UFC announces Bisping vs. Mousasi for 2/27 in London

UFC announced the first three matches for its 2/27 show in London, England, at the O2 Arena earlier today including Michael Bisping (27-7) vs. Gegard Mousasi (37-6-2).

Bisping, who is from Liverpool, was UFC’s first major British star after winning season three of The Ultimate Fighter.  This would be a major fight for both men.  Bisping had been rumored for a fight with Anderson Silva in Brazil in the spring, but UFC looks to be going with Vitor Belfort for that spot.  Mousasi was knocked out by Uriah Hall in his last fight and it knocked him down to No. 11 in the contenders rankings.

It will be Bisping’s 25th fight in the UFC, tying him with Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck on the all-time list.  The fight will be one of the top fights on the show, but it was not confirmed that it will be the main event.

Other matches announced today are featherweights Makwan Amirkhani (12-2) vs. Mike Wilkinson (9-1), and lightweights Rustam Khabilov (17-3) vs. Norman Parke (21-4-1).