Michael Bisping — UFC 328 predictions

Bisping expects Green to fight his usual style — hands low, slipping and ripping, talking trash, pot-shotting — and to get it done at 39, while acknowledging Stephens needs only one punch to flip it.

• Notes Green's age (39) and the question of fading reflexes
• Acknowledges Stephens' one-punch KO danger

“I'm going with the King.”

Although he loves Sean Brady, Bisping goes with Buckley — confident, always coming forward, swinging for the fences — and thinks he catches Brady this time. He cautions that if Brady drags it to the mat it's a Brady submission.

• Caveat: if Brady gets it to the ground, expect a Brady submission
• Cites lingering trauma from Brady's first-round KO loss to Morales

“I love Sean Brady. I've got to go with Joaquin Buckley.”

Asked directly whether Volkov beats Cortes-Acosta, Bisping says no. He frames Waldo as a surging knockout artist on a three-fight streak who keeps getting better, while arguing Volkov hasn't been the same beast since the Aspinall knockout.

• Waldo on a three-fight KO streak
• Argues Volkov is diminished post-Aspinall
• Heavy emphasis on Waldo's power

“The question is, will he beat Waldo Cortes-Acosta? I say no.”

Even with a closer personal relationship with Van, Bisping's honest pick is Taira as the more technical, more well-rounded fighter with less mileage. He sees a real submission threat if it hits the ground and believes Taira ends up the champion.

• Picks against Van despite knowing him personally
• Real submission danger if Taira gets it down
• Calls Taira a future champion

“But who wins the fight? I got to go with Tatsuro Taira.”

Bisping has leaned Chimaev all week and, despite growing respect for Strickland's elite cardio, strength and ability to get back up, his gut still says Chimaev gets it done. He concedes he could be wrong and that the longer it goes the more it favours Strickland.

• A gut pick — admits he could be wrong
• Chimaev's one-shot power vs Strickland's five-round cardio
• Strickland's big weight cut flagged as a late-fight factor

“I think Khamzat Chimaev gets the job done.”