After a quiet build to Saturday night’s main event at UFC 89 in Birmingham, both Michael Bisping and Chris Leben finally spoke out ahead of their middleweight encounter at the National Indoor Arsena.

“When (Michael) Bisping fights, self-preservation seems to be the first thing on his list,” Leben told a press conference. “He tries not to get hit and gets himself out the way.”

Bisping was direct with his response and pulled no punches.

“I saw in one interview he called me a scaredy cat,” he said. “We’ll see who the scaredy cat is on the night. It won’t be me.

“Anyone who watches me fight, knows I get straight at my opponent from the start. So that contradicts what he has said.

“Losing this fight is not an option.”

iFight365.com will have live coverage of UFC 89 on Saturday evening. If you missed results from this afternoon’s weigh-ins, click here.

Phil Lowe
phil@ifight365.com

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