• UFC 120

Bisping won't 'fight like a lunatic' to become champion

To guarantee your front-row seat for UFC 120 on October 16, subscription details can be found here.

Michael Bisping insists he already feels like a world champion ahead of his UFC 120 main event with Yoshihiro Akiyama, but he warned he will not 'fight like a lunatic' in order to chase a finish on Saturday.

Bisping's management team told ESPN ahead of fight night that the British middleweight is running out of sparring partners, because he is 'destroying' everybody who enters the Wolfslair gym. In front of London's O2 Arena crowd, Bisping will attempt to transfer that ruthless streak to the Octagon, in order to pick up one of the two wins he feels he needs to earn a title shot.

"I'm feeling like a world champion now," Bisping told ESPN. "The Wolfslair organises a lot of sparring partners for me, and I take on all comers regardless of size, height, weight... and I handle them all with ease now. This is my time, I'm maturing as a fighter and finally everything is falling into place. I'm looking to beat Yoshihiro, build on that with one more solid win and then it's the title - definitely."

Bisping appeared angered by some remarks made by Akiyama in the lead-up to Saturday's fight, with the Japanese star claiming he is clearly better than his opponent. Asked if he would attempt to blitz his foe when they reach the Octagon, Bisping revealed he will use his superior technique to stop the judoka.

"I'm going for the finish, obviously I'm going to use tactics, but I'm going to use my skills. I'm not going to go out like a lunatic, I'm a martial artist so I will use my skills to take him out as quick as possible.

"I'm definitely fitter, I'm definitely faster, and I'm feeling stronger as well. I don't know if I'm stronger until I get head-to-head with him, I may be shocked, but I don't think it'll come down to that because I've got better technique anyway, which eliminates power somewhat.

"He may have troubled [Chris] Leben, but Leben didn't land a glove on me. I left that fight unscathed, whereas Leben collapsed and had to go to hospital. His face was a mess, so I couldn't care less what Akiyama did to Leben. His fight with Leben, I don't know if you remember this, but Akiyama tapped. He tapped and submitted. That's all I remember.

"He introduced himself as Sexyama [at the press conference]. He ain't gonna look too sexy after Saturday night."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.