Luke Rockhold is reportedly in talks to face Lyoto Machida later this year, but you’d never know it hearing his back and forth with Michael Bisping. ‘The Count’ had barely been rid of Cung Le long enough to put on a shirt before picking up his campaign to face Rockhold, who also happened to be cageside for the event in Macao.
“There’s an idiot called Luke Rockhold who doesn’t stop talking about me,” Bisping told Kenny Florian in the Octagon. “I think he has the hots for me, to be honest. Luke Rockhold, you’re calling me out. If you want to do it, let’s dance. Here I am. I’m going to beat Luke Rockhold and then I’m taking the title. Make no mistake.”
Referred to as a ‘lanky streak of piss’ by Bisping at the event’s post fight press conference, Rockhold stoked the fire of the rivalry earlier in the week by offering a friendly wager.
“Bisping is grossly overpaid, comparably to where we are,” Rockhold told MMAjunkie. ” So, I bet Michael Bisping, if I don’t finish you in the first round, you can have my purse. But if I do finish you in the first round, you give me your purse. So if I don’t finish you in the first round, whether I beat you in a decision or what, you get both of our purses. But if I do finish you in the first round, we switch purses, and I get yours.
“Let’s see if you’ve got some balls, kid. Bring it.”
1 round @Bisping 1 round.
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) August 23, 2014
The feud became a family affair the morning after at breakfast, but the details remain sketchy.
@LukeRockhold just caused a scene while I was having coffee with my father. #classless
— michael (@bisping) August 24, 2014
@bisping your father and his little friend have been giving me shit all weekend. You have no room to talk about class
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) August 24, 2014
Has the job of a UFC matchmaker ever been so easy? Let the ‘Vitor Belfort Fan Club’ work this thing out.
O by the way people @Bisping wouldn’t take my bet.
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) August 24, 2014
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘Rough night.’ Dana White says he and Nate Diaz starting talking again during a night on the town with the cast of TUF 20. ‘We got together in a room, and where he is and where we are, we’re not even close.’
UFC 178 is special. Dave Meltzer explains how to market around the weird situation where a card’s headliner isn’t really its main event, maybe not even co-main. ‘It is unheard of in UFC history to have a television undercard fight (Cruz vs. Mizugaki right now is scheduled for the FS 1 prelims, not the pay-per-view), to have equal interest in the pay-per-view main event.’
‘A potluck of would-be contenders.’ Chuck Mindenhall tries to sort out the UFC’s mess of a lightweight division and pick Rafael dos Anjos‘ next opponent.
Pulled. Acting as the athletic commission in Macao, the UFC removed a judge following two questionable scores.
‘Sucking a little less.’ Anthony Bourdain explains how training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu along with his wife and daughter has changed his life. “You asked me a couple years back if I would ever train, and I said to you, “Hell no!'” Now, I’m like all of these other sick f**ks out there. If I don’t train, I’m like going through drug withdrawal.”
MEDIA STEW
Rafael Dos Anjos and Ben Henderson talk post-fight.
Presser highlights from Tulsa and Macao.
Dana White’s post-fight scrum from China.
Eddie Alvarez on Donald Cerrone, UFC and rankings.
Hector Lombard trying to explain what the hell ‘Showeather’ is all about.
The gas station clerk takes care of business again.
Long watches.
Countdown to UFC 177: Dillashaw vs Barao
TWEETS
Check out our Pros React piece for instant reaction from UFC Fight Night: Tulsa.
Victory lap.
