UFC 120: Breaking Down Michael Bisping vs.Yoshihiro Akiyama

Added on Oct 13, 2010 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

Michael Bisping : (19-3) -200

Yoshihiro Akiyama: (13-2) +170

This is one of those win/win situations for the UFC. Both of the fighters in Saturday’s main event have a tremendous following in their homelands, and are recognizable names among casual and hardcore MMA fans alike. A win for each of these fighters will assuredly put them on the track for a shot at a currently bottle necked championship ladder. Anderson Silva has been dominating the Middleweight division for years, and a title fight with either of these fighters would be a tremendous marketing tool as the UFC attempts to make its global footprint even larger. I’m not insinuating that a win in this match-up will for sure put these guys in a title fight, but it will definitely put one of these streaky fighters on the fast track to the belt.

This fight will be dictated by whether or not Yoshihiro Akiyama shows up in condition to fight 3 rounds. His “gas tank” has been his worst enemy. He has recently been the type of fighter, that if the fight goes to the judges score card, he will most likely have to assume he will lose the last round. The last round the judges see.

Yoshihiro is coming off of a loss to one of the most durable fighters in the UFC; Chris Leben. Akiyama came out displaying some excellent hand speed by tagging Leben a few times, and was able to toss him around with his expert level Judo. However, his cardio came into question in the second round, and the third round was almost all a “just survive” mentality. He was able to put Leben on his back in the third round, but was forced to tap to a triangle choke.

Michael Bisping last fought Dan Miller, and defeated him by Unanimous Decision. They were both coming off a losses, but Bisping’s was to the MMA/Pride legend Wanderlei Silva. It is important to mention that Dan Miller has never been finished in his 16 fight professional career, and Bisping has only been finished once by a vicious knockout by Dan Henderson.

The Count will have to rely on his underrated wrestling skills in this fight, and not just to stop the take down. More then likely Akiyama will get him to the ground, and he will have to fight to get back up. The fight will be dictated on whether or not Akiyama can control him on the floor, and also if Akiyama is able to show off his new and improved cardio. If the same Akiyama shows up, as the one who fought Chris Leben, this could be a huge problem for him.

Bisping is aware of his problems, and aware of the bad game planning he has shown in the past. Him more then anyone. More than likely Akiyama will rely on his Judo tog et Michael to the ground, but will probably waste a bunch of energy to get him there. If Bisping can stop the take down, or able to escape and get to his feet consistently, Akiyama will have little chance of winning the fight. Look for Bisping to control the second half of the fight, and finish strong in the third to win by a sound decision.