Fate would change everything though as MMA Mania reports that a late injury to Rockhold’s original challenger Chris Weidman, Bisping would get an early shot at the title.
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Accepting a bout with Luke Rockhold on just over two weeks’ notice, many had Bisping was a huge +600 underdog heading into the night. When the pair met in Sydney in November 2014, Rockhold needed less than a minute of the second round to submit the former Cage Warriors champ.
Dominic Cruz also won at UFC 199 to defend his bantamweight title at the first attempt, beating Urijah Faber via unanimous decision.
Dominick Cruz dominated the majority of the fight to ensure that he ended this nine-year rivalry with Urijah Faber on top, retaining his UFC title in the process.
Saturday night inside The Forum in Inglewood, California, two fighters that know all too well how hard it can be to claim UFC gold and have their overall accomplishments diminished will step into the Octagon in hopes of accomplishing that task. It’s Bisping’s post-fight attitude that got under Rockhold’s skin, and he made it known in a profanity-laced press conference.
“With Bisping, I’m excited to put on an wonderful performance”, Rockhold said.
“My weight is good”, Bisping said.
“I want to be an (expletive), but I gotta be humble”, Bisping (29-7) said.
The defeated champion started the press conference by explaining just how he had managed to lose to a fighter he perceives as being below him, shortly before Bisping entered the room, beer in hand. This whole camp. But I don’t pull out of fights. “I really, really have felt the support from the United Kingdom, it’s part of the reason why I’m here right now”.
Florian said Cruz has done a great job on improving his strengths and solving his weaknesses, evident in his avenging the only loss of his career in the 2011 rematch Faber. I don’t think he has anything to prove except to himself. I should’ve just been the guy I should be. “I accept that. But I knew deep down inside myself that I could always do it”. “I will be back”.
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Fans who tune into the Fox Sports 1 preliminary card will see Brian Ortega take on Clay Guida (freatherweight), Beneil Dariush battle James Vick (lightweight), Jessica Penne face off with Jessica Andrade (women’s strawweight), and Cole Miller vs. Alex Caceres (featherweight).
