Michael Bisping arguably beat Chael Sonnen in their first fight © Getty Images Enlarge

UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz has pushed Michael Bisping's name forward for a middleweight title shot, insisting the Brit could beat both Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva.

Ortiz bowed out in fighting fashion at UFC 148, losing a tightly contested decision to Forrest Griffin. He then watched back stage as Silva defeated Sonnen via second round TKO.

The job of the UFC is now to find Silva a new opponent, and Bisping insists he would have made a better challenge than Sonnen. The Brit is currently coming off a loss to Sonnen at 185lbs, although many including president Dana White felt he won the fight.

Ortiz and Bisping go back a long way, having worked together when the American coached Bisping on The Ultimate Fighter. And Ortiz is convinced the Brit could overcome anybody in the middleweight division, if given the chance.

"Michael Bisping is amazing. There is no-one who works harder than him," Ortiz told ESPN. "I felt he beat Chael Sonnen, and he's at that level now. He's matured, his confidence has built, and he deserves the world.

"He has a great chance against both guys.

"I know he's just had knee surgery, I've had that too. I spoke to him on the phone and I told him to keep his mind straight. He can bounce back quick.

"He has a great chance, against anybody in the 185lb division."

To keep up with the next chapter in Tito Ortiz's life, and his extensive charity work with St Jude's Children's Hospital, follow the Huntington Beach Bad Boy on Twitter using @titoortiz

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