Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping Discussion

Who does every one have?

I just read this interesting tidbit

"Vitor Belfort (21-10) has never won a fight in a UFC cage that went to the second round, but he has stopped 15 men over the course of his career in the first round. His opponent on Saturday night in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Michael Bisping (23-4), has never lost a fight in the first round. The five-round main event headlines an event that airs live on FX."

That is interesting. I think that streak ends. Vitor tko round 2.

Anyone who is going to stand with Vitor gives Vitor a much better chance to win.  Vitor has decent TDD and decent submissions.  But that isn't generally how Bisping fights.

Bisping loves going for takedowns. He took Leben, Akiyama, Dan Miller, Mayhem Miller, and Stann down and did his thing.

Does the line kinda scare anyone? almost a pick em? would it be the same if the fight was on neutral grounds? What would the line be in the UK?

I believe the lines would stay fairly the same on neutral grounds. If there was an effect on the line in UK (obviously in Bisping's favor) I'm sure it wouldn't be huge or anything.

Also forgot to answer the thread. I think every single person looking at this fight could easily see a 1st round Belfort KO or a Bisping decision.

This is a true pick em but if I had to pick a side I'd rather take Bisping. Literally ANYtime you bet against a vicious striker like Belfort you risk losing to a puncher's chance. Think about the arguments people made on Belfort's behalf against Silva and Jones. Of course Belfort can finish Bisping in the 1st, but I say it's MORE likely (if even by a very few %) that the fight goes onto a 2nd round where Bisping will probably start to gain traction and eventually win.

Belfort does have good jits but I don't think Bisping uses the ground game as his one and only way of winning. I think he shoots at strategic and advantageous times; whether it's to break up the pace, throw Belfort off his game plan, or to win back momentum if he's losing a few exchanges on the feet. Bisping doesn't have the raw power or blazing hand speed of Belfort but is the more technical striker. He stays active and light with his foot movement and throws clean combinations. He will certainly bring a wider variety of strikes to the match and over a long enough stretch of time that's enough for Bisping to win. Gas tank is a factor even in the 1st as Bisping isn't likely the type to get rocked in the 1st and let his opponent cruise the rest of the way (eg: Cain/JDS part II).