Quote:Michael Bisping, Britain’s leading UFC star, looks set to be handed an elimination fight with American Chael Sonnen, with the winner guaranteed a crack at Silva later in the year.

It’s a dramatic change of fortune for Bisping, who five weeks ago was facing a potential suspension after spitting on beaten opponent Jorge Rivera’s corner man at UFC 127.

A furious Bisping let his temper boil over after knocking Rivera out, spitting in the direction of the coaching staff.

In the fight build-up, Team Rivera had mocked his English accent, British history and insinuated his girlfriend – the mother of his three children – had a sexually transmitted disease.

Bisping said: “I apologised for losing my temper.

“It was very unprofessional and I let myself, my country and the UFC down by blowing up like I did.

“But I have apologised for five weeks now and people can either accept my apology or not.

“I don’t think there’s a red-blooded male out there who wouldn’t lose his temper under that provocation.

“They were making obscene comments about the mother of my children and it got to me. I let myself down, but it’s time to move on.”

As punishment for his antics, Bisping did not receive his usual six-figure cash bonus from UFC president Dana White.

However, White now clearly feels the Brit has served his time.

And he is ready to reward Bisping’s run of form with a showdown with All-American wrestler Sonnen, who was just a minute away from beating Silva for the belt last summer.

Bisping said: “Sonnen is the fight I want. I haven’t been approached with a contract, but the UFC have spoken with my management about it.

“Sonnen is the best available opponent, a world-class fighter, and this is the final fight for me to earn a world title shot.”

Silva is pencilled in to fight current top contender Yushin Okami in Brazil in August and, assuming he avenges an earlier disqualification loss to the Japanese fighter, should be free to face the Bisping v Sonnen winner around Christmas time.

Bisping said: “Sonnen is the fight I want. Okami’s the No.1 contender and up next for the title shot. Sonnen is the No.2 guy, so he’s the one I want.

“I am prepared to go to America and fight him in his own backyard.

“I’ll take the fight to him. I am ready to earn my chance to become the first Brit ever to win a UFC world title.”

Bisping fought Dan Henderson in a No.1 contenders fight at UFC 100 in 2009, losing in two rounds.

He said: “If I am honest, I wasn’t ready for that level two years ago.

“But, now, with the improvements I have made, I truly believe it. I am bringing that gold back to the UK.”

In other British MMA news, Nottingham puncher Paul Daley lost a wild one-round brawl with top American Nick Diaz in San Diego, California, on Saturday.

‘Semtex’ decked Diaz with a left hook and almost had him out, but the Californian halted Daley with seconds to go in the opening round.

MMA fans can watch The Ultimate Fighter: Lesnar v Dos Santos on Thursday at 10.30pm on ESPN.

(12-04-2011 19:54 )groundnpound Wrote:  Bisping will fight Sonnen at some point i'm pretty sure Gaz.Hope he knocks him out lol