Bisping is quite simply a stud. He's strong and tough, with excellent striking and grappling and a very cool, rational game. The Englishman has held numerous British titles in boxing and kickboxing and holds a 6-0 record in MMA, with all his wins by way of KO or TKO.
Cyrille Diabaté is a tall, lanky, former world Muay Thai champion. I've only ever witnessed his striking skill under MMA rules but he schooled UFC veteran James Zikic, and the latter is an accomplished striker in his own right. Diabetes possesses KO power, and the skill and finesse with which to apply it.
This is the match I'm most looking forward to. Under MMA rules I'd pick Bisping with no questions asked. Under kickboxing rules I think it's too much to ask, even for someone as tough as the Count. This is Diabaté's world and taking the Frenchman's reach advantage into consideration I think it's hard to pick against him. I say Diabaté takes the win by decision.
France 5, England 3.
Damien Riccio vs. Matt Ewin
In a rematch from Cage Rage 8, Matt Ewin steps up to defend his middleweight title against the Frenchman who knocked him out with one punch. Under normal circumstances Ewin is awesome. He's extremely well rounded, very tough and with a good head on his shoulders.
He fights quite conservatively, looking for the takedown, controlling his opponent and improving his position before launching heavy-handed barrages down at his hapless opponents. He does it extremely well.
Riccio is the opposite of Ewin. Where Ewin is methodical and calm, Riccio is chaotic and wild. But he's just as well rounded — a fearless brawler with the potential to score a KO or submission. Riccio is much shorter than Ewin though, and I really don't think that lightning will strike twice.
For me, Ewin's got this and it's his match to lose. You can never count Damien out though, but if I were a gamblin’ man, I'd gamble on the Englishman taking the victory.
France 5, England 4.
Marc Emmanuel vs. Barrington Patterson
Hometown hero Barrington Patterson steps up for the main event fight. Patterson is a kickboxing legend in the UK but his previous forays into MMA have met with average results. He holds a 3-3 record in MMA, having fought exclusively in the Netherlands His strengths are clear: he's a big, powerful striker with KO power.
Marc Emmanuel is a huge grappler (280 pound) with a 2-2 record, losing to Remco Pardoel and Valentijn Overeem. He claims to have worked on his stand-up but he may not even need it here. If he stands up with Patterson he'll lose, but if he takes him down …
With apologies to the hometown Coventry crowd, I think their hero is going down. In a striker versus grappler match-up it's always safer to go with the grappler, especially when they're seasoned like Emmanuel. I think Emmanuel will score a second round submission setting off a riot — a riot of smugness from the French, that is.
France 6, England 4.
(With massive thanks to Ian "Crystal Ball" Dean for his help with the fighter profiles.)