Michael Bisping stayed on course to face Anderson Silva, the UFC world middleweight champion and widely regarded as the No 1 pound for pound mixed martial artist, with a destructive, whirlwind defeat of Canadian Jason Day during UFC 85: Bedlam at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.

Dana White, the president of UFC, hinted that Bisping has all the hallmarks of the leading contender for Silva’s title in a division “stacked with talent". White also revealed that the match with Silva could be staged in the UK and insisted post-fight that “Bisping impresses more and more with every fight”.

There were nuances there that Bisping has the credentials and fan base and could be pencilled in for a superfight with Silva next year.

Bisping, 29, from Clitheroe in Lancashire, admitted however that he still has much to learn to improve his all-round game, but this devastating first round stoppage speaks volumes for his desire to win the world title at 185lbs.

He may have to do so if he is to arm himself with the tools to defeat Silva. Feeding on the coruscating atmosphere of a 16,000 crowd which erupted for the announcement of his contest, Bisping produced arguably his most accomplished performance to date in UFC to dismantle Day.

The pressure was on, and Bisping delivered in spades. And some. After sizing up his opponent in the opening seconds, Britain’s flagship mixed martial art showed why he has desire, skills and presence.

Bisping never allowed Day any momentum in the fight, and admitted he had been nervous coming into the arena, given that a loss would have had dire consequences for his ambitious tilt at the seemingly unbeatable Silva, who has the best all-round game in mixed martial arts.

Bisping overwhelmed his opponent with power and intensity, forcing the Canadian to the floor and unleashing a barrage of punches, and finally elbows to end the spectacle. The roar would not have been amiss at the Colosseum Rome. Modern-day gladiator Bisping limped into the press conference post-fight, his only serious injury a badly bruised toe.

Conversely, Day will be nursing a badly bruised visit to the UK. The clock showed 3.42 remaining in the first round when the referee called a halt to the bout, with Britain’s number one mixed martial artist unstoppable.

The replay on the giant screens around the arena drew a gasp from the 16,000-strong crowd, which in spite of eight withdrawals through injury, was an exciting spectacle. Bisping marches on, and his legions of followers grow.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk