• UFC 127

Bisping open to Sonnen title eliminator

ESPN staff
February 27, 2011
Michael Bisping is ready to take on allcomers © Getty Images
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For exclusive reaction, including Michael Bisping's analysis of his victory over Jorge Rivera, don't miss the first edition of ESPN's new Ultimate UFC Podcast on Wednesday

Michael Bisping is ready to take on Chael Sonnen if the UFC decides to throw the former No. 1 middleweight contender into the same Octagon as the Briton for a title eliminator.

Bisping chalked up his fourth win in five outings against Jorge Rivera at UFC 127, stopping the American by TKO. He is now expected to head home from Sydney for a summer title eliminator in the UK.

The names of Yushin Okami and Brian Stann have been mentioned as possible opponents, but Sonnen is now most likely in a fight that would certainly capture the imagination of the US and UK crowd. Sonnen had been No. 1 contender and set for a rematch with middleweight champion Anderson Silva before he was suspended for non-disclosure of medicine use.

"I'd go from one guy talking s*** about me straight into another one!" quipped Bisping to MMAFighting, following his war of words with Rivera. "I don't think I could handle it, I burst enough blood vessels this weekend!

"Let's see what the UFC says. High five for the UFC, they line them up, I knock them down. If that's what they want to do, by all means.

"It's got to be a top-five contender, a household name. I look forward to hearing from the UFC in the next few days."

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