17 November 2007. Headlining fight at Ultimate Figthing Championship 78: Validation was between Michael Bisping and Rashad Evans.
Lot of history building up to this fight.
Hailing from England, 28 year old Bisping shot to fame in the States after appearing on US-based The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show. He ended up winning season 3 and landed a contract to fight in the UFC.
During the TUF season 3, he was being touted as an early favourite to win the show amongst posters on numerous mma forums.
He picked up a lot of fans, mostly down to his outgoing personality, novelty British slang and take-no-shit attitude.
On the show, one man stood in his way. A young, deaf wrestler named Matt Hammil.
Hammil was pulled from the show due to injury sustained in training.
Hammil claimed he was the "real winner of the show" and would later fight Bisping in UFC 75, in which Bisping won a controversial split decision.
Mike's attitude after that fight infuriated fans, and message boards exploded as "internet warriors" wrote their disgust and called Bisping all the names under the sun.
The once-popular Bisping was now a hate figure for many in the mma community.
This lead up all the way to the announcement that Bisping would fight TUF season 2 winner Rashad Evans.
During the filming of TUF season 2, Evans was regarded as the "underdog". Evans went on to win the show and earn a contract to fight in the UFC. Evans has also been scrutinsed. His style of "lay and pray", as some "fans" have labelled it, has gave him a reputation of being a fighter who does just enough to win a fight by controlling them on the ground, but at the same time not attempting to finish the fight, or pushing if he gains a dominant position.
His draw with Tito Ortiz in UFC 73 cemented his reputation.
Leading up to the fight between Evans and Bisping, the Bisping-hating crowd were at their best, posting on forums how Evans would "tko" Bisping, "smash him" "fuck him up"...etc...
The Bisping hate was at its peak.
Both fighters posted pre-fight reports on UFC at regular intervals and a war of words began between the two.
At the pre-fight weigh-ins, Bisping went to shake Evans' hand, only for Evans to press his head into Bpisping's, then shove him back. All this, once again, caused concern amongst the forums, and Bisping had won a few fans back because of Evans' behaviour.
It seems that much like rugby football, fighting should be watched by gentlemen, and fighters should act accordingly.
The fight was very close.
Evans scored some takedowns, as he has a wrestling backgound.
Mike defended very well, better than most thought. He was constantly on the backfoot and spent most of the fight being wary of takedowns to launch any offense himself.
The stand up was pretty even. I slightly edged it to Mike on my unnoficial scorecard.
Going into the third, I had Evans winning the first round, due to aggression and takedowns, and Mike taking the second.
The fight was up for grabs going into the third and final round.
A visibly tired Evans' looked like he might not last the 5-minutes.
Instead of pressing the fight, Bisping seemed cautious of Evans' takedowns, knowing that one or two more could lose him the fight.
That's what happened. Bisping's lack of aggression cost him the fight and Evans secured it with 10 seconds left, taking Mike down.
Rashad Evans took it 29-28 29-28 28-29 and Bisping suffered his first loss.
Out of both fighters, I think Michael Bisping has the best potential, despite losing.
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