UFC 152: Middleweight Fight Could Determine Top Title Contender
DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) - Saturday night's UFC 152 pay per view is the kind of card that I like to refer to as "three deep".
Some line ups offer a main event around which the entire card is built, and other cards feature a solid main and co-main event combo. Occasionally though, a UFC offering boasts three fights at the top of the card that are legitimately interchangeable as either main or co main affairs, and Toronto's line up is just such an attraction.
Once you get past the rare instance of two 5 round title fights on one card, you will find what could easily be a co main event on any other pay per view (or for that matter, a main event on any network card).
Former Ultimate Fighter winner and UFC veteran Michael Bisping takes on Iraq War veteran and Silver Star recipient Brian Stann in a fight that could easily yield some of the biggest punches of the evening. Stann hits hard, and Bisping is one of the most technically skilled boxers in all of mixed martial arts.
What's at stake for the winner could be a place on the short list of contenders for Anderson Silva's middleweight title.
Bisping in particular has been on the verge of earning that title shot several times before, only to be defeated in sometimes controversial fashion. He makes no secret of the fact that he's waited a long time for his title shot, and he won't be waiting much longer if he has anything to say about it.
Stann is a bit more understated in his immediate title shot expectations, although he knows full well that his name would immediately be talked about as a title contender should he defeat Bisping Saturday night.
Both fighters have only been knocked out once in their careers, and Bisping has never been submitted.
A healthy mutual respect for each other in the build up to the fight is sure to give way to the fiercely competitive nature of both fighters once the cage door closes in Toronto.
Listen to the interviews that I conducted with both Michael Bisping and Brian Stann, talking about their preparations for this fight, as well as their view of the middleweight title picture and how a win by either of them could change that landscape.
PLAY: Richard Hunter talks with UFC fighter Michael Bisping
Podcast
PLAY: Richard Hunter talks with UFC fighter Brian Stann
Podcast
Don't miss 105.3 The Fan's UFC 152 post fight show on Saturday night with Richard Hunter & Mike Dingess, immediately following the pay per view.
Follow Richard on Twitter @RichardHunter, follow Mike Dingess on Twitter @MMAmikeD
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