The UFC takes its brand of hard-hitting action to Australia with the ACER Arena playing host to UFC 127. The event sold out in minutes after going on public sale, making it the fastest selling UFC event in history.The card is headlined by a welterweight showdown between Jon Fitch and B.J. Penn in what could be a changing of the guard when it comes to challengers to Georges St-Pierre's welterweight crown.
Significantly however for British Mixed Martial Arts it signals the opportunity for Clitheroe fighter Michael Bisping to stake his claim for a fight with middleweight supremo Anderson Silva. Standing in his way, UFC veteran Jorge Rivera.
At 38 Rivera may not be considered by non-UFC officianados as the most spritely of the organisations roster, we are however seeing a rejuvenated 'El Conquistador'.
Rivera disposed of middleweight contender Nate Quarry at UFC Fight Night 21 by TKO, landing 75% of his punches in what was dubbed by commentator Joe Rogan "the best performance of his career". It must be added that this victory came 11 months ago, are we to see elements of ring-rust from the veteran?
Bisping on the other hand finds himself far from exhibiting ring rust, his consistent activity has put him well and truly in the frame for a title tilt come the end of the year, should he make it three UFC wins in a row. 'The Count' comes off the back of Fight of the Night honours from UFC 120, an event that he himself headlined in a fight with Japan's Yoshihiro Akiyama.
In this fight a much improved Bisping was on display, the contest however not without a scare. The Brit rocked in the first round only to roar back after gaining his composure as he unleashed a flurry of combos to dominate his opponent. His notably improved boxing, added to his black belt Vale Tudo, allowed him to secure a unanimous decision from the judges, prompting murmurs of the possibility of a Silva showdown in the near future.
The build up to the fight at the 127 event has been just as compelling as the fight in the octagon is hoped to be with a bitter war of worlds developing.
Rivera has gone far enough as to post fake videos on YouTube of Bisping in which the American mocks the Clitheroe fighters accent and attitude towards mixed martial arts. This, prompting the Brit to brand his opponent 'a moron'. El Conquistador's tactics are ever more surprising given his unwillingness to do so in the past.
Regardless of what comes as a result of the fight for either party, Bisping in particular as he looks to mount a title challenge, there is no doubting that Rivera's actions have made the fight a matter of pride and respect.
In an interview with MMA Live 'The Count' stated that this was an oppurtunity to teach the American a lesson, claiming that: "he's underestimated me, as usual, people seem to do that".
He went on to say: "He's been very insulting to me as a fighter, and I take that seriously. I dedicate a lot of time and effort just like you do as a journalist [to interviewer]. . . . . . . . . I dedicate my life to this."
"Him and other people around him their making slanderous remarks and this and that, but you know I want to teach him a lesson, I want to win the fight, I want to get paid and get closer to a title shot but also I want to put him in his place and make an example of him."
It is fair to say that the pre-fight spat between the two fighters has made for a far more appealing fight than might otherwise have been the case when the card was published. One thing is for certain though, their is more than just money and the possibility of a title shot somewhere done the line at stake. This fight has been made personal.
UFC 127 Press Conference - Bisping Rivera Confrontation
UFC 127 is available on ESPN with coverage of the main card starting at 3am on the morning of Sunday the 27th GMT.
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