UFC Fight Night 72 Results: Bisping tops Leites, Scotland’s own Calderwood

Bisping takes on Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night Glasgow on Saturday and with this kind of conditioning under his belt, it’s going to take something pretty special to stop him. A few promising prospects – Leon Edwards and Scotsman Steven Ray – get a chance for statement wins. He lost to Sonnen, but returned to defeat Brian Stann.

Given that the division’s upper ranks are littered with guys who are suspended (Anderson Silva), maybe retired (Tim Kennedy) or have already lost to champion Chris Weidman (Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida), it’s possible that Leites might even be bandied about as a future title contender. Dollaway at UFC 186 in Montreal back in April. The UFC has no set policy on shepherding fighters into contendership status.

There’s not a lot of flash to his game, but you’ve got to tip your cap to a gritty self-proclaimed journeyman for going across the Atlantic and getting a win over a surging knockout artist.

Although he flagged early before reality cameras, losing in the elimination round of “TUF 14” to future featherweight standout Dennis Bermudez, the win was Rivera’s 16th straight as a pro, while Brimage suffered his fourth loss in five fights and could face a pink slip from the UFC.

“I see this fight happening as a war. I feel I’m positioning myself for that”.

“My coaches are very confident in my ability”.

Calderwood said: “The pressure isn’t there, I’m just so excited”. I’d be fully supportive of a Bisping title shot.

Ray (18-5) has won both of his UFC fights and four in a row overall. He is a fighter who did not use TRT, always tested clean and seemingly did things the right way.

Michael Bisping’s career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is one of endurance and longevity. Leites’ five-fight winning streak is nothing at which to sneeze, but nobody he has beaten is anywhere close to Bisping’s level and there is no real sign that the Englishman is slowing down. The venerable Bisping has been around forever and is one of the longest-tenured fighters in the promotion.

And he’s not all that impressed with what Leites has done.

“I’ve been around the UFC for a very long time, nearly a decade”, Bisping said. He’s a big guy and with the small gloves we wear, he can pack a punch. I fought a little more ferocious. “I think I’m 17-0 in the United Kingdom now and it means the world to me to still be taking out top 10 guys after 10 years with the organisation”. He still throws the same combinations, a right hand followed by a left hook. Leites kicked Bisping’s leg and he stumbled while retreating. “I don’t really see that progression”.

His most recent win was a submission over Tim Boetsch, but that didn’t leave Bisping in awe.

Bisping insists his upcoming scrap will be the next time-honoured moment in his long career. “But I destroyed Kang who was a very tough opponent”.

He’s going 30-minutes straight with his heart rate up at 170BPM.

The Glasgow-based fighter will be huddled in her hotel room this morning contented by the thought of the 13,000 Scots that await her, calmed by the support they will provide.

He’ll soak it all in, but at the end of the day, it’s all business.

“The UFC is only 20 years old and what it has achieved in that time is absolutely insane”, he said.