Life is good for Luke Rockhold.
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion turned surging contender under the UFC banner has been wrecking shop inside the Octagon as of late, putting on back-to-back dominant performances against tough competition. The 29-year-old AKA staple dispatched Costas Philippou and Tim Boetsch, respectively, with both coming by way of impressive stoppages. He starched Philippou with a liver kick during their tilt back in January then submitted “The Barbarian” when they squared off three months later at UFC 172.
Those victories served to propel the Santa Cruz native up the divisional ladder at 185 pounds, and with the UFC title his ultimate goal, things are certainly moving in the direction Rockhold is looking to travel. Yet while those elements have the prospect-turned-contender on cloud nine these days, nothing has made him happier than getting his long-awaited opportunity to settle his feud with Michael Bisping.
Rockhold and “The Count” have been going back and forth for nearly two years after the brash Brit publicly shared the details of a sparring session that went down between the two fighters. While discussing the particulars of a training session isn’t necessarily out of bounds in MMA, it is frowned upon by the fighters themselves and certainly wasn’t appreciated by Rockhold.
Bisping‘s words immediately put him on the former Strikeforce champion’s radar, and the rangy striker is fired up to make the third winner of The Ultimate Fighter eat his words when they step in to handle business at Fight Night 55 on November 8 in Sydney, Australia.
“There are not many things that are going to make me happier than getting to fight Bisping,” Rockhold told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “The only other thing that might be close is getting to fight [Vitor] Belfort again, but getting the chance to shut Bisping‘s mouth is something I’m incredibly happy about.
“It’s no secret that I’m a party guy and everyone knows that. I like to have fun, but when it’s time for business, then it’s time for business. At that point in time it was not business. I was in party mode. I was not training and I don’t care who knows that. I have nothing to hide. I believe in myself and I’ll put myself out there in the worst shape even when the other person is at their best. I’ll switch my stance to help someone prepare.
“I went out of my way to do a lot of things to help the guy, and he just proved who he really is and that he was the guy everyone said he was,” he added. “The guy is a joke, and I’m going to give him a reality check on November 8. I’m so excited to shut his mouth.”
The current era of mixed martial arts has experienced a rise in promotional tactics, and stoking the pre-fight flames has become a common tool. Whether fighters are looking to push an upcoming tilt or trying to boost their personal profiles, fabricating grudge matches and so-called beefs has become commonplace in MMA. That said, the tension between Rockhold and Bisping registers in a different category.
The animosity between the two top-ranked middleweights is absolutely real, and there is certainly no love lost between the two men. Both have taken the opportunity to launch barbs in the other man’s direction, and at Fight Night 55, they will step into the Octagon to settle the matter with their fists. It’s a moment Rockhold has been waiting for, and he guarantees Bisping is in for something unique on November 8.
“This is as real as it gets,” Rockhold said. “I don’t look to talk s–t, and I don’t make things up. I don’t look to cause drama. That’s not me. I’ve been more vocal lately and people are trying to tag me as a Chael Sonnen wannabe, but this is as real as it gets. I do not like Bisping. I do not like Belfort. The people I talk s–t about I have some real problems with. Everything I say is from the heart, and these guys have pissed me off. They have done things that have really gotten under my skin, and I’m coming after them.
“Not many people have ever pissed me off to say these things, but this guy is a piece of work, and I can’t wait to bring him to reality. It’s going to be a big reality check for Michael Bisping when we step into that cage. I’m going to put on a performance like no one has ever seen against him.
“Mark my words,” Rockhold emphasized. “November 8 is going to be an embarrassing night for Michael Bisping.”
Duane Finley is a featured writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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