Although it was a late switch around in opponents that led to this fight coming to fruition, it has garnered significantly more attention than the headliner in the two weeks it has been on the bill.

Rashad Evans and Phil Davis are taking a backseat despite topping the bill, as the UK’s most successful MMA export Michael Bisping meets Chael Sonnen; purveyor of the sport’s finest interviews.

(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The pair are not so highly regarded purely for their personas outside of the cage though; both men are quality fighters that have proven their acumen in the cage time and time again.

Sonnen is the archetypal American wrestler; grinding, relentless and hard-working. He has shown a susceptibility to submissions in the past, but he has also campaigned against high-level grapplers and been successful.

Bisping is the striker. More polished and refined than in his earlier days and with a more well-rounded game, if a little less aggressive.

It’s certainly a clash of styles, not dissimilar to how last week’s Weekend Fight Watch was, and fans will be tuning in to see how it plays out.

Significance

Both men desperately seek a shot against Anderson Silva for the middleweight title, and this is the route to get them there. Sonnen has had his chance before, but Bisping will be looking to make a new charge towards the throne.

The compelling thing about about a Sonnen vs. Silva rematch is, of course, the fact that the American was successfully going about his business for four rounds with the champion, until the Achilles’ heel kicked in and he was submitted.

Sonnen feels he deserves another shot given the way that fight was going, and he’s earned it since with a victory over Brian Stann. Bisping would be the feather in the cap that cemented his repeat challenge.

Bisping has lost just three times in twenty five fights, and those were to Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva. Only once has he been stopped, and his current fur-fight win streak had him teetering on the edge of top contendership anyway.

The switch gave him a direct route to the title though, and he’ll want to take advantage of that. Sonnen is an elite fighter, and the repercussions of a win over him would be huge for Bisping. A title shot for a UK fighter would also have major implications.

In terms of selling the fight to an audience, Silva vs. Sonnen would be epic in a Brazilian stadium. However, should Bisping win it would raise his stock exponentially and hopefully increase the media spotlight here in the UK.

A Sonnen victory would look like…

Most likely a decision win, with relentless takedowns and a pace that very few wrestlers can set or maintain for the duration.

Sonnen is all about pressure, and he’ll be in Bisping’s face from the off. Some of his clinch takedowns are a thing of beauty -- just look at what he did to Brian Stann -- but he’s also able to work well when his opponent tries to stuff the shot, as well as use punches to set up longer range double legs.

Closing the distance won’t be easy on Bisping, but it’s even less easy on Anderson Silva and Sonnen managed that. His ground and pound will feature but won’t be fight-ending, and he’ll get a unanimous nod.

A Bisping victory would look like…

Again, likely to go to the judges but not because of a grinding top game. Instead the ability to keep the fight on the feet for prolonged periods.

In the past judges have awarded wins to fighters who have consistently sought a takedown on the cage but not managed to complete it, but if they’re in that position in this fight I can’t see “The Count” staying upright.

However, if Bisping uses his footwork and movement to avoid the closing of the distance and the danger of Sonnen’s shots, he can land from the outside en route to taking home a win.

The dark horse is, of course, Sonnen’s Kryptonite – the submission from inside the guard. Bisping has never submitted an opponent in the UFC, but he has been working on his grappling for many years and states that he has the ability to catch Sonnen off his back.

Anderson Silva did it, Demian Maia did it and Paulo Filho did it, amongst others. And, whilst Bisping isn’t renowned for his BJJ like the aforementioned middleweights, if Sonnen isn’t careful he could fall into the trap.

Your MMA Opinion

Jay Furness: As much as I'd like to see Michael Bisping go on to face Anderson Silva for the title, I don't think Chael Sonnen is a great matchup for him. A British title challenger would be great for the sport and I'd love to see it happen, but something tells me repeated Sonnen takedowns will earn him a decision. 

David Bateman: This fight is a brilliant style matchup, and one of the hardest to predict. In Sonnen, you have one of the very best at holding guys down and wearing them down. But Bisping is one of the toughest to get to the floor, and it's even more difficult to keep him there. Plus, his cardio is excellent, so wearing him down won't be easy. If this was a five rounder, I'd go Bisping. But it's not, so Sonnen by a clear cut 29-28 UD.

Chael Sonnen: The Statistics

62: Success percentage of Chael Sonnen’s takedowns
8: Losses by submission, out of 11 in total
287: Numbers of successful ground and pound strikes in the UFC.

Michael Bisping: The statistics

8: Finishes in his 12 UFC victories, all of them via TKO
65: The percentage of takedowns he has successfully avoided
1: Number of times he has been stopped in his MMA career

Quick Quotes

Sonnen: “I came to Chicago to do Michael Bisping a lot of physical harm. I don’t come here to ‘talk trash’ because that’s not something I do.” (UFC.com)

Bisping: “If you’ve got to get your testosterone replaced, you’re in the wrong sport. Alpha males don’t have low testosterone. If you had low testosterone, you’d probably be walking around with a purse and a handbag, and wearing a dress.” (MMA Fighting)

Sonnen: "My skills are my skills. I'm gonna bring them. Fifteen hard minutes. May the better man win...and he will." (Mirror)

Bisping: “I am sure I will be taken down, but he’s going to have to worry about being submitted each time he does that. He won’t be able to hold me down and I know I can pick him apart standing.” (UFC.com)

Sonnen: “I don’t go out there and slow my pace if I can or up my pace if I have to. I go 100% the entire time. I hear people say ‘that fighter looked tired’, well you’d better look tired. If you’re going out there and you’re being paid to fight, you had better put your energy out there. I will come out of this fight exhausted. I will feel like I’ve been hit by a freight train.” (MMA Fighting)

Bisping: "This wouldn't be the first time I've been an underdog in a fight, and this wouldn't be the first time I win and prove the oddsmakers wrong. Odds aren't important - what's important is who turns up on the night.” (Mirror)

The Betting Man

For the fight to go the distance you’ve got 8/15 with Sky Bet – likely, but not good enough odds to back for any major returns.

Michael Bisping features at 3/1 with most sites, but Ladbrokes are slightly better at 10/3 if you fancy a dabble on “The Count”.

Sonnen is at 1/4 across the board, and 4/11 on points with Paddy Power. To finish the fight, the American is at 2/1. A finish for Bisping is 11/2.

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