Michael Bisping Vs Jorge Rivera: UFC 127 War on Saturday
By Sean Farrell
Just days before he turns 39, Jorge Rivera finds himself in the co-main event on the UFC 127 pay-per-view show that will air live in the United States on Saturday night. Rivera, a journeyman who has been in and out of the UFC since 2003, has come up with three consecutive victories and faces U.K. native and favorite Michael Bisping in an event being held Sunday afternoon local time in the sold-out Acer Arena in Sydney, Austrailia. The Milford, Mass., native is making the most of his spotlight and has taken to marketing the fight Youtube videos spoofing UFC promos. The clips clown Bisping’s punching power calling him “pillow hands” and claiming Bisping holds the UFC record for most power shots to the head without a knockout or knockdown. Rivera also calls Bisping a “professional decision maker,” a jab at Bisping for going to the judges’ scorecards in his recent wins.
It gets rather silly as one of Rivera’s coaches in a British accent making fun of Bisping’s speaking patterns and accent and ribbing him for getting a decision win in the 2007 Matt Hamill fight, one of the more controversial decisions in UFC history.
Bisping (20-3) hasn’t been amused in the slightest. “It’s pathetic,” said Bisping, who himself has been known for running his mouth but felt this level crossed the line. “He’s 38. He’s in the co-main event of a big show and he comes across like a moron. All he’s doing is embarrassing himself.”
In one of the segments, Rivera (18-7) talked about how Bisping felt Rivera wasn’t on his level and wasn’t happy when Rivera’s name was mentioned to him as an opponent. Bisping acknowledged he wasn’t thrilled when Rivera’s name was brought up at first, as Bisping set a 2011 goal and that was to pick up a few wins which would get him into position for a middleweight title match before the year is out. “I was hoping for a top-five opponent to start building for a run at the title,” Bisping said. “They told me he’s won three in a row. But two of the three, I barely even know. Nissen Osterneck – I’ve never even heard of him. Rob Kimmons, I’ve barely heard of; the only reason I know him is he lost to one of the guys I beat [Dan Miller]. Nate Quarry, he’s a good fighter. Rivera looked pretty good in that fight. I have respect for the guy, but he’s 38, and what he’s doing cheapens the sport and cheapens himself to the fans. What’s he doing it for? A few Youtube hits? Now that boxing trainer of his [who played Bisping in the clips], I’d like to wring his neck.”
Bisping is known for being both one of the most popular and most hated fighters on the UFC roster, depending on where the fight happens. He won the third season of The Ultimate Fighter the season with the second highest ratings in the show’s history. MMA was practically an underground sport in the United Kingdom at the time, and Bisping became the face of the sport. Four years later, he and Dan Hardy are the U.K.’s two most popular fighters.
Bisping started out as one of the most popular newcomers the UFC ever had in the United States also, but several things happened to change all that. First was the UFC 75 win over Hamill in one of the most-watched televised MMA events in history. Bisping was awarded a split decision at a show in London. To the U.S. public it was viewed as an American going to the U.K. and being robbed in a hometown decision.
Then, he was a coach on TUF for the U.S. vs. U.K. season. His opponent was Dan Henderson, a quiet guy, and Bisping’s outgoing, brash, and arrogant personality made for a strong difference in character. Back in England however, they loved Bisping for he coached Team U.K. to great success. But in the States, Bisping was the villain, coaching against a popular fighter who represented the United States twice in the Olympics didn’t help matters either. “But I’d rather be booed than have nobody care,” Bisping said. Bisping acknowledges being annoyed by the criticism, such as he’s not a finisher and has no power and he’s a midlevel talent who has been product of the “hype machine” by the UFC.
There have been so many comments about Bisping being overrated over the years that when look at his record, you see someone who in all honesty is vastly underrated. Has he proven himself to be the top contender to rival Anderson Silva? No. But it is his long-term goal and he’s in the upper class of UFC fighters.
His record also indicates being unable to finish fights is undeserved as well. In Bisping’s 20 wins, four have gone the distance while the rest were finishes via 12 knockouts and four submissions. Every fight that’s gone the distance has been against tough fighters. Besides Bisping’s win over Hamill, only fighters known for iron chins have gone the distance against him.
Yoshihiro Akiyama has only been knocked out once in his career, that was in a fight in which he was outweighed by about 70 pounds against devastating power boxer Jerome Le Banner, one of the world’s best heavyweight K-1 knockout artists. Dan Miller has never been stopped in his career and Chris Leben has only been knocked out twice in his career and has a reputation for eating anything thrown at him.