FlyKnee that open the way for my KO yestarday. Joelhada voadora que abriu caminho pra minha Vitoria… http://t.co/7di7QHB98b
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) August 24, 2014
Obrigado Deus obrigado minha equipe Nova União , meus treinadores Welton Ribeiro, André Pederneiras,… http://t.co/nTJhSbHULq
— THALES LEITES (@thalesleites) August 24, 2014
@BlessedMMA @FOXSports1 u always deliver. I’m sure ur gonna do just fine
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 24, 2014
Woke up feeling like a truck hit me! Thanks @ufc and to all my friends and family and the great fan’s here in Tulsa! #livinthedream
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) August 24, 2014
With my crew after the win! @dethrone pic.twitter.com/aDr8i692f3
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) August 24, 2014
I just wanted to take a moment and thank my great team. I had great training, amazing energy, and so… http://t.co/TbStb3OTy0
— Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush_) August 25, 2014
Thank you guys so much! You all make my job so awesome! Big thank you @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta & Joe Silva… http://t.co/BRyzG7Jy1a
— Ben Saunders (@bensaundersMMA) August 24, 2014
Graças a Deus mais uma vitória !!! Muito obrigado a todos vcs pelas mensagens antes e depois da luta… http://t.co/vo3409L958
— Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) August 24, 2014
The place where i took the next step towards the belt. http://t.co/ttZUut9KqO pic.twitter.com/7v0pummfWW
— michael (@bisping) August 25, 2014
Work is done! I’m back to take my city back! #ferguson #stl #ufc” @ufc pic.twitter.com/LuDMGOx9hR
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) August 25, 2014
#itsallover #thankslord http://t.co/du3XSKLLI9
— Alberto Miná (@alberto_mina) August 24, 2014
Great last night in Asia in Hong Kong, China with my coaches @LiborioATT @mikebrownmma pic.twitter.com/O89pAiNdKu
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) August 24, 2014
Better luck next time.
Respect to DosAnjos, thanks for the wake-up call…hey @ufc I’m not too banged up, just sayin’…love to all my fans!!! Prov. 3:5-6
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) August 24, 2014
A chaque montée il y a une descente , la remontée est difficile 🙁 Merci pour tout le soutien.
— Francis Carmont (@franciscarmont) August 24, 2014
(Each climb there is a descent, the climb is difficult 🙁 Thanks for all the support.)
I’m a little bumped and bruised. And a little tired.. but I’m happy for the opportunity thanks #UFCTulsa #UFCFightNight I’ll be back..
— Clay Collard (@CCCcollard) August 24, 2014
Thank you to everyone for your support leading up to tonight, it means everything to me. I can’t wait to bring you another victory.
— Alex Garcia (@AlexGarciaMMA) August 24, 2014
Thanks for all of the support. I will be back to the drawing board and figure out my cardio issues. Not the last of me. @ufc #cardio
— Tony Martin (@tmartinmma) August 24, 2014
Tulsa its been a fun life experience. Back in the gym Monday waiting on that call I was hngry now im starving@IridiumSports @ufc @danawhite
— Chris Heatherly (@get_stumpd185) August 24, 2014
Think I may have accidentally spat blood on @danawhite mid fight last night. There was enough to go around. Sorry mate!
— Badger O’Reilly (@OReillyMMA) August 24, 2014
Thought i had nicked it on points after nearly knocking him out but judges didnt agree. Thanks for all the support, im guna get fat now!
— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) August 23, 2014
Kabib knows.
This is MMA @ufc pic.twitter.com/Gsfl6hHEr3
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) August 24, 2014
Get well soon.
Oh just 28 stitches in my hand… No big deal http://t.co/kfczMYRH2K
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) August 24, 2014
All set.
“@deanahall67: @Cowboycerrone @Budweiser should pay you for that endorsement…” They keep the lake house stocked pic.twitter.com/ZuyrS0Jpms
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) August 24, 2014
It’s gone.
Brian Ortega apologizes.
All good?
I think she got her.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Aug. 22-24 2014)
Daniel Straus vs. Justin Wilcox at Bellator 127
Damon Jackson vs. Yancy Medeiros at UFC 177
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Sashimi90210.
The Post-Ben Henderson is greater than the sum of the Lightweight Divisions parts save Anthony Pettis is upon us.
Finally, after a continuous onslaught of truly deplorable criminal allegations and a constant stream of steroid outings, a high level MMA bout was contested on FS1 where the chaotic nature of cage fighting stole the limelight back away from the darkest corners of sports culture. Amidst real and perceived over-saturation, watered down cards, and a seemingly endless army of armchair Bocek’s declaring the sport so dirty that we should just accept the 90% and move on, the UFC was able to give us a fight of consequence.
Recently, there has been a lot of stories that have continuously ask us, as fans, why we watch. A steady stream of ammunition delivered to those whose only aim is to dig deep enough to cover the sports detractors has littered sites like this one, and, finally, finally we have a result to point to that says, “this is why we watch”. Henderson, one of the sports premier athletes (whether you like it or not), entered the fight with, according to many, multiple routes to victory before being led astray by a knee and a left. Then, even after such a surprising defeat, Bendo sums up the last few weeks for us fans in one simple statement, “You have the ups and downs. You have to take the good with the bad. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.