Michael Bisping has been the trash-talking villain in plenty of UFC fights over the past 3 1/2 years. Back home in England for UFC 120, he'll be the crowd favorite - and it's making him a bit uncomfortable.
"I do feel a bit of pressure," Bisping said. "I want them to go home happy. It's like if you go and watch your favorite football team and they lose, you go home feeling deflated. I don't want them to come see me, and pay out their hard-earned money to see a fight that I lose, and then they go home having a bad night."
Bisping (20-3) is only half-serious, but he has plenty of real concerns about his bout with Yoshihiro Akiyama in London on Saturday. When the boisterous mixed martial arts brawler from northwest England fights the Japanese judo icon, the winner will become a prime contender for the UFC's middleweight belt.
UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik predicts UFC 120 will be the most lucrative MMA event in European history, and Bisping is the main attraction on a card stacked with English fighters at the O2 Arena, including Dan Hardy, John Hathaway and James Wilks.
"We do have a strong force in the UFC now," said Hardy, who will fight Carlos Condit. "A few years ago, it was just Mike on his own. As we started to add more fighters to the roster, everyone was supportive. Now, I think we're on an even playing field, but everybody still supports each other."
Bisping has evolved from that pioneering role into a dependable, entertaining fighter for the sport's dominant promotion. He also has never lost a bout before his native fans, going 5-0 in Manchester, Birmingham and London.
"When I fight in England, the crowd is fantastic," said Bisping, who trains alongside Rampage Jackson at the famed Wolfslair Academy. "They get behind me, and that feels very special. I suppose maybe that does come into it a little bit. I always feel an extra incentive to perform and give the fans what they came to see."
Bisping has bounced back solidly from his spectacular knockout loss to Dan Henderson in July 2009, winning two fights and losing a much-disputed decision to Wanderlei Silva.
"I feel I've got it in me to run for the title," Bisping said. "I'm well-rounded, and I'm one of the better athletes out there. Obviously, I've got to put up or shut up. I've got to walk the walk. That's what I plan to do."
Akiyama (13-1) is no stranger to culture clashes, either. He has been an entertaining presence in the UFC during the past 16 months, showing off his dazzling judo skills, his deficiencies in other MMA disciplines - and his personal quirks, such as attempting to choose his own opponents, calling himself by his nickname, "Sexyama," and walking into the octagon to the ethereal strains of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
But after an upset loss to Chris Leben in just his second UFC bout in July, Akiyama moved to Albuquerque for several weeks of work with respected trainer Greg Jackson.
Akiyama said he fought to only "about 20 percent" of his full ability against Leben, who stopped him with a triangle choke with 20 seconds left.
The boutut was made on two weeks' notice after Silva pulled out of his scheduled fight with Akiyama.