Michael Bisping Is Thriving Under the Pressure of His UK Homecoming

Michael Bisping will lead the line for his countrymen on Saturday night, as a total of nine fighters hailing from the UK will take to action in front of their hometown crowd in London's 02.

The adoration that the British public has for Bisping was obvious from the ovation he received at yesterday's open workouts on Oxford Street. As he made his way to the matted area in JD Sports, the captive crowd bust into cheers and whoops as he went through the motions.

A perennial middleweight contender, in seventeen tests Bisping has never been bested on home soil. With such an immaculate record at stake, there is undoubtedly a lot of pressure on Bisping's shoulders. However, at today's UFC London media day at Tower Bridge, 'The Count' confessed that it was the idea of facing the legendary Anderson Silva that really exited him ahead of card, which will be broadcast exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

"When I was confirmed on the card for the 02 Arena, in front of my home crowd, I was super excited," said Bisping. "When it was Gegard Mousasi, don't get me wrong he's a credible opponent, but for me, it was just another opponent. When Dana called me and told me it was Anderson Silva, that changed everything.

"It's a fight I wanted for so long. I think if I win this, when I win this, there will only be two people in the UFC that have ever beaten him, and I think that will put me in line for a title shot. And of course, he's a legend. All things said and done, he's a legend. It's a very tough test for me but one I think I will prevail in."

Other than two of Silva's most recent opponents, Chris Weidman and Nick Diaz, Bisping believes that 'The Spider' had a the majority of his counterparts "mentally beaten" before a single punch was thrown in their bouts. Knowing that allowing Silva to get into your head can be detrimental to your efforts in a fight, Bisping insisted that he will "take the fight to him" when they face in the Octagon on Saturday night.

He said: "His opponents, apart from Chris Weidman and Nick Diaz, have given him too much respect. I know Anderson beat Nick but he looked very beatable in doing it. In the past when he was on his crazy run, he had a lot of his opponents mentally beaten before the fight even started. I'm not going to allow him that same fortune and I will take the fight to him, of course."

Although Bisping admits that he still wants to become the first British middleweight champion, he insisted that representing his country, himself and his family are the most important things for him to do at this stage of his career.

"Listen, being an Englishman, being a British fighter and representing our fantastic nation at this high level – it means the world to me. The support of the British public blows me away all the time. It really does, I'll never take it for granted and it's something that I will take to my grave.

"Of course, I've always wanted to be the first British UFC champion, but whether or not that happens isn't really important. Representing England, representing Britain and representing myself and my family always come first. It's great to be here, I'm delighted with the media attendance and on Saturday night, it's going to be a sold out crowd. I can't wait."

Asked whether he was feeling any pressure ahead of the all-crucial showdown with Silva, Bisping answered honestly and maintained that pressure is something that he needs to perform well. Putting his unbeaten record on home soil on the line in front of jam packed 02 Arena against the consensus greatest MMA proponent of all time, Bisping is adamant that he is thriving ahead of Saturday night.

"Part of the reason that I've been so successful is that I've always put a lot of pressure on myself. I put my pressure on myself to perform, but that always results in a great training camp and a great fight. So yes, there is pressure, but that is nothing compared to the pressure that I put on myself.

"I have to win this fight. This is no lose situation for me. I have to win, I'm not getting any younger and I want to fight for the belt. If I lose this isn't good for my career. Of course, this is a guy that I've always wanted to face and that brings a lot of pressure. I've said I can beat this guy, so I have to beat this guy and I've trained myself accordingly.