The rematch between UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and former champ Chris Weidman promised to be an exciting fight, with unimaginative pre-fight trash talk. “He is good,” both would say, adding “but I’m better everywhere.”
When Michael Bisping was named to replace Weidman, who withdrew with a neck injury, the quality of the fight was questioned by some, but anticipation for the pre-fight trash talk skyrocketed. Bisping gamely stepped up for the fight two weeks away; he had been filming ‘xXx: The Return of Xander Cage’.
While many are dismissive of Bisping’s chances (Rockhold is a -1050 favorite), consider some facts:
•Bisping holds the record for most wins in UFC middleweight history
•#2 most wins in UFC history
•Most significant strikes landed in UFC history
•#2 in total strikes landed
*#2 in total fight time
•Headlined 10 events
And Bisping can stir things up, and spurred Rockhold on too. The pair appeared on UFC tonight, and it was on. Transcription via Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting.
Bisping (Read Bisping’s words in your head with a Mancunian accent 😉
“Chris Weidman yet again pulled out of a fight. Jacare decided that he had no balls. So of course they needed a real fighter to step in. A fighter’s fighter. Somebody with the heart and determination that’s willing to do this. So look no further than yours truly.”
Rockhold
“It’s unfortunate about Weidman but thanks to Michael Bisping, being a man and stepping up and taking this fight. And I want to congratulate him on his retirement. Sounds like he’s got a nice budding movie career so I’m excited to send him off into the sunset.”
Bisping
“You know first time I kicked your ass in training. Yes okay, you got the better of me in that last fight but every fight is different. Every fight is different. You know this. Luke, don’t underestimate me pal. All the pressure is on you. I’m coming in nice and loose, swinging. I’ll be hard and fresh and I’m looking for your chin pal and it only takes one, so just be careful.
“…I’m the only person that you fought that’s a real fighter. Machida, he just failed his drug test and he came off the juice prior to your fight. He looked terrible. Costa Philippou, Costa Phili-who? No one even knows who that is. Weidman, I always knew he was too slow. Since me, you haven’t fought a real fighter. Congrats. You got the job done on the night. You did. Well done and I take my hat off to you. I was beaten by the better man that night but believe you me every fight is different. Don’t expect that same performance, don’t come in too overconfident pal because I’ll make you pay for it.”
Rockhold
“All I know is, you’re gonna get a fight. You’re gonna get a great fight and a great beat down. It’s gonna be a great career. You’re gonna ride off into the sunset. You got your title shot. It ain’t gonna be nice. I’ll give you a couple more scars for your movie career.”
Bisping
“I don’t just wanna fight for the title. I don’t want a title shot so I can get a nice pay day. I want to be world champion and that’s why I’ve worked for an entire lifetime to get here. I’m not here by accident. I just beat the greatest of all time in Anderson Silva, I’ve been fighting the best in the world for over 10 years. Yeah I’ve had my ups and downs but here I am. I’m a better fighter. I’ve made leaps and bounds mentally and the mental aspect of fighting is the most crucial. I’ve really learned a lot about myself over the last year and if Luke thinks it’s the same person stepping into the octagon that he beat last time then he’s mistaken.”
Rockhold
“It’s his destiny right? That’s what he calls it. It’s his destiny to be my bitch. It’s your destiny to be my little bitch.”
Bisping
“It’s my destiny to be your little bitch?” Bisping replied. “Dude I couldn’t be your little bitch if…no part of you can be any…you’ve got nothing going on between your ears buddy. You look good. You don’t talk good. And you ain’t gonna fight that good next week, eh in two weeks.
“You’ve got all the pressure on you. You’re the guy that’s supposed to be the big swinging dick, well I’m coming for you. You just pissed me off. You’re gonna eat your words so bad. You’re gonna look like a god damn fool.
“[Inaudible] You hit me and I didn’t even feel a god damn thing. His punches are pathetic. [Inaudible] You’re weak as piss. Kiss my ass.”
Luke Rockhold fights Michael Bisping at UFC 199 on June 4, in Inglewood, Calif.
