Bisping did very well, in fact, knocking uot Rockhold with two left hooks, early in the first round, Saturday.
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San Diego’s Cruz impressively jabbed and spiced in some effective kicks to defuse the charges by Faber (33-9), who was expected to be more desperate in what became his fourth lost title shot.
In addition to being more adept in all areas of the game when it comes to ability, Rockhold is bigger, faster and possesses a better gas tank to sustain him through the championship rounds, should they be required.
A series of injuries shock up the card in late May, but, following Chris Weidman’s departure, the UFC settled on Bisping as Rockhold’s title contender. Luke Rockhold is a great fighter but there is no one in the world I’d rather take the belt off of than this smug mother(expletive) right here’. “I really, really have felt the support from the United Kingdom, it’s part of the reason why I’m here right now”. That guy is a piece of sh*t, and I want to fu*king come kill him next time around. He’s not a guy I longed to fight.
A few minutes later in the UFC’s promotional parade, Michael Bisping profanely criticized Luke Rockhold’s decision to fight him, using anatomical allusions and references to long-ago sparring sessions. This is my dream and no one was taking this away from me.
A former victor of The Ultimate Fighter, Bisping has now won four straight and offered thanks to “everybody”. Now he moves into a tie for first with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Rockhold continued to try and walk down Bisping, who would find ways to escape along the back side.
However, 18 months and three consecutive victories later, Bisping will finally compete for a UFC title – 10 years since he made his debut for the organisation – in tonight’s main event at UFC 199 at The Forum in Inglewood… albeit by default.
“Congrats to Michael”, Rockhold said. “He’s stated in a lot of interviews is that I’m no different than I used to be, he doesn’t see a lot of differences”. I haven’t thought about him in years.
“I’m not sure what happens after this fight”. Bisping also has plenty to occupy him outside the cage, including a comfortable family life in Orange County and an acting career. Michael Bisping. It has taken Bisping ten years to get a shot at the title – the longest road to a title shot in UFC history.
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The American looked calm and composed throughout with Bisping the more energetic.
