UFC middleweight contender, Michael Bisping has been speaking about the pressure on his shoulders ahead of next weekend’s showdown with Japanese star, Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120 in London, England, explaining he likes to give the fans value for money but the most important thing is picking up the win.
“When I fight in England, the crowd is fantastic and they get behind me, and that feels very special. I suppose maybe it does come into it a little bit. I always feel an extra incentive to perform and give the fans what they came to see.”
“My last fight in Manchester against Denis Kang, I said I was going to be really aggressive, and go out with a knockout and all this. Somehow the first round I got knocked down and spent most of the round on my back. And when I went to my corner in between the rounds you can see on the tape I’m apologizing to the crowd, because that’s not what I said I was going to do. And then I went out there the second round and took him out.
“I do feel a bit of pressure. I want them to go home happy. It’s like if you go and watch your favourite football team and they lose, you go home feeling deflated. I don’t want them to come see me, and pay out their hard-earned money to see a fight that I lose, and then they go home having a bad night. Also, I don’t want to lose either.”
Bisping could put himself back in title contention should he pick up a win over the Japanese buzz saw, although he’ll still likely need a win or two to clinch that all important shot at the title. Will he deliver on the night and sends thousands of British fans home with a smile on their faces? Tell us what you think…