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Doomsday for Bisping
WITH just four weeks' notice Ultimate Fighter Michael Bisping is in training to face a new opponent at his next fight on June 7.
'The Count' had signed to fight Chris The Crippler' Leben at the UFC 85 pay per view just after his 16th mixed martial arts victory on April 19.
But Leben was jailed on Friday for 35 days, including time already spent in custody, meaning he wouldn't have had time to prepare for the event at London's 02 Arena.
Instead the Clitheroe dad of two will square off against Canadian submission expert Jason "Dooms" Day.
Bisping, 29, said: "There was always a suspicion that the fight with Chris might have fallen through so I think they were working on a back up plan just in case.
"UFC don't take risks as they can't afford to take chances. I think they had already spoken to Jason Day about the possibility of stepping in and that was officially signed on Saturday."
The fight will be Bisping's second in the middleweight division. After previously fighting as a light heavyweight at 205lb he made his impressive 185lb debut at UFC 83 in Montreal last month with a first round defeat over Charles Chainsaw' McCarthy.
Day, whose MMA record is 17-4, also fought at the event with a first round win over UFC veteran Alan Belcher.
"He will still be in good physical shape," said Bisping. "Alan Belcher is a tough guy but Jason dominated him and beat him quite soundly.
"I was looking forward to fighting Chris as he is a brawler so I was a little disappointed that that was called off. Jason is first and foremost a ju jitsu guy and I had been looking forward to tearing it up a little bit.
"But Jason is a good fighter. He is just as dangerous as Chris - it's just frustrating as he is not as well known. Only the hardcore MMA fans will know him.
"But you have to respect him for taking this fight on such short notice. I give Jason a lot of credit for that and that he has also been respectful about me.
"I have nothing but respect for him. I look forward to meeting him on the 7th and may the best man win."
2:14pm Sunday 11th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: ciaran, essex on 8:03pm Tue 13 May 08
Bisping is a true fighter.The people who give him stick on MMA forums must surely have to accept this now.I have tickets for this show and cant wait to see the count in action again.
Bisping is a true fighter.The people who give him stick on MMA forums must surely have to accept this now.I have tickets for this show and cant wait to see the count in action again.
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