Of his losses, Bisping was competitive with Wanderlei Silva, a legend of the sport and lost a split decision to Rashad Evans, a former light heavyweight champion. The only time he’s been KOd was by Henderson; it was a devastating overhand right knockout in the most high-profile fight of his career at UFC 100.
“I don’t want to take anything away from [Henderson],” Bisping said. “He’s a big name and a hell of a fighter. I started camp too early, I had a 15-week camp. I was over-trained and came in so skinny.”
When fighting at light heavyweight, Bisping was small for the class and cut no weight. Moving to middleweight, he tried to get his weight down to 185, which he accomplished. But this week, with a few days until fight time, he’s 200 pounds. He will cut water to get to 185 and fight close to 200, like most fighters.
But above all Michael Bisping also says Jorge Rivera’s comedy routine is beyond offensive, Bisping claims the jokes being made in the videos produced by Rivera and company have been coupled with peace offerings sent through an unnamed UFC intermediary. That’s almost as big of an insult. “He’s sending messages to me (that say) ‘Oh, nothing personal, If you’re going to talk shit, be a man and accept responsibility for it.”
Rivera says that the videos were created to entertain MMA fans and build interest in the fight. The jokes are all in good fun. But Bisping is not laughing, particularly when it comes to several jokes about his heritage. He thinks his opponent should grow up. “He’s criticized me and ridiculed me for being English, He’s being racist – let’s be honest. If he was making fun of me because I was Jewish or black, there would be uproar. But because I’m English, that’s OK. He’s out of order, and I’m going to make him pay for it.”
Rivera has promised to make their meeting an all-out war. Bisping has every intention of making his opponent eat his words. “He’s off his fucking head, pardon my language,” Bisping said. “I try to put my opponents away. It’s just that I’ve fought guys that are hard to finish. (Yoshihiro) Akiyama is hard to finish, Chris Leben is hard to finish; Dan Miller has never been finished. These are hard guys, and I’ve kicked their asses, with all due respect. They were a mess after the fight; it looked like a hand grenade exploded in their face. If Jorge Rivera thinks I’m going to be backpedaling the whole time and scared of him, then I want some of what he’s smoking because it’s obviously good shit.”
Bisping originally requested a fight with middleweight contender Nate Marquardt, but when Rivera called him out following his canceled fight with Alessio Sakara at a Nov. 13 event, Bisping quickly accepted the fight.
Rankings wise it’s not the best move for Bisping, who most recently defeated Akiyama and was ready for a step up in the division. But Bisping said it’s always easier to get motivated for an opponent which he has bad blood with. And Rivera fits the bill perfectly. “I felt that with the momentum I’d gained in my last few fights, I was looking to someone who was a little nearer to a title shot, and I still feel the same way, That said, he’s been making these videos talking smack, insulting me (and) insulting my family; insulting my career. Of course it’s made me want to make an example of him. I’m never going to see [Rivera] again, He’s not on my Christmas card list, so it doesn’t really matter whether or not we’ve squashed the feelings or not. I’m going to go out there (and) I’m going to beat him up, make a fool out of him, and that’s that. He’s acting like a child. He’s 38 years old; you’d think he’d know better. I’m just getting on with my training and trying to prepare accordingly. Whereas he’s selling his soul for the sake of a few YouTube hits. Ultimately, he’s making a fool out of himself … acting like a retard. Good luck to him.”
Bisping has also talked trash of his own calling Rivera an easy pay day. “I fought on the same card as (Rivera) 6 years ago for Cage Rage. I would have kicked his fucking ass then. He’s an old man, and I’m in my prime. I’ve got better and he’s gone down hill. He can try and make himself relevant by talking shit and doing stupid videos. … I had to Google his previous opponents to find out who they even were. I’m not overly concerned really (with his right hand). Apart from me making a stupid mistake and him catching me with something flush on the button, I really don’t see what he’s going to do. I’m too fast for him, I’m too technical, I’m a better wrestler, I’ve got better jiu-jitsu and I’m better looking. He’s said that he’s out-smarted me already (by making this fight), but we’ll see who the smart one is when he’s a broken mess on the floor in the middle of the Octagon. … The UFC made the match up, I could’ve turned the fight down but I’ve never turned a fight down in my life and I’m certainly not going to start turning down a fight with Jorge Rivera. I’ve fought a lot harder opposition than Jorge Rivera. This is a free pay-day for me. I’m going to be laughing all the way to the bank.”
Saturday night is going to be full of fireworks down under and the only way to see it is to watch UFC 127 live on Pay-Per-View.
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