Michael Bisping Won’t Give Luke Rockhold An Immediate Rematch
UFC veteran Michael Bisping shocked the MMA world last Saturday night at UFC 199 when he knocked out Luke Rockhold to become the Middleweight Champion. It was Bisping’s very first title shot, and he was only given two weeks notice before the fight, as Chris Weidman was Rockhold’s original opponent, but he had to pull out of the bout due to injury.
Bisping had fought Rockhold previously in November of 2014, and that fight didn’t go The Count’s way, as Rockhold submitted him via Guillotine Choke in the second round. Combine that with the fact that Bisping only had two weeks notice, and it’s no surprise that nobody believed that the 37-year-old UFC vet was going to win the UFC 199 main event.
It was also Luke Rockhold’s first title defense since winning it from Chris Weidman back at UFC 194, and according to Bisping, the former Middleweight Champ is going to have to win a few fights to get another crack at the 185-pound champion, because he’s not planning on giving Rockhold an immediate rematch.
“As of right now, Luke Rockhold will not be my first defense. That’s a fact. I had to go away and beat three more guys before I got a second shot at Luke.”
The rubber match between Bisping and Rockhold has the potential to do big business, especially since the animosity between the two hasn’t died down. However, it doesn’t look like Bisping will defend his newly won Middleweight Title against Rockhold anytime soon.
If Bisping isn’t planning on defending the Middleweight Title against Rockhold, then who will he fight next? Chris Weidman? According to The Count himself, Weidman isn’t a worthy contender either because he’s coming off of a loss.
@ChrisWeidmanUFC wants a title fight. Coming off a loss?. Win a fight. Maybe against rockhold first, Like originally planned.
— michael (@bisping) June 9, 2016
bum? your coming off a loss to the guy I just Knocked out cold. Fight rockhold, win and we'll see. I call the shots. #facts
— michael (@bisping) June 9, 2016
Bisping has said that there is a guy that he has his eye on for his first defense, and on top of that, he wants his first defense to be in the United Kingdom. Who does he have his eye one? While it’s not confirmed, it looks like he wants to fight Dan Henderson, who is coming off of a brutal knockout win over Hector Lombard.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to give you a name. There is someone I’ve got my eye on, but ultimately it’s down to the UFC. I do get a say since I’m the champion, so that’s nice. Defending the title in the UK is certainly something I’d love to do, and I’ve already made it clear to Dana White that I would like to do that.”
— michael (@bisping) June 9, 2016
Henderson and Bisping fought back at UFC 100, where “Hendo” scored one of the most famous knockouts in UFC history. Could a Middleweight Title fight between the two be added to next month’s UFC 200? Probably not, unless one of the card’s major fights is canceled due to injury. However, it would really be something if the two men were to rematch UFC 100’s later and have it be for the Middleweight Title.
It doesn’t seem like the UFC would give Dan Henderson a shot at the Middleweight belt, so who else is out there for Bisping to fight? Two names come to mind: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Yoel Romero, who was the original number one contender for the title before he tested positive for a banned substance.
Right now, there are a ton of people who could get the next Middleweight Title shot, as all of the previously mentioned names – Dan Henderson, Ronaldo Souza, Yoel Romero, Chris Weidman, and Luke Rockhold – are in line for a title opportunity. Bisping says that he won’t turn down any opponent the UFC offers him, so whoever he ends up facing will be the UFC’s first choice.
[Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]
