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Michael Bisping vs. Thales Leites Headlines UFC Glasgow
Michael Bisping won't be fighting in his hometown when he headlines UFC Fight Night 72 opposite Thales Leites. He won't be far off, however, when they meet in Glasgow, Scotland, which isn't far from where he grew up in Lancashire, England.
“I’ve been talking to the UFC for a long time about fighting back in the UK.” said Bisping. “Then when I heard about the card in Glasgow, I was straight on to Dana trying to get on that card. It’s been five years since I fought in the UK and the UK is by far my favorite place to fight.”
Officials announced the UFC Fight Night 72 main event on Monday morning.
Although he's a perennial Top 10 fighter and currently ranked No. 9 in the UFC middleweight division, Bisping (26-7) has found himself in a no-man's land over the past few years. He's been near title contention several times, but has consistently alternated between wins and losses in his last nine bouts, unable to stake his claim for a title shot.
After defeating Cung Le in Macau, China, Bisping had the opportunity to face Luke Rockhold. A victory against the former Strikeforce champion would have put the Brit squarely in title contention, but he was submitted. Bisping recently bounced back with unanimous decision victory over C.B. Dollaway at UFC 186 in Montreal.
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Leites (25-4), currently the No. 10 ranked middleweight, represents an opportunity for Bisping to begin another climb towards a title shot. He doesn't represent an easy task, though. Unlike Bisping, Leites has had a shot at the UFC middleweight championship, although he came up short against Anderson Silva.
He is currently on an eight-fight winning streak, including five fights in the UFC. Leites most recently submitted Top 15 middleweight Tim Boetsch.
This is a critical fight for both men. For Bisping, a win could put him back on the road to contention, while a loss would see him continue his role as a gatekeeper. Leites, meanwhile, would again become a legitimate contender with a victory. A loss wouldn't put him far out of contention, but would definitely be a major roadblock.
UFC Fight Night 72: Bisping vs. Leites takes place on July 18 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
