Does Bisping Deserve A Title Shot?

Jan 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; UFC fighter Chael Sonnen (right) fights against Michael Bisping during UFC on Fox 2 at the United Center. Sonnen defeats Bisping. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-US PRESSWIRE

Michael Bisping has stated that if he wins at UFC 152, he will be given a title shot. He will need to win decisively, but says the UFC promised if that happens he will be next in line for Silva.

Nothing has been put in writing by the UFC so we can only put so much weight on these statements from Bisping. Does Bisping deserve a title shot if he defeats Brian Stann at UFC 152 though?

Bisping is 4-1 in his last five fights, but is coming off a loss to Chael Sonnen. While many fans think the loss was controversial, I don’t see the controversy, and it’s difficult to see all three judges being wrong on a fight. If it was that close, the fight would have at least been ruled a split decision for Sonnen.

He may only have four losses in his career, but the losses are against the big name fighters he faces. Bisping has lost to Sonnen, Henderson, Silva and Evans, while his biggest name victory is against Chris Leben. I’m not arguing that Bisping is an average middleweight, but the fact that he has only defeated middle of the road UFC fighters in his career. When he has faced elite level competition he has lost.

If Bisping deserves a title shot against Silva, then you could argue Stann deserves a shot if he defeats Bisping. In my mind Stann is nowhere near a title shot, but neither is Bisping.

In my mind Bisping needs at least two more victories to earn a title shot. If he defeats Stann, give Bisping a fight against Chris Weidman or Hector Lombard in a No. 1 contender bout. Bisping has not earned a title shot in my mind yet.