Two-time UFC middleweight title-challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t just believe that Michael Bisping will beat Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7, but that he will also be the man to unseat long reigning 185-pound kingpin Anderson Silva.
Sonnen said his much in an interview with Brazilian media outlet Tatame, which was then translated by MMA Fighting.
"I really want to see Bisping win this fight and get his title shot. He deserves it. It is long overdue.”
“Bisping has a big heart, he always comes to fight hard, he never backs down and he never quits. I know he can beat Anderson Silva and be the middleweight champion. There's no question in my mind Bisping can beat Anderson.”
Sonnen is no stranger to either Bisping or Silva. He was stopped by Silva in both of his UFC championship fights: getting submitted at UFC 117 in Aug. 2010 and TKO’ed at UFC 148 this past July.
However, “The American Gangster” was victorious in his UFC on FOX 2 bout with Bisping, winning a hotly-contested decision roughly one year ago.
While Sonnen admits he is no fan of Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, he admits his punching power and aggression are not to be taken lately.
Nevertheless, he believes Bisping’s cardio will be too much for “The Phenom” to overcome.
"If Bisping gets to the third round, Vitor is in for a very painful experience. Bisping just doesn't get tired. Believe me, I know. And this is a five-round fight. Bisping can win this in the third or fourth round."
When asked if the Sao, Paulo, Brazil crowd would have any impact on the main event bout, Sonnen responded by stating that they wouldn’t for one very simple reason: neither Bisping nor Belfort is Brazilian.
“The crowd won't affect the fight, partly because neither fighter is from Brazil. I'm in Las Vegas right now, and I can see Vitor Belfort's house from my hotel room window. He hasn't lived within 6,000 miles of Brazil in years. I'm not sure anyone in Brazil cares about him anymore. He's not from Brazil, he's from the U.S.”
While Belfort currently does reside in Las Vegas, he was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Is there any chance that Sonnen’s bold prediction will become a reality?