UFC 127 – Michael Bisping says Akiyama was a bigger knockout threat to him than Rivera will be

UFC middleweight contender, Michael Bisping has been playing down the threat offered by his UFC 127 opponent, Jorge Rivera ahead of their clash at the end of this month in Sydney, Australia, explaining as far as he’s concerned his last opponent, Yoshihiro Akiyama, was a tougher ask.
Speaking via ESPN.co.uk, Bisping said:

“Akiyama’s the bigger knockout threat, I’ve not really seen Rivera put anyone away with one shot. Rivera’s got heavy hands and he has taken people out, but I’ve not seen him do it with one punch and KO anyone. Akiyama’s definitely done that. He took out Denis Kang one-punch with that uppercut, he’s done it to a few people and he almost got me – the bastard!”

“Akiyama’s the far more powerful puncher than Rivera. The majority of people in the UFC are heavy-handed, particularly with four-ounce gloves on. Anyone who can throw a punch will knock someone down if they hit on the button in four-ounce gloves, so I’m sick of hearing about this heavy-handed bulls***.”

“Fingers crossed if I see a big right coming I’ll either duck or get my hands up! But you don’t go in the rain without getting wet, and a lot of times you don’t go in a fight without getting punched. It’s how you deal with it that matters.”

The two men meet in the co-main event of UFC 127 at the end of this month, with Rivera certainly doing his best to force his name into the limelight despite being behind “The Count” in the middleweight standings. Stay tuned to MMABay for more on this explosive situation as we get it.