Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza blasts the former and current champion while preparing for his next fight. The #3 ranked middleweight was scheduled to meet former champion Rockhold last November prior to an injury suffered by the latter scuppering plans. The Brazilian will now face Tim Boetsch, who is a man ‘Jacare’ respects for agreeing to meet […]
Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza blasts the former and current champion while preparing for his next fight. The #3 ranked middleweight was scheduled to meet former champion Rockhold last November prior to an injury suffered by the latter scuppering plans. The Brazilian will now face Tim Boetsch, who is a man ‘Jacare’ respects for agreeing to meet […]
Current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping had an incredible 2016, where he was a strong contender for “Fighter of the Year.” Bisping beat Anderson Silva by decision in February, won the middleweight title in a rematch against Luke Rockhold in June, and then got his revenge against Dan Henderson in October. In a near 13-year professional fighting
Current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping had an incredible 2016, where he was a strong contender for “Fighter of the Year.”
Bisping beat Anderson Silva by decision in February, won the middleweight title in a rematch against Luke Rockhold in June, and then got his revenge against Dan Henderson in October. In a near 13-year professional fighting career, last year was undoubtedly his best so far.
Unfortunately 2017 hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts for “The Count,” as it was recently reported that Bisping had suffered a knee injury and would be sidelined until May as a result. Speaking to Champions.co, Bisping revealed the extent of his injury and when he is likely to return:
“First and foremost, I am still UFC middleweight champion of the world, I have to defend that belt, simple as that. Dana actually- Dana White, UFC president- actually contacted me and spoke about a fight recently but I’ve been having a lot of issues with my knee so I’ve got to have a knee surgery. Maybe around end of April, May something like that, I’ll take a fight.”
One person who will be especially unhappy with this news is Yoel Romero, who cemented his number one contender spot when he brutally KO’d Chris Weidman at UFC 205 in November. There were rumors Bisping would defend his belt against Romero at UFC 208, but now that is clearly off the table. More unsettling news for Romero is that Bisping also said that he wants the “biggest money fight possible,” and whether it’s Romero or not, he doesn’t care.:
“I want the biggest fight I can get. I don’t mind facing No. 1 contenders but at this stage of my career I’ve fought the best guys forever. I want the biggest fight it can possibly be. By biggest, I mean the biggest money generating fight I can possibly have. I feel I deserve that. I’ve earned that. So whether that’s Yoel Romero, then great. But if it ain’t Yoel Romero, if it’s Anderson Silva, great. I know he’s piped up again lately. If it’s GSP [Georges St-Pierre]- I don’t care who the opponent is. I’m not bothered by any opponent. I am the champion of the world and I will take on all comers, but I want the biggest fight possible.”
With middleweight contenders Jacare Souza, Weidman, and now Gegard Mousasi all due to fight inside the next three months, Romero may have to step inside the Octagon again to prove that he deserved the next shot at the middleweight crown.
Bisping will have a list of killers awaiting him when he returns from injury, and whether he fights Romero, Silva Souza, Weidman, Mousasi, GSP, or Tyron Woodley it’s guaranteed to be a tough fight.
At this point in his career, however, it seems “The Count” simply wants the biggest payday. Who would that be against?
The Englishman had talked about the possibility of fighting UFC legend George St-Pierre at UFC 206, but not long after this news of an “orbital injury” circulated. On Thursday, confirmation was all but made that yet another division’s champion (following on from Cormier and McGregor at light heavyweight and lightweight, respectively) will be out of action. Alarm bells are ringing, and they seem to indicate the emerging of another “interim title”. While not too completely jump the gun, a title eliminator between the top ranked middleweights in UFC (Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold) could be put into place without the need for another “secondary belt”.
Conjecture aside, the next few weeks will undoubtedly reveal all as Dana White and co will certainly look to patch up the middleweight division in Bisping’s absence. With a division as stacked and as dangerous as the one Bisping currently heads, anything can happen between now and May. Until then, it is a case of get well soon, Michael Bisping.
Michael Bisping will not fight Yoel Romero or Luke Rockhold after news broke on Thursday of an injury to “The Count” which will require surgery.
The Englishman had talked about the possibility of fighting UFC legend George St-Pierre at UFC 206, but not long after this news of an “orbital injury” circulated. On Thursday, confirmation was all but made that yet another division’s champion (following on from Cormier and McGregor at light heavyweight and lightweight, respectively) will be out of action. Alarm bells are ringing, and they seem to indicate the emerging of another “interim title”. While not too completely jump the gun, a title eliminator between the top ranked middleweights in UFC (Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold) could be put into place without the need for another “secondary belt”.
