UFC: MICHAEL BISPING

BISPING: My next fight is against Charles McCarthy (at UFC 83 in April), who was on The Ultimate Fighter 4.

He is a decent fighter but I think he is a good match-up for me, to be honest. He is a ju jitsu guy but I think I will take him out within a round, to be honest. I'm fighting at middleweight from now on. I'm undersized really as a light heavyweight, right from the start everyone was saying I should fight at middleweight.

I was winning my fights and I said when I get beat I will drop down. If it's not broken, don't fix it.
That's what I always said to myself, when I lose one I will drop down.

I did, I lost my last one against Rashad Evans. It was a really close fight, a split decision, but the fact is I did lose. Because it was so close I wasn't going to drop down but then I thought to myself I had a plan so I will stick to it.

BISPING: It's a great division and obviously the belt holder Anderson Silva is one of the best pound for pound in the world. I think I fit well into the division and I'm really looking forward to it, I think there is some great match-ups for me.

I think I will maximise my potential much more at middle. Because the guys were a bit bigger at light heavyweight, they were a bit stronger, so I'm looking forward to being the bigger man in the cage for once as opposed to being the smaller one. And I'm looking forward to getting back to knocking people out, which is what I do best. So watch this space because that's what's going to be happening.

BISPING: I will probably go out to Big Bear again soon but I train at the Wolfslair in Liverpool. I'll probably do that some time again with Rampage. The training we get at home is fantastic but it's good for the altitude training. You notice the difference with the cardio side of things when you come back, only a little bit. But I'm always fit anyway. For me, the best thing about it is getting away from everything, no distractions - away from the family and the pressures of daily life.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: In terms of your skills, what are you most happy with at the moment?

BISPING: I've been working on everyhing but what I've been really pleased with lately is that my wrestling has really come on - my takedown defence and my takedown ability.

I've got a new strength and conditioning coach - Jeff Rainbow from Nottingham. I looked at everything that went wrong with my last fight in preparation and things like that and I'm trying to put
it right. There was quite a few things wrong, so it's time to take it to the next level. I've got a nutritionist, a new strength and conditioning coach and I'm just taking it more seriously. I need to arrange sparring partners in advance, I can't just expect them to be there on the day. I need to start paying sparring partners, things like that.

BISPING: I was relatively happy with my performance but I was a little annoyed with myself. I feel I could have sealed the victory if I had pushed the pace more in the third round because he was tired and I could have taken advantage of that more.

He was swinging big, wild, heavy shots. It's easy to say now I could have pushed the pace more. But at the time I had to be careful because he was just swinging wildly. And it only takes one shot with those little gloves. On the whole I was happy with my takedown defence, I got back to my feet every time and I think I landed more
shots stood up.

I was a little bit too hesitant. I think the very last takedown of the fight, which wasn't really a takedown, it was more of a scramble and I just ended up on the floor. I think that's what won him the fight, that's how close it was. But you can't win them all. I'd like to but I've learned a lot from that and I will be even more focused in the future.

BISPING: To be honest, utterly and completely. It's weird, it's been an absolute rollercoaster. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. That's why I want to do as much as I can to make sure it stays like that. I don't fancy going back to working for a living. I've had too many crappy jobs to mention. I appreciate what I've got now big time, I'm a really lucky man. I think I've got another five fights on my UFC contract.