Friday, 26 February 2016

UFC returns to London this weekend

The Ultimate Fighting Championship makes a long-anticipated return to London's O2 Arena this Saturday for an event that promises fireworks

It's been almost two years since the UFC has brought one of its big-production fight nights over to London, but tomorrow night, they'll be more than making up for their absence at what is set to be one of the best cards the UK has ever seen, in large part thanks to the high-profile headline bout between Anderson Silva and Michael Bisping.

UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping will take place at The O2 Arena, with preliminary bouts starting at 5:45pm and the main card kicking off at 9pm. For those who have been following mixed martial arts for some time, the main event between Brazil's Silva and the UK's own Bisping is a pretty big deal. But for anyone new to the sport, this exciting fight card won't be lost on you, either – here's what you need to know about the two fighters at the top of the bill.

Anderson 'The Spider' Silva

Anderson Silva is a household name in MMA. His super slick striking not only lent itself to his impressive 17-fight winning streak which left him unbeaten for around five and a half years, but it also earned him the reputation as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters active today. The Brazilian fighter – who ruled the middleweight rankings from October 2006 until July 2013 – made a habit of dominating his opponents, usually ending the one-sided fights by knockout. His elusiveness, brutal attacking style and accuracy were special to watch, often leaving even veteran analysts, pundits and commentators in awe. Although he lost his middleweight title to Chris Weidman in a shocking knockout loss almost three years ago, Silva is still a huge draw for fans. The combination of his confidence and unorthodox fighting style has never been short of entertaining, and Saturday night will undoubtedly be no different.

Michael 'The Count' Bisping

The only way to make an Anderson Silva bout even more appealing in the UK? Bill him against one of the country's most popular fighters. Michael Bisping might be taking on one of the greatest MMA fighters the UFC has ever seen, but one thing's for sure: he'll have the home crowd on his side. The Lancashire native has been fighting in the UFC for 10 years, having made his debut on season three of /The Ultimate Fighter/, a reality TV series in which mixed martial artists compete for a contract within the prestigious organisation. Although Bisping can claim wins over big names like Cung Le, Alan Belcher and Brian Stann, Saturday night is said to be his toughest test yet, a meeting in which both fighters will undergo a test of attrition in a scheduled five-round battle. Praised for his fitness, Bisping is also well-known for his skills in the stand-up department, so we can expect to see the two go toe-to-toe to determine the winner.

Saturday night's fight card will also boast an exciting match-up between Gegard Mousasi and Thales Leites, as well as fights from the UK's top fighters, including fan-favourite Brad Pickett.

UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping will be live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass, with the first prelim bout scheduled for 5:45pm.

Article Amanda Khouv Feb 26, 2016 via Featured Articles Read This... Lake forest health and fitness http://ift.tt/1Q7IBPx

No comments:

Post a Comment