More often than not, some of the easiest UFC matches to make are the ones where both fighters are already talking about each other.
That’s exactly what’s happening right now with Cung Le and Michael Bisping.
Both international headliners recently spoke to ESPN about the possibility of facing each other in the Octagon during a future event, and both men are reportedly into the idea.
As Le states, he has a few fights left on his contract that would be ripe for “high-profile” opponents, but he would also do a coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter:
“I’d like to have high-profile fights and a shot at coaching on TUF, whether it’s here [in the United States] or in China, wherever,” said Le, who has won two fights in a row. “I have a few more fights and they should be good fights for me.
“I’m not going to accept just any fight, and at this point in my career I don’t have to. I’ve worked hard to be where I am. I’ve had a few setbacks, but other than that, I’m just going to heal up and whatever happens, happens.”
When asked about the likelihood of that match, Bisping also told ESPN that he would be on-board with the idea, especially since Le is “on a two-fight win streak” and “just knocked out Rich Franklin.”
In addition to his star power—drawn from acting roles in films like “Bodyguards and Assassins”, “Tekken” and “Dragon Eyes”—Le also carries the distinction of being a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, a title he held briefly prior to joining the UFC.
Le isn’t the only fighter to call out Bisping, who is coming off a controversial UFC 159 win over Alan Belcher due to a technical decision caused by an eye poke.
Luke Rockhold, the last Strikeforce middleweight to hold the defunct company’s title, also called out Bisping via Twitter, despite being knocked out by Vitor Belfort just days ago:
@bisping u dont have opponent, I dont have opponent, u talk shit about “practice” i say we set the record straight once & for all @danawhite — Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) May 28, 2013
However, that grudge match is likely on ice for now.
Bisping was quick to retort to Rockhold’s challenge, sardonically suggesting that his rival should win a fight in the UFC before calling him out:
@lukerockhold @danawhite I say you go and win a fight in the UFC then we can talk. — michael (@bisping) May 28, 2013
Since joining the UFC, Le and Rockhold have both severed as headliners for events outside of the United States, with Le headlining the UFC’s first card in China during UFC on Fuel TV 6.
Rockhold found himself a fish out of water in his title eliminator against Belfort, though, competing outside the United States for the first time in his career at UFC on FX 8.
McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.
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