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One day after his UFC 122 co-headliner with Alessio Sakara was scrapped at the last minute, Jorge Rivera is expected to face fellow rising middleweight Michael Bisping at UFC 127 on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia, Rivera told kimura.se Sunday.
Rivera (18-7) scored a second-round TKO of Nate Quarry in March for his third-straight win, while Bisping (20-3) topped Yoshihiro Akiyama last month for his third win in four fights.
Both Rivera and Sakara were reportedly paid for their UFC 122 matchup after Sakara was forced off the card with flu-like symptoms.
A matchup between rising welterweights Carlos Condit and Chris Lytle has also been targeted for the UFC 127 fight card.
For the latest UFC 127 news and UFC 127 rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
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i guess since he got paid it makes up 4 the 11 month gap in between fights. much bigger name compared 2 sakara, big time opportunity 4 el conquistador
ya for sure a good fight but bisping is a little better than rivera in every aspect of the game imo
Why aren’t they just going to match up Rivera and Sakara?
i think sakara vs river and bisping vs belcher when he gets better is better imo
Wow.
No disrespect intended towards Jorge Rivera, who BTW I’m glad to see get paid along with Sakara, but Michael Bisping has GOT to be disappointed with this fight.
If he beats Rivera he’s no closer to a title shot, and if he loses to Rivera his next fight could be on a SpikeTV prelims…
;-)
True, True jcohl. I was expecting Belchar to get Bisping, but I suppose the UFC needs Bisping to keep winning so he is still in line for title considerations after the top dogs sort themselves out. Belchar will probably get his Wandy wishes, and the UFC will view that as a win/win situation. Belchar wins and they have a young gun to promote. Wandy wins and they have a legend to promote. Either guy can get thrown into the top six of the division with the win and no one would really argue.
As for JR vs MB, Bisping could easily point himself to a victory here in his usual fashion, but he might get overwhelmed by an overaggressive El Conquistador. Far more dangerous of a fight for The Count than his opponent in terms of career implications. Like you said.
@bussbradski -
Totally agree.
Bisping has a lot more to lose than Rivera here, although I see this as a 15 minute UD win for Bisping, as he’ll use his superior kickboxing to maintain range and safe distance to score points and avoid bad positions and situations.
Rivera is good in a well-rounded way, but he doesn’t have the specific wrestling skill to drag Bisping to the mat and keep him there. He also doesn’t have the submission skills needed to hook and submit a guy who is as big and strong at 185 as Bisping is.
Speaking of, sometimes people forget that at 185 Bisping is a big dude. A guy fighting him has to have a pretty respectable level ground game to avoid playing into Bisping’s strengths, and unfortunately I don’t think Rivera has the right MMA toolbox to get the job done against Bisping…
Rivera will win this fight. Its a great fight to show Rivera’s skills. And also to show that Bisping stills needs to round off his game if he wants a title shot. Remember Bisping is dying to fight Anderson, but Jorge already has. Then think, who has the best chin. Didnt Hendo win knockout of the year when he had Bisping twitching on the ground after getting knocked the phuck out. In my eyes Jorge is already winning the fight. I’m definitely putting my money on Rivera.
bisping is dropping down in class now ,dana white must not think he can take on the best and is making sure he goes on a 3-4 fight win streak that is the worst fight bisping needs this time he should be having matches with the top 4 in the world not a fighter who would not give bisping a problem,what is he thinking bisping vs riviero ? some one tell me has i have not got a clue bisping going back 2-3 years fighting him bisping will win no doubt about that
I think this is a great oppurtunity for Rivera but why not rematch Sakara? He was on reported of having “”Flu-like” symptons” How long could that take to put a fight together?
Theoretically a couple of months. “Flu-like symptoms” can include diarrhea which will substantially dehydrate someone and make it impossible to train. That lack of training combined with the illness itself could force him to start a whole new training camp once he recovers.
Rivera is ready now. The question is why wait until February?