Conjecture aside, the next few weeks will undoubtedly reveal all as Dana White and co will certainly look to patch up the middleweight division in Bisping’s absence. With a division as stacked and as dangerous as the one Bisping currently heads, anything can happen between now and May. Until then, it is a case of get well soon, Michael Bisping.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans currently await the next match-up for UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, but it appears they’ll have to wait just a little bit longer. Per a report from John Pollock, the UFC’s 185-pound champ will be out-of-action until May after being notified that he will require surgery to repair a torn
Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans currently await the next match-up for UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, but it appears they’ll have to wait just a little bit longer.
Per a report from John Pollock, the UFC’s 185-pound champ will be out-of-action until May after being notified that he will require surgery to repair a torn meniscus. No information was given on when exactly the injury was suffered:
Michael Bisping recently found out he will need knee surgery for slightly torn meniscus in next few weeks, hopes to fight around May
Bisping is currently on a five-fight win streak which includes a unanimous decision win over former 185-pound king Anderson Silva. The victory over ‘The Spider’ earned the Englishman the right to step in for an injured Chris Weidman to challenge for the middleweight strap, and he would go on to knockout Luke Rockhold in the first round to win his first career UFC title at UFC 199 this past June.
‘The Count’ followed up his spectacular performance with a successful title defense against Dan Henderson at UFC 204 in October, earning a unanimous decision victory in his home-country of England.
Current No. 1-ranked middleweight Yoel Romero has emerged as the prime candidate to challenge Bisping for the title next, after downing the former champ Weidman at UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden in New York City with a grizzly flying knee knockout in the third round. ‘The Soldier Of God’ currently rides an eight-fight win streak with victories over names such as Derek Brunson, Tim Kennedy, Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, and now Weidman.
Given Bisping’s injury, however, the 39-year-old Romero will appear to have to wait until near mid-year for his opportunity at 185-pound gold.
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has fought sparsely over the past three years. During a tough period for the New York-born ‘Bones,’ the troubled athlete has experienced some testing moments. Having held the belt so dominantly for nearly four years, Jones’ antics outside the octagon finally caught up to him in 2015. Just three
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has fought sparsely over the past three years. During a tough period for the New York-born ‘Bones,’ the troubled athlete has experienced some testing moments. Having held the belt so dominantly for nearly four years, Jones’ antics outside the octagon finally caught up to him in 2015. Just three months after his final title defense against Daniel Cormier, Jones added to his list of discrepancies. For his part in a hit-and-run in New Mexico, ‘Bones’ was stripped of the light-heavyweight belt.
Facing potential jail time, the Greg Jackson prospect was lucky to escape with community service and a fine. With the harrowing tale of the injured pregnant lady now behind him, Jones returned to win the interim title at UFC 197. Again Jones had UFC gold wrapped around his waist, and again he’d come across a hurdle. This time it was USADA who busted ‘Bones,’ and just days before his unification bout with Cormier. Leaving UFC 200 in tatters, Jones would eventually receive a one-year suspension. Opting to take part in submission grappling during his time away, Jones competed at Chael Sonnen’s ‘Submission Underground 2.’
Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Jones vs. Luke Rockhold
Submitting retired MMA legend Dan Henderson in the grappling contest, ‘Bones’ received challenges aplenty. From BJJ wizard Dillon Danis to Frank Mir, everybody wanted a piece. According to Chael Sonnen, who appeared on ‘Fighter & The Kid,’ Jones is already set to return for a grappling match with Luke Rockhold:
“Jon Jones is working on a deal right now. Jon is likely to return, but his likely opponent is Luke Rockhold. Rockhold can grapple, (Daniel) Cormier wanted that fight too, but Jon Jones said no. He wants to save (Cormier) for his UFC comeback where he can use all his tools. Vinny Magalhaes wanted the fight too, and we really wanted him to take that fight. If he fought Vinny, it would be (Jones’) first fight in ten years that he should lose.”
Jones vs. Rockhold
Since pulling out of his November fight with Jacare, Luke Rockhold has not been paired for a UFC contest. The former middleweight champion’s history of trash talk with Jon Jones should provide a good backdrop for a grappling contest too.
