• UFC 149

Bisping desperate for Sonnen rematch

ESPN staff
June 3, 2012
Michael Bisping gave Chael Sonnen a rough night when the pair met in the UFC middleweight division © Getty Images
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Michael Bisping admits he will be hoping for a Chael Sonnen victory when the American challenges Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 148.

Bisping fought Sonnen at the start of the year and is still frustrated that the decision went against him. After two tight rounds that the Brit appeared to edge, he clearly lost the third, and the judges were swayed enough to lean in Sonnen's direction.

Now Bisping wants the rematch, and in an ideal world that would be for the UFC title. First Bisping must beat Tim Boetsch, and hope Sonnen defeats Silva.

"What I want to do is fight Chael Sonnen again," the Brit told ESPN. "I won that fight, I'm hoping he beats Anderson Silva because I want that rematch and I want that title shot."

Looking at the challenge presented by Boetsch, Bisping expects to be able to complete the job that Yushin Okami started. Okami outboxed Boetsch for two rounds before being knocked out in the third, so Bisping is convinced he will have a smooth road to victory against the Barbarian.

"I think I can do to him what Okami did, but without the third round," he said. "Okami had his number. I'll just outclass him the whole fight.

"But what makes Boetsch so dangerous is his will to win a fight. He caught Okami with a good shot and followed it up well. With my style I won't get caught and I'll finish him easily inside three rounds."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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