The Ultimate Fighting Championships has today confirmed that one of the most successful British fighters in UFC history, Michael “The Count” Bisping, will return to fight in the UK after almost five years, as he takes on Brazilian middleweight Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night 72.
The No.9 and No.10 ranked UFC middleweights respectively, Bisping and Leites have never before met inside the Octagon but, on Saturday, July 18 they will make history when they headline the UFC’s first ever Scottish event.
Bisping, originally from Manchester, England, has not fought in the UK since October 2010 when he defeated Japan’s Yoshihiro Akiyama in the main event of UFC 120 in front of a home crowd at the o2 Arena in London. British fans have been longing, ever since, for “The Count” to return to fight in the UK once more.
“I’ve been talking to the UFC for a long time about fighting back in the UK.” said Bisping. “Then when I heard about the card in Glasgow I was straight on to Dana trying to get on that card. It’s been five years since I fought in the UK and the UK is by far my favourite place to fight.
“Some could say this fight is striker vs. grappler, Thales will look to take me to the floor, there’s no doubt. That being said, he’s a jiu jitsu specialist not a wrestler, and with my take down defence I think he’ll struggle to get me to the floor. Even if he does get me down, I’m confident with my ability on the floor. I’m certainly more skilled and experienced on my feet as well.
“I want the UK audience to show the UFC why we need to keep bringing events back to the UK.”
Laites arguably presents one of the biggest challenges of Bisping’s career to date. Recording wins in his last five successive bouts, Leites’ most recent victory over Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch at UFC 183: SILVA vs. DIAZ earned the Brazilian both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses.
The pair are now confirmed to go head to head in a five round main event battle on July 18 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
