UFC
UFC on Fox 2: Michael Bisping says if Chael Sonnen takes him down, he'll submit him
Jan 23, 2012 - 11:00:04 PM UFC on Fox 2: Michael Bisping says if Chael Sonnen takes him down, he'll submit him

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

When Michael Bisping steps into the cage on Saturday night in Chicago against Chael Sonnen, the fight he's facing won't be any surprise to him. He understands that Sonnen will look to take him down and bully him on the ground, as he's been able to do against just about everyone he's faced over the last couple of years.

However, Bisping thinks that gameplan is going to play directly into what he can do, and he's feeling supremely confident in his ability to win this fight despite the short notice of the switch.

"Chael's biggest weapon is his mouth – but this ain't no kissing contest and he isn't going to talk me to death," Bisping said in an interview with Fighter's Only. "Unlucky for him he can't hurt me with his mouth in the Octagon and I am going to crush him. I'm in my prime and this is my time."

That confidence, combined with Chael Sonnen's career history, has Bisping feeling he's got this fight in hand, and he's actually hoping Sonnen takes him down in this fight.

"His wrestling skills will be on point, I'm going to get the best Chael Sonnen possible I know that," Bisping said. "But his jiu-jitsu wont be too slick. Chael Sonnen can take me down if he likes, because I know I can submit him off my back. I know I can. That's his big weakness."

"I may not have a black belt, but I consider myself a black belt. I've been rolling with Jake Shields, Dean Lister and a wash of other world champions. Believe me, if Chael Sonnen takes me down he better be prepared to get submitted."

Penick's Analysis: To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Bisping submitted Sonnen. Sure, Bisping doesn't have the history of submission wins in his UFC career, but he's got some skills on the ground. His guard is very active, and really underrated, and if he has a decent enough jiu jitsu game it might be enough to snatch a submission on a fighter who has been susceptible to them throughout his career. Sonnen could bully him, could very well beat him up for the entirety of the fight, but Bisping should not at all be counted out.

[Michael Bisping art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]