Michael Bisping Confident He’ll Beat Tim Boetsch; Dismisses Hector Lombard

In a new interview UFC middleweight contender Michael Bisping sounds off on a number of issues regarding his future, including how he matches up with his next opponent Tim Boetsch who he fights in July at UFC 148, what he thinks of new signing from Bellator Hector Lombard being fast-tracked to a middleweight title shot, and what his own chances are of fighting for the belt in the future.

On How He Matches Up With Tim Boetsch:

“I think in technical striking I’ve definitely got the ability there…the advantage. Speed – I’ve definitely got the advantage. Footwork…he’s very flat-footed. He’s supposed to be a wrestler, I’ve haven’t seen him use that too much and I think I’m equally as good a wrestler as him, if not better. By all accounts he’s a very, very strong guy, so if we’ll give him anything it’s the strength advantage, but you know, this isn’t a weight-lifting competition, this is a fight and I think I’m the better athlete. I definitely have the better jiu-jitsu as well, the guy seems to have nothing off his back.”

On His Chances Of A Title Shot:

“I think I’m still in the mix up there, I definitely haven’t gone down. I think i’m still one of the top few. I know I can definitely give Anderson [Silva] a good fight [and] if Chael [Sonnen] wins I can definitely beat Chael, so I’m ready and waiting.”

On Hector Lombard Being Fast-Tracked To Potential No.1 Contender Status:

“It does piss me off a little bit, you know? I’ve been slugging away in the UFC for six years now, fighting the best guys in the world and just because Hector Lombard’s been knocking out little part-time fighters who probably hold down jobs full-time and he’s been knocking out people that I haven’t got a clue who they are, I haven’t even heard of them, you know, while I’ve been knocking out the best fighters in the world and fighting the best consistently for six years and he’s going to come in from knocking out John the baker from around the corner and you know, he gets a title shot?”

Watch the full interview below.

Ross launched MMA Insight (previously FightOfTheNight.com) in 2009 as a way to channel his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts. He's since penned countless news stories and live fight reports along with dozens of feature articles as the lead writer for the site, reaching millions of fans in the process.