Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will Michael Bisping pull off the upset over Luke Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 55?
Nov 6, 2014 - 4:45:49 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will Michael Bisping pull off the upset over Luke Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 55?

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

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

Will Michael Bisping pull off the upset against Luke Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 55? How do you think the fight plays out, and what's next for Bisping if he pulls off a win?


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

It's a very tall order for Bisping, and I don't have enough faith in his finishing ability to believe he can beat Luke Rockhold. His best option is to ride out the initial phases and keep very busy. He can't afford to be taken down, and kept down, for any length of time like he was against Tim Kennedy. He has to keep this fight standing, but even then Rockhold poses many intriguing questions with his arsenal of leg kicks.

Bisping is a very accomplished striker, but he lacks power. Rockhold is going to be too good, and too quick, to allow Bisping the time he needs to land consistently with high volume. Rockhold can finish this fight quickly and in a number of ways. Bisping can't. His only chance of winning is to keep moving in and out of range while landing strikes. If his cardio is as good as ever, he could do enough to win three of the five rounds. I'm being optimistic there though. I just can't see past Rockhold winning this within the first two rounds.

If Bisping does pull off the unexpected upset, he's got to be close to a title shot. I get the feeling that if Bisping wins, the UFC will leapfrog him over Ronaldo Souza. It would be their last chance to give the Brit a title shot and they won't want to jeopardise it by making the two of them fight. It only happens if the Weidman vs. Belfort winner is delayed by injury, but I doubt it. Even if he loses this weekend, Bisping will still be a very tough gatekeeper and perennial Fight Pass headliner in Europe.


CASH NORMAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

No. I do not believe so. I do not foreesee Michael Bisping beating Luke Rockhold because his opponent is a wrestler, and while Bisping's wrestling is proficient, he has historically not performed well against wrestlers (e.g. Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Tim Kennedy).

I think that Rockhold is more than capable of matching Bisping on the feet, but can also close the distance and score takedowns. And unlike Tim Kennedy, after Rockhold gets Bisping to the ground he will work towards setting up submissions.

If Bisping pulls off the win, he'll probably face Lyoto Machida next. The UFC will build it up as a #1 contenders match, and then Bisping will get smoked once again and talk in the post fight speech about how he still believes he can be champion, and is going to work himself back into title contention.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I don't think Bisping wins, as I think Rockhold finishes him in the third or fourth round. I think Bisping stays outside and works his jab, but makes some mistakes that cause him to get his lights turned out. If Bisping were to win, though, he would be closer to a title shot than he's been in a long time. I think he would pick a public fight with a high-level guy like Jacare Souza or Lyoto Machida in the hopes of getting a No. 1 contenders fight or getting a bigger stage to spread his name. If Bisping could pull off the upset that would really be something. I don't think it happens, but anything is possible.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

My heart says Bisping but my mind says Rockhold. I think Rockhold will win a decision, but I am hoping for a Bisping KO.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Honestly I think he will beat Rockhold. Bisping is in perhaps the final run of his career, and that motivation is going to push him to new heights as far as what he's capable of doing in the cage. He's going to make a title run with everything he's made of, although it might not reward him in the way he hopes.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Maybe it's my love for Bisping that I can't see any rational reason for picking against him. If he can the fight at range and use his superior footwork and movement, he will make it a very tough fight for Rockhold. Though Bisping doesn't do things easily, he does get careless, and at times has paid the ultimate price for it.

How heavily invested into the fight is Rockhold? Will he fight in anger like he did against Belfort? If the answer is yes, Bisping's chances are very good. If the answer is no, the unthinkable just could happen.

If Bisping, sorry when Bisping wins, a fight with Yoel Romero or the winner of Machida vs. Dollaway makes sense.

Prediction: Bisping TKO RD3.


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I think I kind of touched on this yesterday when I wrote, "Other than maybe, maybe takedown defense, there's not one thing Bisping does in the cage better than Rockhold. He's also shorter, smaller, weaker, slower, and older. Other than that, yeah, this fight needed to be made."

Rockhold by unanimous decision.


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