Michael Bisping headed out for Sydney Monday for the final countdown to a fight he has called the most important of his career.

Bisping had to leave behind his partner Becky, an Australian native, and the mother of their two children with a third on the way. It was a bittersweet farewell for Bisping, who has never been able to travel to Australia together with her, first because of financial considerations, and later because of the demands of training.

Bisping admits he will miss her support. 

"Some fighters like having the support of their family from ringside, while others want to completely divorce themselves from family life for the entire duration of training camp and don't see their loved ones until after the fight is over," Bisping recently blogged at Daily Telegraph. "For me, I like having my family around me. When I train in England I drive about 50mins to my gym, the Wolf's Lair, and drive back at night to eat with my family and sleep in my own bed. Becky says I get a little harder to live with when I am dieting and having to get up at 6am to run in the freezing cold, but I like having my family around in-between training sessions. The fight is on your mind all the time when you are in camp, and playing with your kids or talking to your partner helps give you a break from thinking about what is around the corner."

As hard as it was for Bisping to leave his wife and children behind for his Australian journey, he felt it was important to get there as early as possible to give his body time to adjust for the time difference.

Bisping will be one of the earliest to arrive in anticipation of his UFC 110 match up, and it is perhaps telling that MMA veteran Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is already there as well, to prepare for his fight with Cain Velasquez.

"I believe I am getting into Australia a lot earlier than my opponent, Wanderlei Silva," Bisping stated. "Wanderlei is very experienced, and has fought in Japan many times so is used to fighting in different time zones, but I think he's making a mistake in not getting to Australia earlier than next weekend. Jet-lag is a serious issue for any athlete. I know Aussie boxer Kostya Tszyu struggled when he did the reverse trip to fight Ricky Hatton five years ago and there have been American UFC fighters who have really suffered with the time change when they fight in the UK.

"The last thing I wanted to do was fight someone as dangerous as Wanderlei Silva while at the same time fighting my own fatigue. I've left no stone unturned in training. I'm pushed myself hard, I've taken days off here and there when my body told me I needed to, I've brought in top level wrestlers, strikers and BJJ guys to prepare me for anything on Feb 21."

Although UFC 110 will take place on Feb 21 local time in Australia, because of the difference in time zones, coverage in the US, Canada, South America and parts of Europe will be on Feb 20. 

Bisping remained upbeat about his fight with Silva as he prepared to depart. 

"If people think I am being big-headed or whatever because I think I will win this fight, well, what do you want me to say?" Bisping questioned. "That I'm scared half to death and I'm travelling 10,500 miles just to get my arse...

Make sure to check back with us the day of the event for free, live, round-by-round coverage of UFC 110 right here at FiveKnuckles.com! Join expert analyst Mike Williams as he takes you through the entire fight card blow-by-blow and then keep it right here for all the post-fight news and notes you can handle!