• TUF 17

Sonnen's title shot hat-trick frustrates Bisping

Michael Bisping says the sight of Chael Sonnen heading for a third UFC title fight in 2013 does leave him a little frustrated as the Brit continues to wait patiently for his own chance.

Sonnen was recently confirmed as the rival coach to Jon Jones for season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter. The pair will then contest the light-heavyweight belt in April.

For Sonnen, that will be his third title shot in five outings, after he twice lost to Anderson Silva.

Bisping, meanwhile, was confirmed on Saturday to be fighting Vitor Belfort as he bids to prove himself worthy of facing Silva. And the Brit - who holds much respect for Sonnen, admits it is hard to see any man get three chances of UFC gold when he is yet to be given one.

"I can understand it from a business perspective because Chael sells," Bisping told ESPN.

"But it's frustrating because I've been waiting my whole career for a title shot, and the guy's had three out of his last five fights be title fights.

"But I do understand and it'll be a great season of The Ultimate Fighter."

Bisping's entire career has been directed towards winning a UFC belt, and he may only be one win away from getting his chance if he can beat Belfort on January 19. That brings into focus the inevitable scenario that the Brit will retire in the future, after which he says he wouldn't mind being a pundit for the UFC.

"I've been on UFC Tonight, UFC Ultimate Insider, UFC All Angles... it's a lot of fun. Hopefully I'll do more soon," he said.

"Absolutely I'd like to do more after I finish fighting. I can't fight forever so if that opportunity comes, I'd happily do it."

Asked about his immaculately groomed side-parting hair style, the man who once boasted a skin-head laughed: "I don't even comb it, I just run my fingers through it - you don't have to mess with perfection!"

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