Bisping to Replace Silva at UFC Shanghai

Just one week after losing the UFC Middleweight Championship to Georges St-Pierre in the main event of UFC 217, Michael Bisping is already getting back in the Octagon.

Bisping has reportedly agreed to replace Anderson Silva and face Kelvin Gastelum in the main event of the UFC’s first-ever event in mainland China. Silva was provisionally suspended by USADA after being flagged for a potential anti-doping violation, stemming from an out-of-competition test back on Oct. 26.

Bisping’s loss to GSP snapped a five-fight win streak for the former middleweight champ. The last time the UFC was in China (though it was not in the mainland), Bisping defeated Cung Li via fourth-round TKO in a bout that earned him Performance of the Night honors.

Bisping is familiar with taking fights on such short notice. The last time occurred also two weeks prior to an event, UFC 199, where Bisping would go on to defeated Luke Rockhold and win the UFC Middleweight Title.

Gastelum, meanwhile, will look to get back to winning ways. A win against Vitor Belfort back in March was overturned after Gastelum tested positive for marijuana, and in his most recent bout, Gastelum was submitted by Chris Weidman back in July.

UFC Shanghai takes place on Nov. 25 from the Mercedez-Benz Arena.