Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for UFC on Fox 2 co-main event between Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen
Jan 27, 2012 - 3:30:03 PM ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for UFC on Fox 2 co-main event between Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen

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Predict the outcome of the Bisping-Sonnen bout - will Bisping earn a title shot or will Sonnen-Silva II come to fruition?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST


Sonnen's going to handle Bisping, who hasn't beaten anybody in his eleven UFC fights. The lack of competition Bisping has succeeded against is the dirty little secret that nobody wants to talk about.  Sonnen is going to truck him.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Just as the New York Giants will beat the hell out of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, Michael Bisping is going to beat the hell out of Chael Sonnen in their fight. Bisping's striking is just way too good for Sonnen, and his takedown defense is underrated. Now, I don't think Bisping will knock him out or anything, Bisping suffers from a serious lack of punching power, but he should win easily.


ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I have never been a fan of Chael Sonnen, and always liked Michael Bisping. However, as of late, I have started to turn a tide with Sonnen. Bisping is still a good fighter, but Sonnen is on a different level for someone to put it to Anderson Silva like he did in the inaugural bout with the champion. He will get a rematch, and riots will break out all over Brazil when Sonnen fights Silva. Sonnen will win via submission in the third round or unanimous decision.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Sonnen by submission. I would favor a triangle choke, perhaps a guillotine. We all know that Bisping is going to do his best to push the pace and take shots where he sees them, but with the way Sonnen dominated Silva for four rounds, I don't expect to see Bisping give him a whole lot of trouble. We will have to see what kind of game plan both of these guys bring to the cage and how well they execute. I think Bisping has a fair shot to win if he can stay away from submissions and control the fight, but with Sonnens experience and ability to overwhelm opponents, I just don't see Michael Bisping being able to pull that off on Saturday. Sonnen-Silva II will be an epic rematch, and if Sonnen wins, in Brazil, the UFC could have a riot on their hands.


MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I've made the case already for how Bisping can win this fight and why he's a more dangerous opponent for Sonnen than Mark Munoz was, but, that being said, I'll take Sonnen. His takedowns and top control are still way too big of an advantage for me to think Bisping can pull off an Anderson Silva on the Oregonian. Sonnen has shown a propensity for being tapped by high level grapplers in the past (Silva, Demian Maia, Paulo Filho, and Babalu Sobral, just to name a few), but Bisping falls short of that pedigree. His guard work is fantastic, but mostly defensive. Sonnen should be able to do enough damage from the top to win over the judges even if Bisping is able to force a stand-up or two. I see this fight going very much like the Sonnen-Marquardt fight, where Bisping has a hope moment or three, but they're surrounded by a dominating performance by Sonnen that lands him a clear-cut decision and a rematch with Anderson Silva.

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