August 1st is right around the corner, and if you are a Stockton native, a hardcore MMA fan, or just flat-out a fan of the Diaz Brothers, then you know what that means. Nick Diaz’s 18-month suspension for a failed drug test at UFC 183 will be up on that day, and it’s time for
August 1st is right around the corner, and if you are a Stockton native, a hardcore MMA fan, or just flat-out a fan of the Diaz Brothers, then you know what that means.
Nick Diaz’s 18-month suspension for a failed drug test at UFC 183 will be up on that day, and it’s time for the MMA star to step back inside the cage and deliver some more ‘Stockton Slaps’.
Initially, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) suspended Diaz for five years and levied a hefty $165,000 fine for good measure. However, after appealing the suspension as well as a flurry of support from fellow fighters, media, and fans, the suspension was reduced to a mere 18 months with a smaller fine of $100,000.
With that said, let’s look at some of the top candidates to welcome Diaz back to the Octagon upon his return.
Luke Rockhold got a new (in a sense) opponent when Michael Bisping stepped in on short notice to replace oft-injured former champion Chris Weidman, who was forced out with a serious neck injury, in the main event of June 4’s UFC 199 from Inglewood, California. Not surprisingly, Bisping got the trash talk started in short
Not surprisingly, Bisping got the trash talk started in short order with only a little over two weeks until the fight takes place, but after Rockhold already submitted ‘The Count’ in their first match-up at November 2014’s UFC Fight Night 55, it just doesn’t hold the same weight. In a side-by-side appearance on last night’s (Wed., May 18, 2016) “UFC Tonight,” Rockhold refuted Bisping’s insistence that the UFC middleweight title was his destiny in brutal fashion.
Check it out:
Rockhold on Bisping’s title aspirations: It’s your destiny, huh? It’s your destiny to be my little b****. #UFC199https://t.co/k5YkBnaE3d
It’s hardly a surprising reaction from the champ, who thoroughly dominated Bisping in all facets of the fight game not all that long ago, and indeed, it may be hard to envision a scenario where “The Count” walks away from The Forum with the middleweight title somehow wrapped around his waist. But the Brit is coming off by far his biggest win ever over all time great former middleweight champion Anderson Silva, albeit controversially.
Many would argue that is far from defeating the bulldozing force that Rockhold has undoubtedly become in recent years, however. Is Bisping’s real destiny to finally hoist the gold that has eluded him during his 10-year UFC career, or is he simply the next victim on Rockhold’s reign of destruction?
‘The Count’ believes he’ll do better without a full camp… It seems that 2016 is yet another year of the injury bug, as pay-per-view and fight night bouts continue being laid to waste by last minute accidents. The most recent of these main event smashing injuries was Chris Weidman’s withdrawal from the June 4 UFC
‘The Count’ believes he’ll do better without a full camp…
It seems that 2016 is yet another year of the injury bug, as pay-per-view and fight night bouts continue being laid to waste by last minute accidents. The most recent of these main event smashing injuries was Chris Weidman’s withdrawal from the June 4 UFC 199 PPV card in Inglewood, California. ‘The All-American’ requires surgery due to a rather concerning spinal injury, which he detailed in a graphic Facebook post yesterday. In dropping out of the event, Weidman left a gap opposite the middleweight boss Luke Rockhold, but every cloud has a silver lining.
As a result of Weidman’s injury and removal from UFC 199, we get to see another rematch, this time between the 185-pound champ Luke Rockhold and his old nemesis Michael Bisping.
‘Rocky’ and ‘The Count’ first squared off in Sydney, Australia in late 2014, with Rockhold furthering his claim to the title fight with Weidman by rocking and then submitting Bisping inside two rounds. After finishing Lyoto Machida, Rockhold went on to brutally batter Chris Weidman for the title in a gruelling affair at UFC 194.
Just out of interest, here’s Rockhold’s streak compared to Bisping’s:
Luke Rockhold: Costa Philippou TKO, Tim Boetsch submission, Michael Bispig submission, Lyoto Machida submission, Chris Weidman murder TKO
Michael Bisping: CB Dolloway unanimous decision, Thales Leites split decision, Anderson Silva Unanimous decision
So Luke Rockhold is the bigger man, on home turf, coming in on a streak of finishes that includes one against Michael Bisping, and has a full camp compared to two weeks notice for ‘The Count;’ Where’s the smart money going at the bookies?
Well hold your horses, because Bisping believes the short notice fight is actually in his favor…
Michael Bisping thinks “destiny” has handed him the chance to become the UFC middleweight champion as he gears up to face Luke Rockhold on June 4 at UFC 199.
An injury to Chris Weidman left the main event of the show without a challenger, p…
Michael Bisping thinks “destiny” has handed him the chance to become the UFC middleweight champion as he gears up to face Luke Rockhold on June 4 at UFC 199.
An injury to Chris Weidman left the main event of the show without a challenger, paving the way for Bisping to step in. He’d be the first fighter from the United Kingdom to win a title in the promotion should he triumph; it’ll be the first time the 37-year-old has even had the chance to compete for the belt.
And the man himself revealed that he thinks a victory in this fight is written in the stars, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo:
Speed, fight IQ, that’s what I bring to the table. I believe this is my destiny. Since I was a little [expletive], 9 or 10 years old, I’ve been a fighter all my life. … This has been my life and this is what I do. I’m not turning up for a payday. I want this and I believe I will beat this guy. I deserve it. And I know you have to have more than that, but I do. I do have more. And everyone will see that soon enough.