Yeah, why make him wait until February? He just finished a training camp and should theoretically be ready for a fight. There are 6 events between now and ufc 127, and they couldn’t fit a fight in for him before then? Maybe he is going to get a main or co-main event if he waits for Bisping in Feb? Maybe he wants the time to properly prepare for a new opponent who presents different threats?
Maybe Bisping isn’t ready?
Or maybe he wants to give both guys some time to properly prepare for each other’s styles?
Or maybe he feels the UFC needs another international fighter on an overseas card?
jcohl, similar to what I was thinking, especially the “give both guys some time to properly prepare for each other’s styles” comment.
Don’t know if you got it or not but when I mentioned giving Rivera a fight sooner I didn’t necessarily mean Bisping. I meant if he is ready to go because he just finished a training camp maybe there could’ve been someone to fight sooner (as you said Bisping just might not be ready before then).
I only see one reason to really wait til february. He’s ready Yes, but his opponent isn’t. Should’ve called Leben, he’s always ready to go and I’m sure he needs the paycheck right now after most recent legal troubles.
Those legal troubles may also be keeping Leben out of the cage. This is not his first DUI brush, and he is likely checked into rehab to try to stave off the imminent jail sentence.
*Sigh*
Another “jobber” (in wrestling terms) fed to Michael Bisping so he can once again avoid any real competition in his division and earn another fairly certain unanimous decision 30-27 victory, thus improving his record and maintaining his European Poster Boy star studded status.
Michael Bisping has to be the most overrated fighter in the UFC. And my guess is, he will be just thrilled with this fight. And I can already hear his victory speech with Joe Roggan now. “I’m still a couple a fights away from a title shot!” Nothing new here, he preaches the same garbage after every win.
The facts speak for themselves. On the big stage against top tier opponents Michael Bisping loses. (Rashad, Henderson, Silva). His un-evolving MMA skills and very predictable but effective run around the octagon and out point lesser opponents who have no wrestling or jitz and inferior striking skills, is getting old. Yet Dana and the UFC keep riding it, because let’s face it, Michael Bisping helps sell UFC in Europe.
Until Champ Anderson Silva is dethroned or leaves the organization, I can’t see Michael Bisping ever facing him. It’s as if the UFC is just waiting for Silva to be gone before giving Bisping a title shot. Other guys are coming in and earning 1 or 2 victories and getting title shots. And on top of that these fighters are ASKING for their title shots. (Belfort, Okami, Marquardt, Sonnen).
Until Michael Bisping beats a contender, or asks for a title shot, I will continue to look at him for exactly what he is. A mid level fighter who beat a bunch of chumps on TUF, has a decent kick-boxing pedigree, but lacks in his overall MMA game and has no chance at or desire to fight the big boys for the title.
@markusj -
We haven’t seen eye to eye on much, and I generally try to avoid posting under people who I don’t think are worth the effort [which doesn't apply in your case], but dude you need to be straight checked on one thing.
If you think Bisping isn’t the real deal, thats cool and you have the right to post that.
If you think that Rivera is going to get killed by Bisping, or vice versa, thats your call and again you’re free to post it.
And if like myself you think Bisping is the recipient of friendly matchmaking for promotional reasons then by all means post away on that as well.
But under NO circumstances do you or I or anyone else have the right to refer to Jorge Rivera as a “jobber”. I haven’t followed pro wrestling since high school, but I remember what that term means.
Rivera has paid his dues and been thru a lot. Do some research on the guy if you think I’m off-base.
He might not have the skills of Anderson Silva or the rep of Wanderlei Silva, but he DAMN sure deserves better from the fanbase than to be compared to an individual who takes money to lose in sports entertainment.
I get that you and a growing number of fans are getting tired of how Dana Whote runs the UFC, but sh!tting on a good guy like Jorge Rivera isn’t the way to deal with it.
Think it thru, and be glad that maybe the mods don’t know what a “jobber” is, because I don’t know if there is a bigger exmaple of fighter-bashing than that…
Well said.
I used to watch wrestling as well, and the term “jobber” is definitely a derogative term. Even if one believes that one fighter is on a tier lower than another it doesn’t give someone the right to call that person a “jobber”, the guys a fighter and deserves respect.
