Bisping (22-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) recently spoke to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva about his next fight, and he got two offers. One was Boetsch (15-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), who recently staged a shocking comeback to defeat former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami, and the other was Cung Le (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who fights for the first time since a late-2011 loss to Wanderlei Silva.
"Because Tim Boetsch is coming off a great win over Yushin Okami, it just made more sense and was the more appealing matchup," Bisping today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "It's also a tougher matchup for me, but I want to win that next fight and stake a claim to that title shot.
"I think beating Tim Boetsch rather than Cung Le gives me more grounds to do that."
Lovetriscuit - ie: I have seen Tim Boetsch gas. I'm scared of someone who went toe to toe w/ Silva.
...wtf fights were u watching... boetsch is the one who won in the 3rd round, le was the one that gassed and lost... fuck dude remember?!
Boestch has had problems gassing in the past - Bisping is a cardio machine - I think Bisping sees Boetsch as someone he could tire out - vs being much more afraid of Cung Le's striking.
I think Boestch is the harder fight, but I think Mike thinks Boestch is the easier fight in his eyes since he can outcardio/footwork him - vs Le whom has trickier stand up.
FormrChamp - Still not sure how Bisping can get a title shot without ever beating a ranked opponet.
Bisping does not have a title shot yet and I don't think one has been promised if he wins this fight. But he is already ranked in the top 10 some even have him in the top 5 and Boetsh is a ranked opponent so a title shot after this win really wouldn't surprise me.
I see Bisping winning this. Then they'll probably match him up with the winner of Belfort/Silva. So methinks Bisping vs. Belfort for #1 contender.
I know everyone here hates on Sonnen, but the guy is hilarious and maybe the only one with a chance of beating Anderson, and frankly I'm tired of uncompetitive middleweight title fights i.e. Silva clowning all of them. If Sonnen wins we might actually get to see some great back-and-forth title fights for the first time in a long time in that weight class.
I would rather have seen Munoz vs Bisping. I felt like Okami choked big time in that third round against Boetsch. Bisping should be able to win a comfortable decision against him.
Since when do fighters determine whether they are in line for a title shot? Just concern yourself with beating a top ten fighter for the first time in your career. If you beat Boetsch you still wouldn't have beaten a top ten fighter and STILL undeserving of a title shot.
It doesnt matter who Bisping beats. He cannot, would not, beat Andy! I honestly think unless Silva goes to LHW, he will never lose in the UFC. These MW guys are either gonna have to drop to 170 or go up to LHW. Dont mean to jack the thread, but no....Bisping wont fight Andy anytime soon.
Of course hel get a title shot after this , him and Munoz are the only 2 left that are somewhere in the vicinity of a tittle shot that havnt already been decimated by silva ..... Yet
