Bisping: Time for me to become one of the legends
“I went in there with Wanderlei Silva, I’ve been in there with Henderson, Rashad Evans, people like that,” Bisping told…
“I went in there with Wanderlei Silva, I’ve been in there with Henderson, Rashad Evans, people like that,” Bisping told The Canadian Press.
“In the past, I was kind of like ‘Well if I go in there and get to a decision and this and that, I’d be happy with that.’ But I’m past that, I couldn’t care less about that. I been in the ring with legends now. I’ve fought them. I’ve been around a bit now. Now it’s (time) for people to start worrying about me and fearing me. And it’s time for me to become one of those guys. And I truly believe I can.
“I’ve beat Miller, I’m going to beat Akiyama and I want a top name after that, fingers crossed, if I do the business. Then it’s got to be a title shot after that, I think.”
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“I hit Wanderlei with a few big massive punches and there’d be no reaction from the crowd. Wanderlei would barely make contact with me, with like a slap or something, and the entire arena would burst into fits of excitement.
“So I think that might possibly have swayed them as well.”
“I’m living the dream, the moment, to be honest. My life couldn’t get any better. I’m very fortunate. .. . Long may it continue.
“But I do realize it can all end, just like that. Get complacent and get your ass kicked a couple of times and you’re gone. That’s what keeps me training so hard.”
“I do get a lot of criticism regarding my punching power. People say I have no punching power. I think for a while there I did start backing up a bit too much. That was because I fought a lot of wrestlers back-to-back.
“I’ve got a lot more confidence in my power. I regularly spar boxers and I’m beating them at their own game.”
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“When I’m out in the States, when I meet people, I’ve never had a bad experience, people have always been fine. On the Internet, if you read that, you’d think I was the most hated man in the country. I’ve just come to accept it.”
“The whole TUF 9 thing didn’t help. They perceived me as being anti-American, which isn’t the case. But you know, I just keep doing what I’m doing and I’m not going to change. I’m the same person I’ve always been really.
“Fingers crossed, hopefully one day they come back on board. If not, then as long as they tune in to see me get my ass kicked, then that’s a good thing as well. As long as people show emotion — which I’m quite happy about. They’re either booing me really badly, because they want to see me get knocked out or they’re cheering really loudly. For me that’s perfect, as long as it’s one or another. As long as I don’t come out and just get a half-hearted clap, ‘Oh yeah, this guy.”‘
“I’ve got to take my respect, people aren’t certainly going to give it to me. I’ve had it all the way through. People used to say ‘Oh he’s from The Ultimate Fighter, so they’re giving him easy opponents.’ And now it’s like ‘Oh he’s useless, and all this and that.’
“It isn’t the case. I’ve consistently been fighting the best guys out there and I think I’m doing pretty well. My record’s 9-3 in the UFC. And as I’ve said two of those losses are very debatable decisions. But it’s up to me, I need to start putting these guys away now, I’ve talked the talk. It’s time to put up or shut up.”