• UFC 159

Reeling Bisping handed difficult Belcher task

ESPN staff
January 30, 2013
Michael Bisping has his next opponent lined up © Getty Images
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A middleweight bout between Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher will serve as the co-main event for UFC 159 on April 27.

UFC officials confirmed the 185-pound contest to ESPN.com on Wednesday, after verbal agreements were made. A light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen will headline the event.

Both fighters will look to get back into title contention following recent losses. Englishman Bisping lost a guaranteed title shot against Anderson Silva when he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Vitor Belfort earlier this year.

The Brit had won five of his last six prior to the loss. Bisping holds an overall record of 13 wins and five defeats in the Octagon, but he has never fought for a UFC title.

Belcher had also been a strong No. 1 contender candidate before dropping a unanimous decision to Yushin Okami at UFC 155 in December. The 28-year-old had put together a four-fight win streak ahead of the loss that included three first-round stoppages.

UFC officials have previously announced a heavyweight fight between Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo, a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Pat Healy and a light heavyweight contest between Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes for UFC 159.

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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