Michael Bisping cleared for TUF Nations Finale headliner with Tim Kennedy

NEW YORK – Michael Bisping (24-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) got the green light, and his planned headliner with fellow middleweight Tim Kennedy (17-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is set.

UFC President Dana White today confirmed Bisping had been medically cleared for the fight, which headlines the TUF Nations Finale on April 16.

The event, which serves as the live finale for “The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia,” takes place at Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Bisping, who’s been sidelined by a detached retina, looks to build on the strength of an April 2013 technical decision win over Alan Belcher. Oddly, it was an accidental Bisping eye-poke that left Belcher unable to continue, ending the fight early and turning the results over to the judges. The victory was a successful rebound for Bisping, whom Vitor Belfort downed in January 2013.

Meanwhile, Kennedy currently boasts a three-fight winning streak, a run that includes UFC wins over Rafael Natal and Roger Gracie. Prior to making his way to the UFC, Kennedy was 4-2 in Strikeforce, with the two losses coming in failed bids for the promotion’s middleweight title (to Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza).

The latest TUF Nations Finale card includes:

• Michael Bisping vs. Tim Kennedy
• Patrick Cote vs. Kyle Noke
• opponent TBA vs. opponent TBA – “TUF Nations” middleweight final
• opponent TBA vs. opponent TBA – “TUF Nations” welterweight final
• Mark Bocek vs. Evan Dunham
• K.J. Noons vs. Sam Stout
• Mitch Gagnon vs. Tim Gorman

For more on TUF Nations Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Michael Bisping)