BISPING ONBOARD FOR UFC 75

By Stash Capar

UK light heavyweight standout Michael “The Count” Bisping has confirmed that he will be fighting on September 8 at UFC 75 against an unnamed opponent. The wildly popular local fighter earned a second round TKO at April 21's UFC 70 against Elvis Sinosic in Manchester, just miles down the road from his Clithoroe township.



The Las Vegas-based promotion’s third UK event is rumoured to be taking place at the renovated O2 arena on the famed Thames River, which could hold upwards of 20,000 spectators depending on configuration.

Bisping made the announcement this weekend during the SENI07 Combat Show in London, a two-day event that drew a myriad of martial arts enthusiasts, both young and old, and hosted dozens of Martial Arts, Combat Sports and Extreme Fitness booths that filled the Excel convention centre.

Mixed martial arts fans swarmed the UFC stall to chat with “The Ultimate Fighter 4” winner Bisping, along with Rashad Evans and Josh Koscheck, also veterans of the reality TV show currently airing on Bravo in the UK.

Although there was a significant MMA presence with the UFC, Cage Rage and Pro Elite all drawing huge crowds, the event was dominated by traditionalists representing everything from Shotokan Karate to Fudebakudo (the way of the exploding pen!).

Other notables from the SENI event:

Cage Rage promoter Andy Geer has announced that a “Cage Rage movie” will go into production next month. According to Geer, the project will involve “a talented Hollywood director and a couple of big Hollywood names."

UFC fighter Jess Liaudin has confirmed that he will be fighting on September 8 at UFC 75 as well, against a yet-to-be-named opponent. Laudin captured the British crowd’s fancy at April 21’s UFC 70, earning a flashy first round submission over Denis Siver.



Despite rumours of a clause in his contract, both a Cage Rage and UFC spokesperson have confirmed that Anderson “The Spider” Silva will not be defending his Cage Rage World Middleweight title in the near future. Whether or not the Cage Rage World Middleweight title (and the Cage Rage British Middleweight title held by PRIDE fighter Zelg Galesic) will be up for grabs remains a mystery.