Rockhold: Bisping doesn’t enjoy fighting
Luke Rockhold: “I don’t think [Michael Bisping] really enjoys fighting. You see him, he hypes himself up, trying to create all the controversy before the fight.”
Today the UFC held a special press conference to promote the fight between Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold. Per the usual, Bisping had plenty to say about his opponent and Rockhold defended himself. Rockhold argued that he has what it takes to win because when the Octagon door closes, he actually enjoys being in there, unlike Bisping:
“I believe he hypes himself up,” Rockhold said on Tuesday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I don’t think he really enjoys fighting. You see him, he hypes himself up, trying to create all the controversy before the fight.”
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion even takes Bisping’s demeanor as a sign that he doesn’t actually enjoy mixed martial arts competition.
“Even when he’s walking to the cage – I study my opponents a lot and see how they carry themselves – you see him, he’s psyching himself up just to get in cage, slapping himself, yelling and screaming and getting into the cage and stomping around. I’m truly into fighting … he seems like he’s kind of tense and all stressed out.”
Of course, even Bisping’s biggest detractors give him his due as fighter, a scrapper who gives his all once the fight starts.
“He’ll fight to the bitter and end take punches and do everything and do everything to win,” Rockhold said. “I admire that and I respect all that, but, I don’t think he really enjoys fighting like I do, that’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to go in there and enjoy myself and get the win.”