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Michael Bisping says he is relishing watching rivals Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson go head-to-head at UFC 93 in Dublin on January 17 - in the knowledge that he is set to face the winner later in 2009.

Henderson and Franklin meet in the main event next Saturday, fighting at the light heavyweight limit of 205 pounds.

Both have fought at middleweight in the past, and they both say they're open to moving back down to 185lbs again with the winner to coach against Bisping on Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter - a fight expected to happen at 185.

Bisping says he is expecting a potentially explosive fight, although picking a winner is hard to call.

"Franklin and Henderson are fighting at light heavyweight (205lbs) and there are both in the mix there, especially Henderson being a former world champion at light heavyweight. But these are probably the number two and number three middleweights in the UFC. I am very much looking forward to the fight, it could be a classic.

"I'll also be looking to see who I will be fighting next summer. I am ready for either of them, although I think because of what he has achieved all over the world, from being a two-time Olympic wrestler to two-division champion in Japan, I think Henderson would be the fight I would like more. Henderson is extremely well respected and deservedly so. But Rich is a former UFC middleweight champion himself and looked very impressive in his last fight against Matt Hamill.

"I have been waiting to move up to this level for a while. I came into the UFC in 2006 and think I have worked my way up. Some people say I should get a title shot against Champ Anderson Silva now, but although I feel I am up there I don't think beating Chris Leben like I did in my last fight, should get me a title shot by itself. I feel like I need to beat a Franklin or Henderson first, then I will have earned myself a title shot.

"I have never asked for anything to be handed to me. I've worked for everything and these two guys are two of the best in the world, and probably number two and number three in the middleweight division.

"So they're the guys I want to fight. I don't want people saying in years to come: &lsquoBisping got his title shot because he was a big ticket-seller in England' I want them the say: &lsquoBisping, yeah, he earned his title shot by beating the best guys available.'

"I will be watching that fight very closely from ringside. I think it's a fantastic fight. I think it's definitely got the potential to ultimately be named "Fight of the Year" next Christmas.

"Rich Franklin is probably the smarter fighter out of the two. I think he's got better footwork, probably more technically composed fighter. He can punch and kick from a distance and then be gone by the time you try to counter him. Dan's got great knockout power obviously. He has knocked out some great fighters like Wanderlei Silva, who is a much bigger, which shows the power he has. He also throws his power punches from unusal angles, making them harder to avoid and predict.

"They're both fantastic fighters. It is a real 50/50 fight, too close to call really. If I had to pick a winner, I'd probably go out on a limb and say Rich Franklin by decision, to be honest. But he has to keep this fight standing on the feet and at a distance. As a two-time Greco-Roman wrestling champion, Henderson will dominate him up close and I think Henderson's hooks could be the end of Franklin if he gets the chance to unload too many of them.

"Franklin has to stick and move, avoid getting taken to the ground - I think Henderson's ground and pound will be very dangerous - and land hard and often without getting drawn into a brawl. It is a big ask over three five minute rounds, but I think he can do it."

UFC 93 will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports 1.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport