Tag: Robbert Whittaker

Luke Rockhold Dubs Robert Whittaker ‘True’ UFC Middleweight Champion

Following his crushing win over former World Series Of Fighting (WSOF) dual-weight champ David Branch, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has his eyes back on UFC gold. The Californian spoke to the media following his second round win over Branch in the main event of last night’s (Sat. September 16, 2017) UFC Fight Night […]

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Following his crushing win over former World Series Of Fighting (WSOF) dual-weight champ David Branch, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has his eyes back on UFC gold.

The Californian spoke to the media following his second round win over Branch in the main event of last night’s (Sat. September 16, 2017) UFC Fight Night 116 event from Pittsburgh, claiming to recognize interim division champion Robert Whittaker as the legitimate champion at 185 pounds – not Michael Bisping (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“Whittaker is definitely an interesting fight,” Rockhold said. “I think he’s the true champion right now – the man who fights the fights that count, other than some poser up there running away with the belt.”

Don Wright for USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to who should get the next crack at the middleweight throne following Bisping and Georges St-Pierre’s title clash this November, Whittaker has that spot reserved thanks to his interim title. Its seems that a match-up would perhaps have to take place between Rockhold and Weidman to determine who advances in the title picture after that, but that doesn’t seem to interest the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product too much:

“Chris Weidman’s lost three in a row,” Rockhold said. “That doesn’t make much sense at this point. I’d rather not do that again at the moment.”

Rockhold did express interest in eventually making a jump up to 205 pounds in the near future, noting that his cut down to middleweight can be tough at times:

“I’ll fight light heavyweight,” Rockhold said. “The weight cut was rough. I’m not going to lie, it always is. … I’d love to go to light heavyweight. I’d do really well. In the gym, it’s more natural for me. I think I could do things. But ‘DC’ is obviously the man in the division right now. I’m not going up until he gets out. If he goes up or he retires, you can damn well guarantee I’m coming up. I have business to do here first.”

As it pertains to his performance against Branch, Rockhold was overall satisfied with how he performed but admitted that he didn’t expect the former WSOF middleweight and light heavyweight champ to come out as aggressive as he did:

“I was OK with (my performance),” Rockhold said. “I didn’t expect him to come forward so hard. I wanted to find my timing, get my range. It was a bit of a weight cut and just trying to get my bearings there in the clinch and figure it out. When I’m best, I wait.”

Don Wright for USA TODAY Sports

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Michael Bisping Removed From Flight For Random Search

It appears as though UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping was involved in a random search at an airport that resulted in him needing to be removed from his Norwegian flight. Bisping took to Twitter to comment on the matter: 1 of 2-Norwegian airlines just removed me from my flight for a random search. Including searching […]

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It appears as though UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping was involved in a random search at an airport that resulted in him needing to be removed from his Norwegian flight.

Bisping took to Twitter to comment on the matter:

Bisping has had a crazy ride as it pertains to his mixed martial arts (MMA) career as of late after winning the UFC 185-pound title from Luke Rockhold via first round knockout last year. “The Count” made his first title defense against a then-No. 14-ranked Dan Henderson in his hometown of London, England via unanimous decision.

It was expected that Bisping would make his next title defense against former UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre, who has come out of retirement after signing a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, but it was later called off by UFC President Dana White after St-Pierre said he wouldn’t be ready to fight until after October.

Now, White has implemented an interim middleweight title bout between No. 1-ranked Yoel Romero and No. 3-ranked Robbert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 213 next month (Sat. July 8, 2017). It is expected that Bisping will fight the winner of that bout after he has recovered from a lingering knee injury.

What are your thoughts on Bisping potentially defending his title against either Romero or Whittaker?

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Michael Bisping Hints At Possibly Retiring Soon

UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping’s time in the Octagon could be drawing to a close sooner than you thought. “The Count” secured the UFC’s 185-pound strap back in June of last year in the main event of UFC 199, where he knocked out Luke Rockhold in the first round. He then went on to defend […]

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UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping’s time in the Octagon could be drawing to a close sooner than you thought.

“The Count” secured the UFC’s 185-pound strap back in June of last year in the main event of UFC 199, where he knocked out Luke Rockhold in the first round. He then went on to defend his title against a then-No. 14-ranked Dan Henderson at UFC 204 in October, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Bisping was expected to defend his title against the returning former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at a time and venue yet to-be-determined, however, St-Pierre stated he wouldn’t be able to return until after October, which didn’t fit UFC President Dana White’s plans who scrapped the bout as a result.

