Anderson Silva News: 'The Spider' Wants Victory To Begin New Title Run, Foresees Opponent Michael Bisping As 'Big Test'
Former long-time middleweight champion Anderson Silva will be fighting veteran middleweight contender Michael Bisping in his return in February.
"The Spider" and "The Count" will be headlining a UFC Fight Pass card on February 27 in London's O2 Arena. It would be the first time Silva would be fighting a non-pay-per-view fight since his debut at UFC Fight Night 5 in June 2006.
The said match-up would also be Silva's first fight since UFC 183 in January of this year against Nick Diaz. After the said bout, the Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter tested positive for anabolic steroids. The fight was subsequently overturned to a no contest, and Silva was slapped with a one-year suspension.
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Now cleared to fight, Silva will be facing a still dangerous Bisping. And for him, facing the British fighter would be something he would need to conquer in order for him to get back the title he once held for seven straight years.
"It's been a while since I fought in London for the last time, and I'm really excited to be back," Silva said, according to a MMA Fighting report. "I believe this is going to be a big test so I can come back and go after a title shot."
The 40-year-old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil added that while he would have wanted to have the fight in his home country, being able to come back to London and fight is also "going to be a pleasure."
The report adds that Silva's last fights in London in 2004-2006 were all victories, where he racked up four wins. Bisping's luck in his home country is as good as Silva's, where he won three of his five fights. Silva holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 33-6 and one no contest, with 26 of those victories ending by stoppage.
Bisping, on the other hand, banners a 27-7 win-loss slate, with 19 victories by stoppage. He last saw action against fellow veteran Thales Leites in July, where he scored a split decision win.
