UFC London: Dan Hardy previews Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping, the UK's best-ever match up

British UFC welterweight and UFC commentator, Dan Hardy, takes a look ahead to this weekend’s middleweight clash between Anderson Silva and Michael Bisping as UFC returns to London’s O2 Arena

Michael Bisping during his fight with Luke Rockhold (Getty Images)

Finally the UFC returns to London and the O2 Arena is set for the biggest fight that has ever been broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. The main event in my opinion is the best match up that we have ever had in the UK. British Mixed Martial Arts pioneer, Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping, has embraced the opportunity in front of him and knows that a win could be career-defining. His opponent is one of the greatest combat athletes to ever compete on any stage and in any arena in the world. Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva is, statistically, the most dominant champion we have ever seen in the UFC.

His relaxed and elusive style has wowed fans for many years, taunting opponents and offering his chin, before slipping out of the way and landing pinpoint accurate strikes. It’s a style that many have called ‘Matrix-esque’ with almost a sixth sense ability to read what his adversary is planning to do. What follows is often a highlight reel worthy finish using an impressive counter strike, or an attack that he had beautifully set up, to put his opponent’s lights out. I can’t think of another fighter in all of MMA that has the skills to make a knockout look like a well rehearsed ballet, to which only Anderson knows the outcome.

After an impressive sixteen-fight unbeaten streak, ten of which were title defenses, Silva finally met his match at UFC 162 in July 2013. A young and tenacious Chris Weidman refused to believe the hype and ended their first bout with a right hook, after stepping to Anderson’s range as he over-extended himself slipping earlier punches. The style that Silva had employed throughout his rise and reign at the top was so amazing because of the risks he took and always seemed to get away with. It was only a matter of time before it backfired and Weidman was there to catch the belt as it fell from his waist.

In the rematch at UFC 168 later that year Silva met a different but equally as devastating finish, as a low kick to Chris Weidman’s leg was blocked with a shin and broke the leg of Anderson. In a rushed return he took part in a super-fight with Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in January 2015, but he didn’t look himself. Following a lackluster performance, controvesy followed and the Spider fell from grace in many people’s eyes after failing a drugs test following his fight with Diaz. One person in particular who was very vocal about it was Michael Bisping. He has been campaigning for a title shot for a number of years, making his UFC debut only a few days apart from Silva, almost ten years ago.

Now ‘The Spider’ returns and Bisping is here to welcome him to London and hopes to push Silva out of the UFC for good. ‘The Count’ is coming in with two wins over middleweight hopefuls, CB Dolloway and Thales Leites, both in typical Bisping style. His work rate is second to none, as is his Octagon time. Landing more strikes than any other fighter in the organization and spending almost five hours in total fight time in the arena. With a high-intensity attack Bisping hits with multiple-strike combinations, wearing down opponents until they break. It’s a tactic which I would expect him to employ this weekend.

If Silva is to work his magic he has to either control the range during the fight and slow things down, or deter Michael from staying in his face between bells. A scrappy, close-range fight would likely favor the Brit and over five rounds I know he feels confident that the Anderson Silva he will face on the night will not be able to keep up. It’s a tall order but thats what makes this bout so important for Bisping. Silva is held in such high regard by many that it wouldn’t seem untimely to demand a title shot with a victory here.

I will be fortunate enough to be Octagonside calling the fights and I can tell you now, I will be on the edge of my seat from early on in the night. We have a card stacked with British talent and a lot of international contenders. Watch out for rising contender Tom Breese on the main card, looking to add to his unbeaten nine-fight streak. It should be a very special night for all involved and no matter what the outcome of the fights, the fans in attendance and those watching around the world on UFC Fight Pass will be in for a real treat.

Watch UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping live on UFC Fight Pass on Saturday 27th February.