Michael Bisping wants a title shot, and he’s hoping to avenge a loss on the way there.
Bisping said after his win over Thales Leites on Saturday that he’s targeting rematches with Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson, especially since both of them were on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) when Bisping fought and lost to them previously.
“As a fighter, everybody wants to face the guys that have victories over them,” Bisping said at the post-fight press conference. “Especially guys that have victories for unfair reasons. They’re all taking testosterone replacement therapy, they’re taking steroids, they’re using their backsides like a dartboard. They’re cheating, scumbag m*therf******. I would love to face them on a fair playing field — [drug] test them before the camp, during the camp and on the night.”
Bisping defeated Leites via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 71 in Glasgow, Scotland. That’s two straight wins now for “The Count,” and he believes he is one more victory away from a title shot.
“Regarding the top 10, as you said, it’s full of killers,” Bisping said. “It’s as simple as that. It’s a very, very tough time to get that belt. It’s now or never. I’m not getting any younger. If I can get another win, another top-10 win against another guy later in the year then I think I’ve earned my title shot. I’ve been around here forever.”
Belfort is coming off a loss to Chris Weidman in a middleweight title fight at UFC 187 in May. In January 2013, Belfort knocked out Bisping with a head kick. There is no love lost between the two men.
“If you look at Vitor when I fought him, he looked like a cross between a power-lifting champion and the Incredible Hulk,” Bisping said. “When he stepped in against Chris Weidman, he looked like somebody’s out-of-shape, middle-aged man, a dad that went to the gym once a week. So it was certainly two different people. I would love to smash his face in and shut him up once and for all and get the revenge. I have no respect for that guy whatsoever. I think he’s a piece of sh*t is what I think.”
Bisping, 36, has only a slightly better opinion of Henderson, who was also on TRT before it was banned in February 2014. Henderson knocked out Bisping at UFC 100 in July 2009.
“God bless him, he’s had a great career, but he was on testosterone replacement therapy when we fought,” Bisping said. “And the amount of testosterone they were allowed to legally have in their system was just ridiculous and there’s a reason why it’s been outlawed. They used to say, ‘Oh, I have to have testosterone replacement therapy otherwise I couldn’t fight.’ Well, now it’s banned and they’re still fighting, so did they need or they didn’t need it? Well, the fact is they didn’t need it. They were cheating. They were manipulating the system.”
Bisping (27-7), an England native, said he would be interested in fighting at the UFC’s next Dublin show on Oct. 24. The UFC also announced Saturday that it would be going to London the first quarter of next year. That would be another option for Bisping, who has not fought in his home country since 2010.
“I’ve just gotta keep winning fights,” Bisping said. “I’ve dedicated so much of my life to this sport. I know I can compete with these guys. And I’ve shown that and that’s why I’m still ranked in the top 10 after 10 years in the organization.”
That’s also why he believes he should get a chance at the belt after one more win, whether it’s against Belfort, Henderson or another elite opponent.
“It’s about time I got my g*d*mn f*cking title shot,” Bisping said.