FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST Opinion & Analysis : Roundtables UFC 110 ROUNDTABLE PREDICTIONS: Bisping vs. Silva Picks from Keller, Amadi, Hyden, Leet, Perez

Feb 18, 2010 - 9:16:45 PM

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

This should have knockout written all over it. Bisping is coming off an inspired performance against Denis Kang, while Silva is making his Middleweight debut in the UFC. Bisping looked really hungry in his last fight, and it seemed that he was able to get past the knockout from Dan Henderson. Silva will be looking for the same, as he is trying to gain some kind of ground after losing two straight and not being able to string any wins together.

Silva has the edge in experience and, on the feet, as he has KO power, whereas Bisping doesn't quite possess the same power. I have to go with Bisping, though, because he will probably be able to grind out another top notch performance against a legend, but then again, everyone has a puncher's chance. Especially if that puncher is Wanderlei Silva.

JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Plain and simple, Wanderlei Silva needs to win this fight, and by brutal knockout, or his career is probably over. Wandy has been on the decline in recent years and hasn't really looked like his old self outside of the 36 second blitzing of Keith Jardine. Now he's moved down to 185 lbs, where he can compete against fighters closer to his own size, in an attempt to salvage his once legendary career.

Bisping, on the other hand, after the Denis Kang victory is probably one fight away from making people forget the brutal KO he received at the hands of Dan Henderson at UFC 100. However, Bisping's chin is still questionable since he was dropped by Kang in the first round, and Wanderlei still like to stand and trade.

As a longtime Wanderlei Silva fan, there should be no way I can pick against him, but I fear that Bisping might formulate a gameplan similar the one he utilized against Chris Leben at UFC 89, where he just picked apart the more wild and powerful striker with a more technical approach. Unfortunately for Wanderlei, his KO or be KO'd style doesn't protect him very well from losing points on the judges' scorecards, unless he lands big.

I'm calling a Bisping victory, by unanimous decision.

FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Bisping has some good stand-up, but Silva can take a beating. I think the fight will take place on the feet, and I think this favors Silva. Wanderlei has a great chin, Bisping's is not as good. I can see Bisping winning the fight early, controlling the pace with his jab. It'll be similar to his fight with Chris Leben. Bisping can win the fight early, but Silva's chin will allow him to hang around long enough to get the TKO stoppage. I know Silva has a lot of mileage on him, but I think he pulls this one out in the end. Bisping wasn't able to knock out Leben, and he won't be able to finish Silva. Prediction: Silva by TKO in the 2nd round.

LARAMEY LEET, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

In the co-main event we have Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping. Silva has only won one match in his last six fights and he has not won a fight since May of 2008! Bisping is coming off an impressive stoppage over Denis Kang at UFC 105. I think that Silva will come out in true Axe Murderer form and try to rush Bisping and get the KO. No one can doubt Silva's heart and how bad he wants a win. Bisping, on the other hand, will come out with another game plan. I believe Bisping will move constantly and avoid Silva to try and tire him out, much like he did Kang. I think Bisping will move well enough in the first to keep Silva away and maybe even win the round, but Bisping will get caught in the second. I am predicting Silva to get a TKO in the second round.

WADE KELLER, MMATORCH SUPERVISING EDITOR

This is not an easy fight to call with any confidence. There's reason to believe both fighters are vulnerable to the other, based on recent performances, and both know it. They also know the money that's at stake if either looks like they have a soft chin now - which an early KO will confirm in most people's minds. There's also reason to believe both want this win really badly. I'm going to make a bold prediction that this goes to the third, and Bisping wins by TKO.

I'm just thinking that Silva knows if he gets knocked out, people will write him off, and Bisping will show early enough that he could deliver a KO. So Silva might back off, waiting for his spot, and it could actually lead to a boring fight out of "The Axe Murderer" waiting before pulling out the axe and swinging it.

But seriously, there's no way to totally discount any prediction in this fight. Which makes it an intriguing, relevant fight. Bisping has years to make a comeback, whereas a loss for Silva with the mileage on his odometer puts his career as a top tier fighter in jeopardy. I'm intrigued.

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[Michael Bisping art credit Cory Gould (c) MMATorch]

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