Aye, I most certainly did not mean to disrespect anyone, especially not a fighter like Jorge Rivera, who has given his all to the sport. I guess I used the term “jobber” out of context without even thinking. I will try to clarify my point though with no disrespect intended towards Jorge.
To those who don’t know, a “jobber” in pro wrestling terms is basically a fighter who is paid the minimum salary to go in and LOSE to more popular fighters in order to put them over with the fan-base. Nothing more and nothing less.
Jorge Rivera is a hell of a fighter, is coming off a 3 fight win streak and has some notable wins over his career. I will give him that. But with that being said, he is nearly 40 years old, is coming off an injury, and has lost to fighters such as Chris Leben who Michael Bisping has PICKED APART with great ease.
Why I used the term jobber, had NOTHING to do with, Rivera personally. It’s basically because as I see it, the UFC and Dana White “HAND FEED” Michael Bisping, fighters he has the best chance at beating. Jorge Rivera again is a stand-up fighter who will go in there and trade with The Count. His kick-boxing is not as good as Bisping’s and he’s slower and I doubt we wills ee him try to take it to the ground thus giving the advantage clearly to Michael Bisping. Why they refuse to give Bisping a well rounded top tier opponent who has a wrestling background is beyond me! Maybe because they know that like Rashad(205), Henderson and even Hammill(205), Bisping just isn’t a good enough all around fighter to compete with the best at 185.
Anyways, again I apologize for disrespecting Jorge Rivera, that was not my intention at all. I do however feel the UFC and Dana White are giving Michael Bisping the best matches possible to ensure he wins his fights and they continue to build the sport over seas. I am all for building the sport, but this is why I detest Michael Bisping and feel so strongly against him and will continue to say he is over-rated until he fights some contenders and asks for a title shot.
@markusj -
Well clarified, and I agree 100% that Michael Bisping has received the maximum promotional support the UFC can extend to him.
Which in one way also does Bisping a disservice, because when its all said and done Bisping is a decent fighter, a solid athlete, and an excellent MMA striker. The man trains hard, rocks a good attitude and work ethic, and has quality kickboxing skills which scored him his country’s LHW kb title.
No, Bisping isn’t [yet] a complete MMA fighter, and he doesn’t have YouTube’able “Holy Sh!t” KO power, but he uses his stand-up to set the pace and range of fights and earn wins.
Not sure what any fighter or fan can reasonably expect from something out of the MMA toolbox.
Maybe, just maybe if Dana White let Bisping throw down with a wrestler and/or submission fighter, the resulting [possible] loss would be an experience that Bisping could build off of.
Just imagine what 15 minutes with Mark Munoz could do for Bisping.
Trust me, getting taken down and kept down for 2-3-4 minutes at a time alters a fighter’s perspective on MMA.
It could motivate Bisping to maybe find a more well-rounded MMA gym to train at, and let the man know what he’s in for when Joe Silva and Dana White stop handpicking opponents for their UK MMA poster boy…
Markus
Your also a little off base on Bispings victory speech.
(“Markus off Base victory speech opinion”)
“I’m still a couple a fights away from a title shot!”
It Normally goes something like “I think with my win over Riveria I deserve a Title shot next” ,Now doesn’t this sounds a bit more arrogant and alot more like Bisping =P
This is whole thing is a joke besides Bispings Victory speech which will be as I just said above.
i agree with the person who said bisping opponent is not a good name ,bisping should have fought him 2-3 years ago not now and the person who said hes mid card prob ultimate fighter card is correct its a joke match dana white must think bisping can not cut it with the top names this is a pathetic match a one sided victory if white is saying he listen to mma fans scrap this match its just another victory for bisping this time he will stop him but who cares,
im no bisping fan but bisping will win this fight by stoppage
personally I’d like to see Bisping-Marquardt, or Bisping-Palhares.
I’d like to see either fight, however those are both fights which Bisping could lose, and I think UFC might want to keep Bisping winning (as he is so important to british fan base and as he’s not threatening for an immediate title shot).
I’d have to say Bisping needs more tools to finish a fight if he wants to beat a top 5 guy.