Now, an interim middleweight title has been put in place and will be contested for between No. 1-ranked Yoel Romero and No. 3-ranked Robbert Whittaker at the UFC 213 pay-per-view (PPV) next month (Sat. July 8, 2017). Bisping took to his podcast, Believe You Me, to comment on the interim title bout and predicted Whittaker to emerge victorious.

Furthermore, the Englishman predicts that he’d beat either Romero or Whittaker once he returns to the Octagon before having his ‘farewell’ bout in the U.K. (quotes via FOX Sports):

“My next fight, I don’t know where it’s going to be. It’s probably going to be unfortunately not GSP [Georges St-Pierre]. It’s probably going to be the winner of [Robert] Whittaker and [Yoel] Romero. I don’t know where that fight’s going to be and I see myself winning that fight because I see Whittaker winning that fight and I see myself beating Whittaker. If Romero wins, I see myself beating him as well. But I firmly believe that it will be Robert Whittaker,” Bisping said.

“Win or lose that fight, I’ll probably have one more and I want that to be in London or Manchester or the U.K. I want it to be in England. I want to have my last fight, I want to say farewell. The fans for me in England have treated me so well, they really have. The MMA fans out there have really embraced me as one of their own of course and it made a different in my career. So I want my last fight to be in England.”

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Gegard Mousasi Calls Out Two Top Middleweight For UFC London

No. 5-ranked UFC middleweight Gegard Mousasi has been on a rabid tear through the 185-pound division with his current three-fight win streak. The former Strikeforce champion is coming off of a first round knockout win over Uriah Hall in their rematch main event at UFC Belfast earlier this month, marking Mousasi’s third straight knockout finish

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No. 5-ranked UFC middleweight Gegard Mousasi has been on a rabid tear through the 185-pound division with his current three-fight win streak.

The former Strikeforce champion is coming off of a first round knockout win over Uriah Hall in their rematch main event at UFC Belfast earlier this month, marking Mousasi’s third straight knockout finish since July. Now that he’s broken into the top five the Dutchman is looking to propel himself into the crowded middleweight title picture, and he believes a win over two certain fellow top ten 185-pounders will do the trick.

Mousasi recently spoke to Independent.co to discuss his future plans after his win over Hall, setting his sights on the co-main event slot of UFC London in March of 2017, a card he believes will be headlined by current division champ Michael Bisping:

“The UFC is coming back to the UK and I’ve already fought there a few times so it makes sense I fight there again,” Mousasi said. “If Michael Bisping fights Yoel Romero in the main event then I should fight in the co-main event – that would be nice.

“I like fighting in the UK and I prefer fighting in Europe so to me that all makes sense. I know that’s when Michael Bisping wants to defend his belt because that’s his home turf.”

As for his potential opponent in the co-main event slot, Mousasi targets up-and-coming middleweight Robbert Whittaker and former division champion Luke Rockhold as viable candidates:

“I think a fight with Robert Whittaker or Luke Rockhold would be good,” Mousasi said. “If I fight one of those guys in the co-main event I think that’s what makes most sense for me and what makes most sense for the UFC.

“A win over either of those guys should put me in line for the title shot, but I know it has to be impressive. I want that co-main event and I want it in March,” Mousasi said.

Mousasi does not have a preference as to whether or not it’s Whittaker or Rockhold next, but believes the UFC will determine the next challenger for the middleweight title with a bout between Rockhold and No. 3-ranked Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza:

“I’m not sure what the UFC are going to do, but I’m guessing they will do Jacare [Souza] versus Luke Rockhold to decide the next guy,” Mousasi said. “They are ahead of me right now I know that and I think the winner of that will be the next guy to fight for the title. Whatever though, I’m confident I would be Rockhold, I’ve seen things in his game that I can take advantage of.

“Now Robert Whittaker is coming through. I saw him beat Derek Brunson last weekend. He looked good and he’s powerful, but that was a crazy fight. He was wild and that wouldn’t work against me. I don’t care what the UFC are going to do. They could put me with anyone and I’m confident I would beat them.”

Regardless of who Mousasi gets matched-up with next, it is certain to be an entertaining bout for fight fans to enjoy. Who do you think the UFC will pair the Dutchman up with next?

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