Michael Bisping first discussed the possibility with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) back in August, and it?s now official: he?s moving down to middleweight.
In a recent interview with UFC.com, Bisping, who rose to fame after winning the light heavyweight title of ?The Ultimate Fighter 3,? confirmed that he?ll drop from 205 lbs. to 185.
The U.K.-based fighter, who most recently dropped a split decision to Rashad Evans at UFC 78 in November, admitted that he was persuaded by the constant queries ? not just from fans and writers, but also other fighters and even UFC President Dana White.
Back in August, just weeks before what would become a hugely controversial split-decision victory over Matt Hamill, Bisping told MMAjunkie.com that he did enjoy the challenge of fighting much-bigger opponents, but he also admitted that it becomes a daunting task as he continues to face the sport?s elite fighters.
?People like (UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ?Rampage? Jackson) were telling me this was the best thing for my career,? Bisping told UFC.com. ?Really, I knew middleweight was the place to be. When I went to train with Rampage in America over the summer when we?d go eat, he?d have half a lettuce leaf; I?d have a pizza or a couple of foot-long Subways and a couple of sneaky cookies.?
Bisping had been walking around at approximately 210 lbs., which made his cut to 185 a breeze. However, many of his opponents were cutting from 225 lbs. or more, and the size difference has been apparent in recent fights.
The 28-year-old now joins a middleweight division currently dominated by champ Anderson Silva. However, the UFC has recently re-signed many of its top 185-pound fighters, including Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami. Bisping gives the once-thin division some additional depth.
He expects to make his UFC middleweight debut in early spring.
In a recent interview with UFC.com, Bisping, who rose to fame after winning the light heavyweight title of ?The Ultimate Fighter 3,? confirmed that he?ll drop from 205 lbs. to 185.
The U.K.-based fighter, who most recently dropped a split decision to Rashad Evans at UFC 78 in November, admitted that he was persuaded by the constant queries ? not just from fans and writers, but also other fighters and even UFC President Dana White.
Back in August, just weeks before what would become a hugely controversial split-decision victory over Matt Hamill, Bisping told MMAjunkie.com that he did enjoy the challenge of fighting much-bigger opponents, but he also admitted that it becomes a daunting task as he continues to face the sport?s elite fighters.
?People like (UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ?Rampage? Jackson) were telling me this was the best thing for my career,? Bisping told UFC.com. ?Really, I knew middleweight was the place to be. When I went to train with Rampage in America over the summer when we?d go eat, he?d have half a lettuce leaf; I?d have a pizza or a couple of foot-long Subways and a couple of sneaky cookies.?
Bisping had been walking around at approximately 210 lbs., which made his cut to 185 a breeze. However, many of his opponents were cutting from 225 lbs. or more, and the size difference has been apparent in recent fights.
The 28-year-old now joins a middleweight division currently dominated by champ Anderson Silva. However, the UFC has recently re-signed many of its top 185-pound fighters, including Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami. Bisping gives the once-thin division some additional depth.
He expects to make his UFC middleweight debut in early spring.
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