Michael Bisping has shocked the world. Taking his 26th fight on just over two weeks notice, the long-time middleweight veteran in Bisping upset Luke Rockhold in the first round of the main event at UFC 199 from The Forum in Inglewood, California, knocking Rockhold out cold. Not only did Bisping finally attain the UFC middleweight
Taking his 26th fight on just over two weeks notice, the long-time middleweight veteran in Bisping upset Luke Rockhold in the first round of the main event at UFC 199 from The Forum in Inglewood, California, knocking Rockhold out cold.
Not only did Bisping finally attain the UFC middleweight title, but he also received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus.
Earlier on the main card, ageing veteran Dan “Hendo” Henderson scored a spectacular stoppage victory over Hector Lombard in a bout many thought he would lose as well. The former Olympian was also given a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” Bonus for his efforts.
The opener of the UFC Fight Pass prelims actually took home the “Fight of the Night” honors as Polo Reyes and Dong Hyun Kim went back and forth in an exciting three round affair. In the end, Reyes got the job done via a TKO. Both men were awarded $50,000.
Stay tuned to LowKickMMA for all of your post fight coverage.
Veteran Michael Bisping shocked the MMA world in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., June 4, 2016) UFC 199 from The Forum in Inglewood, California, when he knocked out former champion Luke Rockhold with a picture-perfect sequence of punches and ground shots in the opening round. Filling in as a late replacement for Chris Weidman, longtime
Veteran Michael Bisping shocked the MMA world in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., June 4, 2016) UFC 199 from The Forum in Inglewood, California, when he knocked out former champion Luke Rockhold with a picture-perfect sequence of punches and ground shots in the opening round.
Filling in as a late replacement for Chris Weidman, longtime veteran Bisping stood his ground against the bigger man in the heavily favored Rockhold, and capitalized in a historic way when his opponent fought a bit lackadaisically with his chin in the air.
With 10 years of experience in the UFC, Bisping finally took advantage of a title fight opportunity in shocking fashion that few – if any – predicted. Watch the full fight video highlights of Bisping’s game-changing win right here:
New UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and former champion Luke Rockhold shared their thoughts following UFC 199’s main event inside the Octagon Saturday night.
Bisping earned a first round knockout, becoming the first-ever British UFC champi…
New UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and former champion Luke Rockhold shared their thoughts following UFC 199’s main event inside the Octagon Saturday night.
Bisping earned a first round knockout, becoming the first-ever British UFC champion.
UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold tests his mettle tonight (Saturday June 4, 2016) in his first attempted title defense against Michael Bisping. The two mouthy middleweights have shared an eventful rivalry, fraught with confrontation and heated arguments leading up to their second fight. But ‘Rocky’ has beef with plenty of other fighters besides ‘The Count.’
UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold tests his mettle tonight (Saturday June 4, 2016) in his first attempted title defense against Michael Bisping. The two mouthy middleweights have shared an eventful rivalry, fraught with confrontation and heated arguments leading up to their second fight. But ‘Rocky’ has beef with plenty of other fighters besides ‘The Count.’
As well as sharing a feud with Bisping, Rockhold harbours bad feelings towards former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum. ‘Rocky’ and ‘Vai Cavalo’ talked some serious trash towards each other before Cain Velasquez, also of American Kickboxing Academy, fought the Brazilian at UFC 188. Many believed their differences were somewhat theatrical, given his team mate was about to fight Werdum, but they continue to this day.
Speaking during the UFC 199 open workouts this week, middleweight boss Luke Rockhold went off on Fabricio Werdum once again. MMAFighting.comhad the scoop:
“I thought he was a joke,” Rockhold said. “I thought he was making [off] with something he stole. That’s how I saw Werdum.”
“He was parading around with a belt like he stole something with that stupid face he always kept,” Rockhold said. “How do you keep that face? How do you walk into the cage with that face on? Be a champion and carry yourself like so. I’ve never been a fan of Fabricio and I didn’t think he was the true champion. That’s my opinion on that.”
Werdum eventually fell to the one punch power of Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil. A rematch with Cain Velasquez was originally meant for his first fight as champion, but when ‘CV’ pulled out injured, ‘Vai Cavalo’ refused to face Miocic as he ‘hadn’t trained for’ the Croatian.
Funny how things turn out isn’t it? Werdum is now booked in to face Ben Rothwell at UFC 203, where Miocic will face Alistair Overeem in the main event.
Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping: Mike Drahota: I think Rockhold is fully deserving of a pot near the top of the pound-for-pound ranks with five straight finishes over top quality opponents, and I also believes the lopsided betting odds in tis one are justified. That’s obviously not a unique school of though, however, as mostly
I think Rockhold is fully deserving of a pot near the top of the pound-for-pound ranks with five straight finishes over top quality opponents, and I also believes the lopsided betting odds in tis one are justified. That’s obviously not a unique school of though, however, as mostly everyone (if not everyone) is picking the bigger, younger, and more well-rounded challenger to send the seasoned “Count” back to England with another finish loss on his record. It’s certainly doesn’t hurt that Rockhold finished Bisping somewhat easily in their first meeting back at UFC Fight Night 55 in late 2014.
True, the Brit is coming off three straight wins highlighted by his decision victory over Anderson Silva, but as “Rocky” said, “The Sider” isn’t on his level right now – or ever. To prove that true, Rockhold will need to build a record-setting streak of title defenses, and that begins with a second stoppage over Bisping tonight. “The Count” no doubt possesses some of the best volume striking, cardio, toughness, and heart at 185 pounds, but I don’t like his chances standing or especially if it goes to the ground, where Rockhold finished former champion Chris Weidman in his last bout. To beat Rockhold, you have to get in his face and knock him out. While he has the pressuring style, Bisping doesn’t have the necessary power in my eyes. I have to pick Rockhold by first round submission.
Rory Kernaghan:
UFC middleweight champion Rockhold has some of the nastiest kicks in the game today. He used them very effectively in the first with Michael Bisping in late 2014, and although ‘The Count’ looked a lot better vs. Anderson Silva, I unfortunately can’t see how he overcomes the power and effective range of ‘Rocky.’ There will be a lot of heart needed to overcome the physical disadvantages for Bisping, and I wouldn’t write him off completely, but I would place money on Rockhold if I were a betting man. He’s fresher, trains with a very elite team of champions, has the size, power, reach and weight advantage. Rockhold by submission round three.
Mike Henken:
As much as I’d like to see the longtime veteran in Bisping finally acquire the UFC middleweight title, I just don’t see him getting past Rockhold here. The champion got the better of “The Count” the first time around, and Bisping had a full camp heading into that bout as opposed to the two weeks he had to prepare this time. The Brit has indeed won three straight since losing to Rockhold, but I believe that the champion has too many tools to win here. His lengthy southpaw striking and brutal kicks could provide Bisping with problems on the feet, and his elite-level submission skills make him a threat on the ground as well. Rockhold by third round knockout.
Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber:
Mike Drahota:
The former and current 135-pound king – and many say the best bantamweight ever – miraculously returned to form after an almost four-year spat with serious leg injuries to take the belt from former champ (and Faber protégé) TJ Dillashaw, so now his rivalry with “The California Kid” both continues and ends tonight. “The Dominator” beat the previous consensus No. 1 bantamweight, albeit by split decision, in his last fight, while Faber has appeared to be slowly fading over his last three fights, where he beat mid-level fighters Frankie Saenz and Alex Caceres while losing to Frankie Edgar. Faber does own a previous win over Cruz, but that was back in 2007 when “The Dominator” was 21, and it remains his only loss. It’s a trendy and simple pick, but I have to think the champ used his peerless footwork and otherworldly ability to avoid getting hit to cruise to a win here. Cruz by unanimous decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Cruz looks to make the first defense in his second reign as UFC bantamweight champion, and he does so against a man who’s had some tough hands during his UFC run. Faber has been there and done it, but never made it to a UFC title, and I don’t think tonight will be the night. ‘The Dominator’ just has footwork that’s out of this world, and although ‘The California Kid’ looks jacked in recent training photos, it’s going to take so much more than that. An interesting fact for you, TJ Dillashaw only connected with 26% of his standing strikes against Cruz. Will Faber step up and take Cruz out? I’d actually like to see it, but again I have to go with my gut instead of my nuts; Cruz by decision.
Mike Henken:
I see this bout playing out as many of Cruz’s bouts do. Faber has always had a well-rounded skillset featuring powerful punching, established takedowns, and slick submissions. With that being said, Cruz’s footwork and movement makes him a master of not getting hit, and his wrestling usually allows him to dictate the pace of the fight. I see the champion picking apart Faber from the outside and essentially outpointing him. Cruz by unanimous decision.
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