Can you believe how close this fight came to not happening?
UFC officials had discussed Lyoto Machida being next for Luke Rockhold, but somehow Michael Bisping, or nature, found a way. Machida’s loss is our gain as we’re treated to yet another display of genuine animosity between two professional athletes who look to hurt one another in the near future.
Appearing on FOX Sports to promote their headlining bout Nov. 8 in Sydney, Australia, the pair of middleweight contenders didn’t waste time before things got petty.
Quickly recalling their feud’s origin story of a long ago sparring session gone bad, Bisping told Rockhold he needs to just ‘get over it.’
“He’s so upset about it,” said Bisping. “He just won’t shut up. Continually calling me out, so I returned the favor. I’m certainly not scared of the guy like he seems to insinuate all the time.”
In 2012 on Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored, Bisping dubbed himself ‘The Unofficial Strikeforce Champion’ after Rockhold stopped in to help the Brit prepare for his bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7 in January 2013.
“My hands were on my knees for two rounds straight and you couldn’t do a damn thing in the best shape of your life, as I’m switching my stance,” Rockhold replied. “It’s a sparring session. That’s all it is. Why did you even talk about it?”
“You’re so sensitive about it,” Bisping shot back. “I made an off-the-cuff remark.”
“A tasteless remark,” Rockhold interjected.
“Whatever,” continued Bisping. “I was having a laugh. That was a long time ago. Now we’re going to fight. We’ll get to the bottom of it pretty fast and I’ll knock that smug look off your face.”
“I’ll knock that weak little beard off your face, too,” Rockhold responded, taking the clear edge in facial hair.
Moving on to strength of schedule, Bisping made it sound as if Rockhold forced ‘The Count’ to spend quite a bit of time browsing Sherdog’s Fight Finder.
“I’ve had to watch some of your fights and the majority of them, I don’t know who they are,” Bisping told Rockhold. “When you were fighting these randoms I was fighting world class…”
“You don’t know who Tim Kennedy is? Who Jacare Souza is? Weird how it is,” Rockhold interupted.
With Bisping complaining about his pre-2009 opponents, Rockhold could have saved him a Google.
“What happened to them? They all got dealt with in the first round just like I’m going to deal with you.”
Wrapping it up with a quick prediction, Rockhold doesn’t intend on putting Bisping away gently.
“I will stop Michael Bisping and there’s a number of ways it’s going to be done. I’m not really looking to take him down. Definitely not a submission, that’s not punishment enough for this guy.”
“No glove touch in this one.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Mostly Modern Americans. Chuck Mindenhall examines why ‘the UFC is under the custody of Americans in late 2014, just as Zuffa is making a push to become global.’ ‘Everyone except Brazilian Jose Aldo, who is fighting not just to retain his title at UFC 179 against uber-American big game hunter Chad Mendes, but to prevent the symbolic bald eagle from flying off with the other continents in its talons.’
‘You can’t just be tough and talented.’ Royce Gracie believes Brazilian fighters lack strategy.
One step closer. According to Dana White, Georges St-Pierre has been cleared to begin training after tearing his ACL in March.
Close call. Fabricio Werdum and his team nearly died of carbon monoxide poisoning the first night of their training camp in Mexico.
Foxcatcher. Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion wrestler Mark Schultz calls the upcoming film profiling he and his brother David ‘the greatest thing that has happened in my life.’ ‘Even greater than the Olympics.’
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to UFC 179: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes and Glover Teixeira vs. Phil Davis.
Mixed Martial Arfs – Julie Kedzie and Bailey.
Highlights from Bellator 129.
Ronda Rousey says she’d be ready to step in and headline next weekend if need be,
Highlights from Legacy 36, including a ‘KO of the Year’ from Demacio Page.
Excellent video on the work Justin Wren is doing in the Congo.
Freedom in the Congo from Lampstand on Vimeo.
Long watches.
Brawls & Beers: Diaz vs. Gomi Breakdown
…
2014.10.16 with FILI, MENDES, DILLASHAW, and BENAVIDEZ. “A Night of Star-Studded STUDS.”
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Brian Stann Exclusive Part 2: “I favour Chris Weidman versus any Middleweight in the world”
TWEETS
Hungry.
I’m different! Sumtimes I like 2devour my dessert b4 another horsemeat dinner!Stand toe2toe w/ me Cupcake @MieshaTate Don’t be scared Honey!
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) October 19, 2014
Good to hear.
If u followed the story with my neighbor the other day.She is now back home n healthy!Toughest 94 yr old ever!Thanks for all the support.
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 20, 2014
Like the idea?
“@HeffieJr what do u think of a European UFC title? – I think regional titles would work well as the sport grows.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) October 19, 2014
Congrats.
Finally got my kiss. @kennyflorian http://t.co/3Wcv4Vz3qF
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) October 19, 2014
Hope they got it in one take.
Only at welterweight.
The Pogo Stick #Bellator129 http://t.co/SYat7PgEOG
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) October 17, 2014
Fun with photoshop.
On my way to the gold like… pic.twitter.com/QkZLkniAe8
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 17, 2014
Me before and After weigh ins http://t.co/asl0N2yubX pic.twitter.com/CqanEpJbud
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) October 19, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Oct. 17-19 2014)
Louis Gaudinot vs. Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC 182
Marcio Alexandre Jr. vs. Tim Means at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway
Claudia Gadelha vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC on FOX 13
Nam Phan vs. Mike Richman at Bellator 131
Omielanczuk out, Walt Harris vs. Soa Palelei at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via ZachSmart.
Is Conor McGregor a worthy contender of the next title shot?
Well isn’t this man an interesting subject? His talk has received him the biggest buzz and ‘hype train’ in recent memory. Just 4 fights into to his UFC career Dana White is saying he is the “logical No.1 contender” since then there has been a outburst of unhappy tweets from top UFC featherweights, Conor McGregor is undoubtably a very unique prospect for UFC!
Whether he is fighting or just talking the self proclaimed ‘The Notorious One’ garners an exceptional amount of attention from fans, people just wanna see what this man is up to! So if you’re the President or CEO of the biggest fight organisation in the world then you’re more than likely look at Conor McGregor and see lots of dollar signs! With Conor’s rapidly increasing popularity Dana White is saying he is the logical No. 1 contender, mix in the 3 finishes out of his 4 fights with the UFC, add 3 performance bonuses for those 3 finishes, then combine that with a overall 12 fight win streak. That makes for a logical No.1 contender …….. right?
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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