It seems “The Barbarian” is getting his wish, as Tim Boetsch is set to face Michael Bisping at UFC 148 in July.
After openly campaigning for a matchup with “The Count”, Boetsch will now face Bisping in a middleweight bout to take place on July 7th.
Boetsch (15-4) was probably very convincing, likely showing tape of the uppercuts he landed against Yushin Okami at UFC 144 in February. Boetsch earned the biggest win of his career, defeating the former middleweight title contender in the third round after being pummeled throughout the first two rounds. The win continued his winning streak since moving down to middleweight after a loss to Phil Davis at light heavyweight in November 2010. Since the transition, Boetsch has won three straight, with wins over Okami, Nick Ring, and Kendall Grove. The graduate of Lock Haven University has had much more success in his second go-round in the organization, after having gone 2-2 in his first stint.
Boetsch will face Bisping (22-4), who is coming off a tough loss against Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 in January. Prior to that, Bisping had won four consecutive fights, which included wins over Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Yoshihiro Akiyama. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 3, Bisping has become the most successful British fighter in UFC history. The outspoken Brit has become a top contender since dropping to middleweight in 2008, but was unsuccessful in earning a title shot against Sonnen earlier this year.
Another matchup added to the card is a bantamweight matchup between Renan Barao and Jeff Hougland. Barao will put his 31 fight undefeated streak on the line against Hougland, who is sporting his own impressive streak, with 9 wins in a row. Barao defeated Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 in February, overpowering the former title contender via unanimous decision. Hougland won his UFC debut at UFC 132, defeating Donny Walker by decision.
UFC 148 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 7th in Las Vegas. The event will be headlined by a bantamweight championship bout between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, along with another middleweight matchup between Rich Franklin and Cung Le.
For complete coverage of UFC 148, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
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Bisping should win this one. But I’m going to be rooting for Boetsch.
Good match up… Biisping should win, but I love boetsch especially with that sick face push upper cut thing..don’t know why other people don’t try that! Interesting that this is going on at same time as ace/le, wonder if there is consideration of winners fighting. on that not, what’s next for weidman??
Boetsch is inconsistent and has trouble against real good, well rounded fighters. Let’s not forget he was getting handled by Okami before that amazing comeback.
Bisping showed a lot of improvement in his fight against the #1 mw contender Chael Sonnen and I think this is a tough fight for boetsch. Boetsch likes to stand and trade but Bisping IMO is a better boxer. His a lot faster than boetsch as well. I think Bisping will utilize his foot work and speed to pick boetsch apart.
Solid matchup IMO
While I can agree with you on Bisping having better boxing skills, he doesn’t have the power to back those skills up. Boetsch really hasn’t been that inconsistent. I mean look at who he has lost too. The Janitor, Hamil, Brilz, and Davis. The Hamil fight was on short notice and he was doing good til he got winded. Since he has dropped down to MW he has been doing good. I think that he will win. Though I would rather see Bisping get the crap beat out of him by Silva then Boetsch.
@THE1
Good point. Boetsch has been doing better lately. It’s a good tough match for both fighters. I just think Bisping’s a smarter fighter with better technique. I doubt bisping will get the ko or t/ko i just see him using his speed,foot work and boxing to get a ud like he always does. Boetsch has to go after him the way he did against okami to win.
Interesting fight and I look forward to it!
Bisping shouldn’t win this one, people just thinks he should because he is a bigger name. Boetsch has heavy hands and will KO Bisping in the 2nd round. As for Barao should get the next title shot should he win.
Yeah The1, or some people think bisping should win cuz he’s the better fighter. Or cuz boetsch biggest win other than okami was kendall grove, while bisping has faced the best of the best. Bisping did much better than boetsch at 205, but maybe you forget that or dont know, in either case cuz your points are bad. Sure call the 2nd round ko, it could happen. Anything could happen in any fight. I hate bisping, but he’s more well rounded and should win.
Sure Devin some people can claim Bisping is the better fight. Sure some people can claim he done better at 205. Sure some people could claim he has faced the best in the world. Others could claim that whenever he has faced the best he has lost. Evans, Sonnen, Henderson, Silva. I am going to call that 2nd round KO and it will happen. In July we can come back to this page and we will see who is right.
Sure if you want me to once again prove you wrong. I liked your list of 5 people boetsch almost beat lol. Amazing commentary. I don’t care who wins, and I’m rooting for boetsch. I hate him and hope he loses, but I think bisping is winning cuz I know bisping is the better fighter. Correct yourself, the true statement would be that you think boetsch is the better fighter, when everyone including Vegas thinks he isn’t.
Lol sure people could say that, but It’s not true nostradamus. Wow he lost two 4 of the best of all time. Bisping’s never even heard of the 4 bums boetsch “almost beat”. Dude call your fight, but don’t try to rewrite history. And mention one of my comments in yours if you want, but be aware that I’ll call your bs after. :)
I can’t believe this is the fight they give barao,who has basically run thru the rest of the division. I can only assume they are killing time and trying to give barao a win over a black belt bjj guy, but to give him this bum?? Ugly.
I have to go with Bisping mainly because of his stand-up technique and his speed. One od my favorite moments in UFC was when Boetsch rag dolled some fighter(with ease)into the fence…definitely a hope crushing moment for any opponent and made it look too easy.
Now if Round-3-vs-Okami Boetsch shows up, then ladies and gentlemen we have a fight. If not, grapple-hump fest on the cage.
Normally being a Brit I would root for Bisping but he ignores his fans on Twitter and is becoming an asshole before he has even won a belt. Boetsch by slaughter please!