Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: What should be next for Michael Bisping after UFC Fight Night 48 win over Cung Le?
Aug 28, 2014 - 12:55:24 PM ROUNDTABLE: What should be next for Michael Bisping after UFC Fight Night 48 win over Cung Le?

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

What would you like to see for Michael Bisping next after his UFC Fight Night 48 win over Cung Le, and why?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Go away? No, what I want to see is for him to not con Dana White and Joe Silva into an undeserved fight with Luke Rockhold, that's what I want to see. I get that he's a company guy (flack), and that he understands how the system works (bend over, grab knees), but he needs to be fighting in either high-profile fights that mean nothing to the rankings (Nick Diaz?), or working his way up as if his mouth isn't a bigger moneymaker than his fists (Thale Leites). He should fight Thales Leites in what would be a hell of a good fight, The winner of that fight would have a claim at a fight against a top-five guy.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think they should put together a fight with Luke Rockhold. Bisping's not close to a title shot, but he can start building his case back up with a big win here. A win over Rockhold would really help his case. It wouldn't give him a title shot, of course, but it'd be a good building block.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I say match him up with Rockhold. There is already some real animosity there and it would be a very easy fight for the UFC to sell.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I want to see Bisping fight Boetsch, and see how his chin holds up. His beating of Cung Le was impressive, but he has room to move in the division, and he needs to select an opponent who will allow him to do that. I think a fight with Boetsch is a good start to that movement.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Bisping rolled back the years knocking out Cung Le in an empathic victory on Saturday morning. Bisping promised a performance and he duly delivered on it. Ok, Cung Le isn't a top 10 ranked fighter, but he's a very dangerous opponent if taken lightly, and this was something Bisping didn't do. His striking, footwork, and cardio looked very good, and was only a matter of time before he got the stoppage. Though Bisping didn't have things all his own way; he got caught with a few shots during the fight, and had to eat some nasty body kicks though the first couple of rounds.

Bisping should carefully pick his next opponent. It looks likely Rockhold may be next for him, though I think he should steer clear of Rockhold for the time being, get another win under his belt, and gain more Octagon time and confidence on the back of another win.

So who next? Maybe Gegard Mousasi if he was to pull of a win against Ronaldo Souza in a couple of weeks time. If I was picking a fight for Bisping next it would be C.B. Dolloway or Costas Philippou. Both fighters are ranked nine and ten, respectively, in the division, and both coming off wins. They are perfect opponents for Bisping to earn back to back wins, and to do so in style, then he can look at the likes of Rockhold.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

I suggested Tim Boetsch in my 'Fights to Make' column last weekend and it's still a fight I'd like to see. It's not going to happen, but it's a viable Plan B or Plan C. When I wrote the original article it looked like Luke Rockhold vs. Lyoto Machida was inevitable, and from a rankings standpoint, that fight still makes the most sense. However, since then the tide has quickly turned in favour of Rockhold vs. Bisping and now I believe that's the fight the UFC will go with when Rockhold recovers from injury.

I don't like the idea of Bisping fighting any in the range of C.B.Dollaway, Mark Munoz, Thales Leites, or Costas Philippou. For one reason or another none of those possible fights appeal; although the latter would be stylistically sensible. At this stage of his career, Bisping should either fight a top contender, or failing that, someone who will stand toe-to-toe with him and slug it out as a main event on Fight Pass. I want Rockhold to be next for Bisping but I fear the Englishman will get destroyed if that fight happens.


Ed. Note: This question was asked prior to reports that the UFC is now targeting Bisping-Rockhold next.

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