The assumption might be that Rockhold will get a rematch with Bisping but champing at the bit is No. 6 ranked middleweight contender, Australia’s Robert Whittaker, who quickly tweeted “I’m coming”, after Bisping knocked Rockhold out.
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“Listen, I’ve got to be humble here, even though I want to be as a**hole”, he said during his post-fight interview. Someone asked Bisping about Ronaldo Souza being his first challenger and “The Count” seemed to accept.
“It was just underestimating Bisping”, he told UFC’s Megan Olivi.
On several occasions, Rockhold was able to force Bisping to move a few steps backward as he utilized his front kicks and body kicks against his surging foe as he tried to cut off the distance. It always got me in trouble, but there is nothing I do better than fighting. “That’s a guy that I knew I was going to lock horns with one day”.
Two big lefts to the jaw followed by a flurry of shots after Rockhold hit the mat put an end to the fight at 3:36.
“What can I say?”
“That’s why I took the fight on short notice, that’s what defines me”. That guy’s a piece of s**t and I wanna come f**king kill him next time around.
Rockhold looked relatively conservative to open the fight, similar to how he fought Bisping in their first meeting in 2014. “I really, really have felt the support from the United Kingdom, it’s part of the reason why I’m here right now”.
On the other hand, Rockhold downgrades his prizefighting slate to 15-3 and snaps his 5-bout victory parade with the disappointing defeat to Bisping. I think he’s a fantastic fighter …
Bisping’s fortune only occurred because of the misfortunes of another man – former middleweight king Chris Weidman, who was Rockhold’s original opponent for the event, but was forced to pull out with a serious back injury. I’ve had my ups and downs along the way and I understand why people didn’t believe in me, because I lost some key fights. “He caught me. I just didn’t see it happening”.
Nearly exactly 10 years ago, Bisping won The Ultimate Fighter finale, and went on a tear through the Middleweight division.
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“I feel so good to be able to compete again”, Cruz said.
