FLASHBACK (1 YR AGO): Just like this week, Bisping trash-talking his opponent on year ago - Jorge Rivera

One year ago, Michael Bisping was already trash-talking his next opponent, Jorge Rivera three months before their scheduled fight. Bisping would go on to win that fight via TKO at 1:54 of round two, so he backed up his words with action. Will he be able to back up his words this week against Jason Miller in the same way? In our MMATorch poll, more are picking Miller to win than Bisping. Is that just wishful thinking since people dislike Bisping? Here's Bisping's quote from a year ago and MMATorch editor Jamie Penick's take on it published on MMATorch one year ago today...

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I had to take the fight just to shut him up. He's acting like an [expletive], and nothing but an [expletive]. He's not being professional. He's just being a prick... I don't give anyone any [expletive]. I live in a tiny town in the northwest of England. I don't bump into anyone. I'm not going around to all the fights and bigwigging it and going to parties and getting in everyone's face and talking [expletive]. I'm looking after my three kids and keeping a low profile. These [expletive] jump on the bandwagon (and think) it's cool to hate Bisping, and they all talk [expletive] trying to score points... I didn't want to take the fight because I feel he's beneath me. But I have to take the fight now and teach him a lesson. People say I talk a lot of trash and talk a lot of [expletive], and I disagree. I tend to keep it respectful for the most part until people start attacking me and talking [expletive] about me. Obviously, I'm going to respond to that. I'll do my talking in the cage -- Well, I probably won't. I'll probably talk [expletive] for the next eight weeks... Enjoy your time as co-main event while it lasts because you'll be back to the undercard after this one."

-A heated Michael Bisping talks to MMAJunkie.com about why he agreed to take the UFC 127 fight against Jorge Rivera.

Penick's Analysis: The perception most fans have of Bisping isn't all that positive because of his two stints on the Ultimate Fighter. Maybe American fans don't want to see the "cocky Brit" succeed, maybe they don't enjoy his version of trash talking when he engages in it, I don't have the answers for the Bisping hate, but it's always been there. And perhaps it's entirely unwarranted. After all, he does perform to the best of his abilities every time he enters the Octagon. He doesn't always win, and has fallen short in his biggest opportunities, but he's constantly competitive and leaves it in the cage. At this stage in their respective careers, this is a fight that Bisping should win, and perhaps a pissed off Bisping will bring out a different style performance. We'll find out in Australia in February.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_32/article_11498.shtml

Per Eklund Jason Ellis Aleksander Emelianenko Fedor Emelianenko