The 32-year-old from Manchester will face Sonnen on Saturday with the winner set for a showdown with UFC middleweight champion Silva.

Bisping, who enters the bout with 23 wins and only three losses to his name, will take on American Sonnen looking for his fifth straight victory as he moves a step closer to the title.

The Brit was brought in as a late replacement to the main card fight following the injury of Mark Munoz.

Real Prize

However, Bisping is determined the short preparation period will not prevent him from giving everything to the bout as he attempts to make his dream come true.

"I'll put it all on the line because the real prize awaits," Bisping wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

"Silva is pound-for-pound the best in the world, he has almost become iconic. He is revered for the way he wins, the way he defeats people.

"For me, to get a shot at him has always been my aim. If I was going to win the title off anyone, I'd want it to be against Anderson Silva."