Michael Bisping has made his pick for Fighter of the Year, but one outcome could still change his decision. The former UFC middleweight champion believes 145lb king Ilia Topuria deserves the prestigious honour but admits Alex Pereira could snatch it at the eleventh hour if he steps up at UFC 310. “Topuria being the fighter of the year because the two wins he had were better than the three wins Pereira had," he explained.
"I am telling you now, if Pereira does in some way, jump on this card and fight Magomed Ankalaev - win or lose, you gotta give fighter of the year to Alex Pereira.” UFC 310 is the last PPV event of the year and was supposed to be headlined by a welterweight title scrap between champion Belal Muhammad and top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Muhammad was forced to pull out of the bout due to a bone infection in his foot, throwing the main event into disarray.
Rakhmonov has touted former UFC champion Kamaru Usman as a potential dance partner in an interim title fight, but the UFC is yet to go for it. Magomed Ankalaev and UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira have both hinted that they were interested in saving the card, something which would tip the Fighter of the Year award in Poatan's favour, according to Bisping. The Brazilian has already saved one card this year, stepping in for the injured Conor McGregor at UFC 303 and beating Jiri Prochazka in a rematch to defend his light heavyweight crown for a second time.
Pereira has defended his title .