Michael Bisping and Wanderlei Silva Battle For Shot At Yoshihio Akiyama

Michael Bisping will not be heading straight into the number two contender spot should he get past Wanderlei Silva at UFC 110, Fighters Only has been told. Instead he will most likely face Yoshihiro Akiyama in his next fight.

There had been some talk of Bisping putting himself into title contention should he take Wanderlei out in impressive fashion later this month. However, an industry source tells Fighters Only that the plan now is to have him face the Japanese welterweight should he emerge victorious.

Akiyama is also likely to be on the menu for Wanderlei should he get past Bisping. The two were set to fight at one point last year before the UFC decided on a Bisping-Wanderlei match instead.

- Fighters Only Magazine reports on the future plans of Bisping, Akiyama and Wanderlei

I find it slightly crazy to think that either Bisping of Wanderlei are having to "earn" a fight with Akiyama given that the only win by Akiyama in the last year was his rather uninspired UFC debut.  In that fight he managed to barely work his way to a split decision victory over Alan Belcher(SB Nation scored the fight 29-28 Belcher).

It does help to provide some view into the "tiered" nature of the UFC divisions in the eyes of Joe Silva.  Bisping, Akiyama and Wanderlei are all sitting at the level right under title contender status.  Whoever emerges from this group will likely be elevated to the tier where they'll need a win over a Demian Maia or Nate Marquardt and then they'd get a title shot.