With Anderson Silva Out Of UFC Shanghai, Michael Bisping Will Now Step In On Short Notice To Face Kelvin Gastelum
SHANGHAI, CHINA – UFC®, the world’s premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization, announced that the number 2-ranked UFC contender Michael Bisping (31-8, fighting out of Manchester, England) is confirmed to replace Anderson Silva, who has been removed from the Shanghai event following a potential USADA anti-doping policy violation. UFC FIGHT NIGHT; SHANGHAI: BISPING vs. GASTELUM presented by General Tire takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai on November 25, 2017.
There was a lot of news over the weekend in the world of mixed martial arts, including Jose Aldo stepping in to face Max Holloway for the UFC Featherweight Championship of the world at UFC 218, but before that event happens, UFC Fight Night: Shanghai does. With Anderson Silva out of the main event against Kelvin Gastelum, the card looked so horrendous I thought they should cancel it. If there’s one noteworthy fight and that’s it, fine, it’s a Fight Pass card from China, but if not, don’t make anyone sit through that. Now we’ve got just that – one noteworthy fight – and it’s way better than the originally scheduled main event.
One week removed from losing his UFC Middleweight Championship to the returning Georges St-Pierre, Michael Bisping has agreed to step in and fight Kelvin Gastelum on short notice. I totally respect the move and don’t know how you can’t, but I don’t know if it’s the smartest for The Count. With a bad loss here, people will really question whether or not it’s time for Bisping to retire. He was even questioning himself before the GSP fight, and Gastelum’s no slouch. Personally I said what a lot of people did, and that’s that Bisping should’ve taken a little time off, and fought once more at the London card in March, then ride off into the sunset. It’d be a great farewell to him.
Fair play here, though, because I think this is a great matchup and clearly the oddsmakers do as well, having it at Gastelum (-160) and Bisping (+120). Let’s just let ‘em bang bro.
