Michael Bisping must win at UFC on FX

If Michael Bisping beats Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7 this weekend in Brazil, he gets the next title shot against middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

That's what UFC president Dana White has said publicly on several occasions. (Of course, that doesn't always mean much, just ask Anthony Pettis.)

Beating Belfort isn't easy. No one is saying it is (except for maybe Bisping, but that's pre-fight hype garble).

But a win for Bisping (24-4, 13-4 UFC) would mean more than just getting that elusive title shot -- his first in seven-plus years with the promotion. Whether he would beat Silva or not is irrelevant, at least for the moment.

Bisping has never won the big fight. He'll tell you the same thing.

"I've been in these No. 1-contender matches and I came up short," Bisping told Yahoo! Sports.  "When I fought Chael, had I won, I would have been in there. The Dan Henderson fight, it obviously didn't go my way and when you lose a No. 1-contender fight, it takes time to build yourself back up. It's not like we're fighting every six weeks."

Earning a title shot would strengthen Bisping's fighting resume. Not that the chance to fight for the championship represents the pinnacle of fighting, but rather it would mean Bisping finally won that big fight, finally overcame that major hurdle.

It would certainly silence those who say Bisping can't get it done when it matters most.