• UFC 126

Anderson Silva 'would like to fight Bisping in the UK'

ESPN staff
January 14, 2011
Anderson Silva says it would be 'an honour' to fight Michael Bisping © UFC
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Anderson Silva has exclusively told ESPN he would like to defend his UFC middleweight title against Michael Bisping in England, if the Briton achieves his goal of becoming No. 1 contender.

Silva is preparing for the eighth defence of his middleweight crown against The Phenom Vitor Belfort at UFC 126. Victory would take his winning run to 13 fights in the UFC, adding to his already exceptional legacy as the best 185-pounder to grace the planet.

Bisping is desperate to secure a title shot after back-to-back wins over Dan Miller and Yoshihiro Akiyama, and victory over Jorge Rivera at UFC 127 would propel him into serious contention.

Silva has history of fighting in the UK, having contested four Cage Rage bouts on English soil, predictably winning all four. A Silva v Bisping match-up could sell out just about any arena in the UK, and the Brazilian would be excited by the challenge.

"The British fans are very knowledgeable and passionate about MMA. I would love to fight there once more," he told ESPN.

"Michael Bisping is very impressive. He's been in the UFC for a long time now and beaten some very good fighters. It would be an honour to fight him, perhaps in England.

"He is fast, is very busy and makes adjustments quickly. I am the champion of the world, not just Brazil or America. Being a world champion means taking on the best fighters from around the world all over the world.

"If the chance came I would like to fight Bisping in the UK if that's what the UFC put together."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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