Two former champions, one deadly “Pit.”
Fans have been pestering Michael Bisping to complete his trilogy with Luke Rockhold.
After much persistence, it sounds like “The Count” has finally agreed to lace up the gloves for one more fight — but it won’t be inside the Octagon. Instead, Bisping is willing to test his might inside “The Pit” for Karate Combat at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Hopefully his eye doesn’t pop out during the bout.
“Luke Rockhold (at Karate Combat 45) – I was doing a live (stream) to it,” Bisping said on his official podcast (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “And everyone was like, ‘You’ve got to do the trilogy.’ I’ll do Karate Combat against Luke Rockhold. I’ll do it. I will have a trilogy with Luke Rockhold in Karate Combat. I would love to. Let me just see my hip doctor first and get my neck sorted. I’m joking. I’d do it – 100 percent I would. Let’s go.”
Rockhold defeated Bisping by submission at UFC Fight Night 55 back in late 2014, but was stopped in their UFC 199 rematch nearly two years later. Rockhold, 39, eventually parted ways with UFC and has since competed for BKFC and Karate Combat, scoring a knockout win over Joe Schilling earlier this month.
As for Bisping, 45, he retired from UFC after losing to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai, citing health concerns (which include this). Despite their ages and the collective wear-and-tear on their bodies, it’s hard to imagine Karate Combat promoters passing on the opportunity to cash in on this longstanding rivalry.
Time will tell.