Former welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (25-2, 8 KOs, 5 SUBs) will challenge middleweight champion Michael Bisping (30-7, 16 KOs, 4 SUBs) for the 185-pound title. A date and venue has yet to be announced, though the card will definitely be a pay-per-view event. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
One of the greatest fighters in UFC history will return to the octagon more than three years after stepping away from the sport. Former welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is coming back, and he’s gunning for the middleweight strap - held by Michael Bisping.
GSP wasn’t only one of the best to ever lace up the gloves - he was one of the UFC’s most popular stars. He regularly broke pay-per-view and attendance records, and was one of the few fighters to garner major sponsorship deals with premier brands like Under Armor and Gatorade. Now, after a long hiatus, he’ll attempt to become just the fourth man in history to win titles in two weight classes.
It’s a fight that should draw casual and hardcore fans alike. A million pay-per-view buys is pretty much a guarantee. And with a scrap of this magnitude, you know odds are already up for both fighters.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Georges St. Pierre -145
Michael Bisping +115
No R-E-S-P-E-C-T For Bisping
Let’s get this straight: Bisping is on a five-fight win streak, with wins over Anderson Silva, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson. He’s facing a smaller guy who has NEVER fought at middleweight before - a fighter who hasn’t fought in more than three years. And he’s somehow the underdog here?
Yes, Bisping is seen as “beatable” champion. Put him against any of the top four middleweight contenders and he’d likely be a sizeable underdog. But he’s four inches taller than GSP and will likely have 20+ pounds on him come fight night. The size difference plus his improved takedown defense will make it very difficult for Georges to implement his wrestling.
I’d expect the money lines to settle closer to pick’em odds as we get closer to fight night. There are just too many questions surrounding GSP’s return. He will be the faster, more athletic fighter - but he’s still 35 years old. The TriStar ace isn’t going to be the same guy that ruled the welterweight division from 2007-2013.
Early Fight Breakdown
Peak Georges St. Pierre relied on two main weapons for wins: a stinging jab and world-class MMA wrestling. He’s toppled fighters as tall as Bisping - like Carlos Condit - but that’s because he was able to resort to takedowns. And the fights he won with his jab were against guys with similar range and reach.
Takedowns will be harder to come by against Bisping, and he’ll have to wade into dangerous territory to land that lead jab consistently. But he also has one of the highest ring IQ’s we ever seen, and the timeliness of his takedowns were extraordinary.
Bisping wins through pace and volume. Never know for his knockout power, “The Count” will likely try to implement his traditional stick-and-move game against GSP. That might be tough since it’s hard to get a clean hit on the French Canadian. He won’t be able to always catch him, but he’ll make it up through strike attempts.
How You Should Bet
Bisping becomes an intriguing underdog if his line goes up to say, +150. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the UFC, and his size will cause some serious issues for GSP. Right now, it’s still too early to definitively pick a winner, but keep an eye on the money lines each week as favorable odds may emerge in what seems to be a pick’em fight at this point.
UFC odds pick: Bisping to win if money line hits +150
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