Few will deny the Manchester man deserves this, especially with JacareSouza also struggling with his fitness after his recent win over VitorBelfort at UFC 198. Only the great Georges St-Pierre, with 19 victories, has won more bouts in the UFC than Bisping, who has 18 triumphs and seven losses to his name.
As ESPN’s Brett Okamato noted, it’s been a long time coming for the Englishman after almost a decade of involvement in the UFC:
Winning the belt won’t be easy, though, as Rockhold is a gifted fighter. The Californian has beaten Bisping before after all, via submission in November 2014, and also produced a brilliant performance to win the title against Weidman at UFC 194.
Bisping admitted there are certainly merits to the way the 31-year-old goes about his business in the Octagon but feels there are areas in which he definitely has an edge:
He is a great fighter, of course he is. And he’s a great athlete. He’s got great striking and good accuracy. He’s very, very good on the floor. He’s very creative, as well. Add to that he’s tall, he’s got a lot of reach and he’s got a lot of confidence.
I’m not going into this underestimating anybody. I never have in the past. But, I am faster than this guy. I’m smarter than he is. And I have a better fight IQ.
The catapult to this chance for Bisping was his win over the legendary Anderson Silva back in February. The iconic Brazilian is past his absolute best due to age and injury problems. but Bisping was the dominant force in the fight, eventually coming out on top on all three of the judges’ scorecards.
Evidently, it was an important moment for the Brit.
“Listen, I know what my critics say about me and I knew that going into the Anderson Silva fight,” he said, per Iole. “That’s why that fight was so big for me. I didn’t want to get a reputation as the guy who was a decent fighter but always lost the big one.”
Indeed, it’s a win that helped enhance Bisping’s reputation at the elite level, and MMA Junkie’s ChamatkarSandhu is backing the Mancunian to make things fascinating in the build-up to this contest:
Bisping will be thankful for this opportunity and the manner in which it’s come about and will feel a sense of determination as he prepares for the biggest night of his UFC career. But it’s evident from these quotes that there is no way he’ll be taking Rockhold lightly, especially having been beaten so emphatically when they last squared off.
The champion is on a roll at the moment, with another outstanding performance against LyotoMachida sandwiched between the wins over Bisping and Weidman. As one of the most balanced and adaptable competitors in the history of the UFC, you can guarantee Rockhold will be ready for the challenge to come.
Unfortunately for “Jacare,” a meniscus injury suffered at UFC 198 last weekend has removed him from the short list of potential opponents, and now, nearly ten years to the day after he made his UFC debut, “The Count” will be receiving his first title shot.
After the jump: A “Greatest Hits” collection, if you will, of Bisping and Rockhold talking sh*t to each other, + an update on Weidman’s injury.
Unfortunately for “Jacare,” a meniscus injury suffered at UFC 198 last weekend has removed him from the short list of potential opponents, and now, nearly ten years to the day after he made his UFC debut, “The Count” will be receiving his first title shot.
After the jump: A “Greatest Hits” collection, if you will, of Bisping and Rockhold talking sh*t to each other.
UFC 199 goes down on June 4th at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Related: In an official statement posted to his Facebook page, Chris Weidman has detailed the extent of the neck injury that forced him out of UFC 199, and boy does it sound nasty.
After suffering an unfortunate injury during training camp, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated rematch between Luke Rockhold at UFC 199. According to Dana White via Sports Center, Weidman will be replaced by the No.4-Ranked Michael Bisping: Bisping (28-7) is coming off of the biggest win of
After suffering an unfortunate injury during training camp, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated rematch between Luke Rockhold at UFC 199.
According to Dana White via Sports Center, Weidman will be replaced by the No.4-Ranked Michael Bisping:
Bisping (28-7) is coming off of the biggest win of his career that saw him taking home a unanimous decision victory over Anderson Silva in his hometown of London, England.
‘The Count’ and Rockhold have met once before back in November in 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55, that saw Rockhold taking home a second round submission victory via guillotine choke.
Bisping immediately campaigned for the title shot on Twitter shortly after Weidman’s injury was announced:
Training camps separate the boys from the men. This sport isn't for everyone. 2 weeks notice? I'm down!!! @ufc#realfighter#fightersfighter
This will be Bisping’s first title shot in his twelve year career, since winning The Ultimate Fighter 3(TUF 3) nearly a decade ago.
Before Bisping was named the late replacement many predicted that Rockhold’s opponent would be the No. 2-Ranked Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, who is coming off of a first round thrashing of Brazilian legend Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 this past Saturday.
‘Jacare’, however, was unable to take the fight due to a torn meniscus that he suffered during this past weekend’s bout, and will require surgery.
Another possibility for Rockhold was No. 10-Ranked Uriah Hall, who was pulled from UFC 198 after his opponent Anderson Silva suffered an unfortunate gall bladder injury and was unable to compete.
Hall took to Twitter to voice his opinion on being passed up:
He knew I had a full camp so bisping would be easy coming off 2 weeks .. Smart move .
UFC 199 is set to go down on Saturday June 4th at The Forum Arena in Inglewood, California. The card is to be co-headlined by a bantamweight title bout between longtime rivals Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber.
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