It’s a homecoming of sorts for Michael Bisping, as he returns to British soil for the first time in five years to face Thales Leites on July 18 at UFC Glasgow.
“It’s been five years too long, this is where I forged my career, the support I’ve had from everybody here has always blown my mind. I’m an average guy, that applied himself in area I knew I had a skill set and they’ve always been behind me and that’s why I’ve had such a successful career.”
In the build up to the fight, Leites has kept relatively quiet. However, a recent Twitter post where the Brazilian predicted he would submit Bisping, has ‘the Count’ questioning his credentials.
“He can say whatever he likes, good for him, I applaud him in his sub-par attempt at trash talk. Hopefully he fights better than he attempts to rattle my nerves. He’s taken many, many people to the floor and not submitted them, and I don’t see him being successful with me on the floor, my defence is too good.”
As for the future, Bisping believes should he defeat Leites on Saturday night at the SSE Hydro, he will be one fight away from a UFC middleweight title shot.
“I think the main guys in front of me right now; obviously Rockhold is fighting for the belt. Yoel Romero is on fire, he’s doing great, you can’t deny him, and Jacare, they’re my main two competitors right now.
“Hopefully I get through Thales, I fight one of those guys later in the year I’m sure, I get through them then it’s a title shot all day.”
Bisping added: “The middleweight division now is full of killers, I think it is one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC.”
36 year-old Bisping also spoke about the Scottish crowd, being the bench mark for English fighters and the middleweight rankings.
