Anderson Silva returns to face Michael Bisping

Anderson Silva will make his 20th career walk to the Octagon to face Michael Bisping in the main event at UFC FIght Night 83 in London.

Anderson Silva will make his 20th career walk to the Octagon to face Michael Bisping in the main event at UFC Fight Night 83 in London.

Published on Thursday, 12/24/15, at 2:15 p.m. Eastern.

Michael Bisping will get the fight he’s wanted for a decade. Unfortunately for ‘The Count,’ the middleweight strap won’t be on the line. On the bright side, Bisping will not only get his long-awaited shot at Anderson Silva, but he’ll do it on his home soil in London.

Silva and Bisping will headline UFC Fight Night 83 on February 27. Silva on a Fight Night card for free?!

Hell no! Not a chance. Well, it’s free if you have UFC Fight Pass. If you don’t, you better find a friend that does or get signed up in the next two months.

Bisping (27-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) has won back-to-back fights since losing to current champ Luke Rockhold, including a split-decision victory over Thales Leites in July. The Manchester product owns notable wins over the likes of Matt Hamill, Brian Stann, Chris Leben, ‘Mayhem’ Miller, Alan Belcher, Cung Le and Yoshihiro Akiyama.

When Bisping lost to both Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, both had the advantage of TRT use (at the least). His other defeats have come against former world champions like Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva. The only other loss on his resume came by decision against Tim Kennedy.

The only fighters to finish Bisping are Henderson, Belfort and Rockhold.

Silva (33-6-1 MMA, 16-2-1 UFC) will be fighting for only the second time since sustaining a nasty leg fracture in his second loss to Chris Weidman on Dec. 28 of 2013 at UFC 168. In his return fight at UFC 183, Silva won a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz.

However, the win was changed to a no-contest after Silva twice tested dirty for steroids. He was given a nine-month suspension by the NAC.

The 40-year-old Silva will try to ruin Bisping’s birthday. Bisping, who turns 37 on February 28, will attempt to send Silva into retirement.

Check back soon for the odds on this fight. None are out yet, but I would suspect to see Silva in the -450 range. I think we’ll see a total of 3.5 rounds slightly shaded to the ‘over.’

Merry Christmas, ya’ll!

Christmas Heat Check: UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste!

Christmas Heat Check: UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste!

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