbally agreed upon.

Bisping (22-4) is coming off of a strong showing, albeit in a loss, against Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 in January. That fight ended a four-fight winning streak for Bisping, but more importantly, it put his title shot aspirations on hold.

Sonnen is expected to face UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in June of this year, while Bisping will square off with Boetsch, trying to work his way back to the front of the queue.

Following a loss to Phil Davis at light heavyweight, Boetsch (15-4) made the move to middleweight and has been streaking towards a title shot ever since.

He is currently 3-0 at 185 pounds, most recently staging an amazing come from behind victory over Yushin Okami at UFC 144 in Japan. Badly beaten in the first two rounds of the fight, Boetsch launched a blistering flurry of strikes in the opening moments of the third round for a TKO stoppage of Okami. He’ll hope to do the same to Bisping, albeit hoping to avoid the punishing first two rounds.

TUF: Live coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber headline UFC 148 with Cruz’s UFC bantamweight championship on the line. UFC 148 takes place on July 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

[TBEAR]

Nice fight. i think Mike takes it but you can't sleep on Tim, cause he can end your night and leave you in the cage wondering what truck just hit you.

[Rumble]

Let the slaughter begin!

WAR BOETSCH!

[mmawolverine]

dangerous fight for bisping if you ask me, he better know which way to circle to this time.

[Y2JUBAE]

Bisping has this one. He's too fast for Tim.

[Supe]

Bisping takes this one in a most likely boring fashion.

[FCK]

Originally Posted by mmawolverine

dangerous fight for bisping if you ask me, he better know which way to circle to this time.

I don't think it matters where Bisping circles, Boetsch has no range in his strikes.

I reckon this will be FOTN for sure on the day.

[Cat--Smasher]

Good fight, big test for both men.

If Bisping fights "his fight" and keeps on task while feeling the power of Boetsch, I think he can take the decision.

I wonder how Boetsch will plan for this fight, will he come out strong and trying to catch Michael early or will he just continue to use his power to control Bisping against the cage.

[FCK]

Originally Posted by Cat--Smasher

Good fight, big test for both men.

If Bisping fights "his fight" and keeps on task while feeling the power of Boetsch, I think he can take the decision.

I wonder how Boetsch will plan for this fight, will he come out strong and trying to catch Michael early or will he just continue to use his power to control Bisping against the cage.

Why would Bisping feeling Boetsch power help him take the decision?

Boetsch was quite an animal in the cage at LHW strength wise. I wonder how that will translate into MW. I need to catch up on his previous fights.

[MIZjitsZOU]

Originally Posted by FCK

Why would Bisping feeling Boetsch power help him take the decision?

Boetsch was quite an animal in the cage at LHW strength wise. I wonder how that will translate into MW. I need to catch up on his previous fights.

His last three fights were at middleweight. And he was quite an animal.