After repeated ocular issues and surgery for a detached retina, UFC middleweight Michael Bisping has finally been medically cleared to fight. UFC president Dana White confirmed the news on Thursday at a media scrum for Saturday’s UFC 169.
Predictably, Bisping will be fighting Tim Kennedy. Since scoring his second consecutive victory inside the Octagon, a first round KO of Rafael Natal at UFC Fight Night 31, Kennedy has relentlessly called out Bisping at every turn. Contrary to his typically subdued nature, Bisping responded in kind and has been pushing for this fight while awaiting clearance.
The two are scheduled to meet in the main event of the upcoming TUF: Nations Finale event. The show is scheduled for April 16 at the Pepsi Colosseum in Quebec City, Canada. By that time it will be almost a full year since Bisping last stepped foot inside the Octagon. In his last outing, he was on his way to outpointing Alan Belcher at UFC 159, but an accidental eyepoke to Belcher forced an end to the fight and “The Count” was awarded the technical decision.
Here’s what the card looks like so far:
Michael Bisping vs. Tim Kennedy
Kyle Noke vs. Patrick Cote
Evan Dunham vs. Mark Bocek
Sam Stout vs. K.J. Noons
Mitch Gagnon vs. Tim Gorman