EXCL: Bisping on why there is hope for Covington + Zhang at UFC 268
Michael Chandler MUST fight fire with fire against Justin Gaethje, Rose Namajunas will beat Zhang Weili again and why there is hope for Colby Covington in his rematch with Kamaru Usman… Michael Bisping runs the rule over UFC 268
- UFC 268 is headlined by Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington on Saturday
- There is another rematch with Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili, also for a title
- Michael Bisping knows all about beating opponents second time round
- He offered his advice to the underdogs and weighed in on the rest of the card
UFC 268 is shaping up to be one of the biggest cards this year and is topped off by two grudge matches.
Colby Covington and Zhang Weili are out for revenge against Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas, but how can they turn the tables and dethrone the champions on Saturday night?
Michael Bisping seems like the perfect man to ask having won all three rematches in his career, including his magnum opus, beating Luke Rockhold for the middleweight crown in 2016.
Kamaru Usman (left) is set to defend his title against Colby Covington (right) on Saturday
Michael Bisping does not expect similar fights to the first ones in the main and co-main events
Usman previously broke Covington’s jaw and beat him by TKO in the fifth round in 2019
So what advice does the ex-British fighter turned pundit have for those underdogs?
‘It’s an interesting question. Obviously confidence is a big thing in MMA, so if you think “this guy or woman has already beaten me before”, that can put negative thoughts into your mind’, he exclusively told Sportsmail.
‘You’ve got to forget that, this is what I was saying to Rockhold, I kept reminding him because he was so cocksure of himself. I was like “mate, every fight is different”, if you think it will go the same way you’re out of your mind.
‘Two guys who are world class and anything can happen, it’s not like they can fight.
‘Yeah they lost the first time but you really think Rose Namajunas is going to knock her out again with one f***ing head kick? No, it won’t happen like that. Eradicate it from your mind, say “Ok, it was a bad night at the office”.
Rose Namajunas will defend her title at Madison Square Garden in the co-main event
‘Covington is a little different because he had five rounds in there, it was a very even fight so look at the positives. It was probably 2-2 going into that fifth round, he got clipped, it could have been the other way around.’
In the headliner, much is expected of Usman, who has risen to the top as pound-for-pound king and elevated his game to another level since beating Covington first time around.
His rival on the other hand, has only beaten Tyron Woodley, and many claim he is fortunate to have another shot at the title.
Bisping adds: ‘Usman has really taken off, pound for pound No 1, skillset is incredible, not just powerhouse wrestling. Colby on the flip side is a big personality, everyone is excited for it, he only had one win, a lot of people beat Tyron recently, no disrespect to him.
Justin Gaethje’s fight with Michael Chandler is expected to be among the best on the card
Chandler, 35, lost in his title fight with Charles Oliveira back in May at UFC 262
‘So I can see why people might say Colby doesn’t really deserve it but I’m excited to see it and I think everyone is inside Madison Square Garden this weekend. Colby sells it, he attracts people, love him or hate him, he’s must see TV.’
To open up the main card, Justin Gaethje returns for the first time since losing against Khabib Nurmagomedov more than a year ago.
He faces Michael Chandler in what on paper looks to be a Fight of the Night shoo-in.
Bisping cannot comprehend a world in which the contest isn’t a thriller.
‘I don’t see how Chandler and Gaethje won’t be as entertaining as it looks on paper. Gaethje fights one way and one way only so Chandler has to fight fire with fire, I don’t think he’ll get a takedown of Gaethje, his hips are too strong, so Chandler will have to fight on the feet.
‘He has no choice but to fight fire with fire, that’s the way Gaethje fights. That one will deliver and has a lot of implications for the lightweight title as well.
Bispong never lost a rematch so is well placed to comment on the top of the card
‘It is an incredible fight card. Where do you start in terms of what is going to be the best fight, I don’t know, but Gaethje and Chandler is right up there.’
Even if Gaethje or Chandler win in style, Bisping believes neither man will leapfrog Islam Makhachev as the man in line to face either Poirier or Oliveira.
‘It is tough, Poirier and Oliveira are fighting at the end of the year, Makhachev is on a nine-fight win streak, you can’t really deny him, plus he has all the support from Khabib crowd, the Russian, Dagestani and Muslim community,’ the 42-year-old continued.
‘I think he’ll fight for the belt next, simply because Gaethje has already been there. If Gaethje wins, Chandler just fought for it, Makhachev there is a story there and it is something new.
Islam Makhachev will be next in line for a title shot against Poirier or Oliveira, says Bisping
‘If I’m Poirier, I’m hoping it is someone different from Makhachev! “Son of a b****, I’m finally here and Islam f****** Makhachev comes along to take it right off me!”
So what of a prediction for the three most high-profile fight on the card?
‘I think Usman knocks him out again, I think Rose is once again going to be victorious but I think it’ll be a decision, I think Gaethje wins by knockout.
‘No disrespect to Oliveira but if he can knock Chandler out, I’m pretty sure Gaethje can. Chandler is a tough son of a b****. I expect incredible fights from all three.’
Watch UFC 268: Usman v Covington 2 exclusively live on BT Sport 1 from 2am on Saturday 6th November. For more info go to www.bt.com/sport/ufc
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