5 Predictions For UFC Fight Night: Bisping Vs. Silva

1. Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping

Weight Class: Middleweight The main event that has been years in the making. The ever colourful, brash, and cocky Michael Bisping has been calling out Anderson Silva for ages, and now, on a two fight win streak, he finally gets his wish, though the Spider is far removed from being a world champion. How far removed? Silva (33€“6 (1)) has not won a fight since 2012, a non-title bout against Stephan Bonnar, who subsequently retired, then unretired to face Tito Ortiz in Bellator MMA and lose. Bonnar hasn't been heard from since. Silva has had two losses to Chris Weidman since that time, then saw a January 2015 win over Nick Diaz turned to a no contest after he failed a drug test for Drostanolone and Androstane, which are anabolic steroids, as well as Oxazepam and Temazepam, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep deprivation, respectively. All four are banned substances, and the MMA world was turned on end, as Silva had long been considered one of the greatest fighters of all time. His explanation, that he had taken a sexual enhancement drug that contained the substances, fell on deaf ears, and rightfully so, as athletes are expected to control what goes in their bodies at all times. Most fans assumed Silva required to drugs to heal the leg he broke in his second fight with Weidman, but regardless, the end result was that Silva was suspended until this fight with Bisping. Bisping (27-7), meanwhile, is the same fighter he has always been: consistent, with great cardio, the ability to throw punches with great volume, but he's not a knockout threat. Silva's best weapons were his speed and pinpoint striking/knockout ability, but does he still have those? Probably. His No Contest over Diaz was originally a decision win, and a similar result is likely here. Bisping has yet to prove he can win when it matters most, and there's no reason to expect otherwise come fight night.