When listing off the top contenders in the UFC’s middleweight division, names like Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Yoel Romero come to mind. But one of the dark horses at 185 pounds has been Thales Leites, who returns to action Saturday against Michael Bisping. The pair headline the UFC Fight Night event in Glasgow, Scotland.
Leites (25-4) has amassed five straight wins in the UFC since his return in 2013. The 33-year-old looks like a completely different fighter than the one who made his Octagon debut in 2006 as a one dimensional jiu-jitsu fighter. Hardcore fans will remember the Brazilian for his unanimous decision loss against Anderson Silva at UFC 97. Following that loss and a controversial split decision defeat to Alessio Sakara, Leites was released from the promotion in 2009.
Rather than signing on with a rival organization, Leites went 6-1 on the regional circuit before rejoining the UFC once again. Leites has earned three straight finishes over Trevor Smith, Francis Carmont and most recently Tim Boetsch at UFC 183. Now riding an eight-fight win streak, the Nova Uniao product looks to inch closer to a middleweight title shot with a win over Bisping.
Bisping (26-7) is coming off an impressive win over C.B. Dolloway at UFC 186 in April, where he outworked his counterpart over the three-round affair. Consistency has been Bisping’s biggest issue, alternating between wins and losses since December 2011. Four of his five wins during that stretch are over opponents that are no longer in the UFC. Unlike his opponent, Bisping has never fought for a UFC championship, but hopes to do so with an impressive victory over Leites.
The 36-year-old is looking for his first two-fight win streak in four years in what could be his last shot at a UFC championship run. Perhaps one reason we haven’t heard the typical pre-fight trash talk from the outspoken Brit heading into this fight is because of what’s at stake.
Both fighters are extremely well rounded, with neither man having a clear advantage in any particular area. While Bisping has a small edge in experience, Leites is younger and has shown more of a killer instinct in recent fights.
All the pressure heading into this fight is on Bisping, who needs an impressive victory to stay relevant in the division. Leites has a great opportunity to take out one of the most popular veterans on the UFC’s roster, while also earning a top flight opponent in his next fight. Should he earn his ninth straight win, Leites would officially emerge as the dark horse of of the division and more importantly solidify himself as a top contender at 185 pounds.
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