Bisping Added To UFC On Fox 2 Card

[No More Sorrow]

Next month's UFC on FOX 2 event has another marque attraction.

UFC officials today announced that fresh off his victory at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, Michael Bisping (22-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) will meet fellow middleweight contender Demian Maia (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) at the network-televised event.

"UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis" takes place Jan. 28 at Chicago's United Center.

As MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) reported over the weekend, the event is expected to feature at least three FOX-televised fights. Bisping vs. Maia will join previously announced co-headliners and title eliminators of light heavyweights Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis and middleweights Mark Munoz vs. Chael Sonnen.

Bisping, who recently served as a coach on "TUF 14," dominated fellow coach Jason "Mayhem" Miller at Saturday's live finale in Las Vegas. He ultimately scored a third-round TKO victory of Miller, who quickly faded in the five-round non-title fight. Bisping has now won four straight fights and five of his past six (all in the UFC).

Bisping will have fewer than two months between fights.

The Brit, who recently relocated to Orange County, Calif., now takes on Maia. The Brazilian submission specialist is 3-1 since an unsuccessful bid at middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title in early 2010, and the lone defeat came via decision to Munoz. Most recently, Maia topped Jorge Santiago at UFC 136 to rebound from the loss.

The latest UFC on FOX 2 card includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX)

*Phil Davis vs. Rashad Evans

*Mark Munoz vs. Chael Sonnen

*Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia

PRELIMINARY CARD
*Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland

*Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass

*Michael Johnson vs. Cody McKenzie

*George Roop vs. Cub Swanson

*Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow

*Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely

MMAJunkie.com

 

[Dale]

I don't know much about Maia other than he's great on the ground. Is it fair to say Bisping would be better on the feet than him?

 

[Slim]

Maia has improved with his hands but the ground game is still where he is most dangerous. But to compare Bisping to Maia on the feet... Bisping is crisper, smoother and more fluid with his hands. Not strong enough to KO someone but they will wear Maia down... so yeah I would give Bisping the advantage on the feet.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Yeah Bisping is definitely a better striker than Maia. Bisping is also going out and trying to earn a title shot with Silva, so it should be a really good fight. And the whole main card for this show is turning into a really good show and there's still one more fight to be added to the main card.

 

[Dod Draper]

Bisping will tool Maia standing.

Only hope Maia has, is to press Bisping against the cage and work for a takedown, then outmaneuver him on the ground.

Can't see a Maia win, in all honesty.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Even if he does try and do take downs, Bisping has an awesome Take Down Defense so it's not going to be easy.

I don't see Maia winning either

 

[The Cork]

Unless Bisping's drastically improved his ground game, I can see him getting subbed here.

Our English MMA guys all fucking suck at ground game, wtf are they doing.

 

[Troy]

Good match-up and I like that they have two strong middleweight fights on the show with the winners of these fights having claim to a shot against Silva. I think that Bisping will win here, I think that overall he is under-rated and I think that he will be able to keep the fight standing and will finish Maia.