Opinion: When Will Michael Bisping’s Luck Run Out?

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.* * * Michael Bisping on Saturday retained the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight title at UFC 204 in a hard-fought battle against rival Dan Henderson, a man who was ranked 12th at 185 pounds and had gone 2-2 in his previous four fights. Henderson’s two wins had come against lower-ranked opponents, and his two losses had come by knockout against fighters ranked above him.After Bisping narrowly escaped with his senses intact, a demolished face and a unanimous decision victory over the retiring 46-year-old Henderson, the entire middleweight division has to be salivating over the thought of facing “The Count.” Where exactly does Bisping stand in the world of fictional pound-for-pound rankings? Is it fair to say the Brit is the least imposing champion in the UFC? Would calling Bisping an unproven champion be a bit of a stretch? It makes you wonder if Bisping is more along the lines of Randy Turpin, Hasim Rahman, Matt Serra, the 1997 Florida Marlins and the 2001 New England Patriots. You see, there’s a fine line between what Tom Brady’s Patriots would eventually become and how quickly Rahman washed out after pulling off a huge upset. Which one will Bisping end up being? Yes, Bisping is the UFC middleweight champion, but to justify him as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world is a daunting challenge when considering his recent track record. It may seem disrespectful to suggest Bisping is somehow unproven, but nearly being knocked out twice by Henderson in his first title defense hurt far more than it helped; and to be completely honest, he won’t be respected as a champion until he defends his title against someone ranked in the top three. Question: How did it end up this way? Answer: a little bit of luck combined with some impeccable timing. After getting steamrolled by Luke Rockhold in 2014, …

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