It's safe to say Michael Bisping doesn't have many friends in the UFC's middleweight division nor is he looking to make any.
After winning the middleweight championship from Luke Rockhold back in June, Bisping has been riding high, opening his own UFC gym in Costa Mesa and getting an opportunity to avenge his most memorable loss, a brutal knockout by Dan Henderson, as his first title defense. But as nice of an opportunity it is fror Bisping and for Henderson, the rest of the division was very unhappy about Bisping fighting the No. 12-ranked person at middleweight instead of someone more deserving.
Rockhold and Chris Weidman continually took shots at Bisping for his choice of opponent and Bisping fired back about their recent losses and not being deserving of title shots. Things cooled off once the fight was officially announced as Weidman and Rockhold seemed to accept the eventuality. Recently, both men even booked themselves fights with Weidman taking on Yoel Romero and Rockhold rematching Jacare Souza both in November.
In light of these developments, Bisping took to Champion.co to express he feelings on Weidman and Rockhold and their future prospects as well as to respond again to some of the comments made by Weidman.
"I think Chris is really embarrassed that I knocked out the guy that dominated him and beat the living crap out of him. He should be embarrassed that as a guy who calls himself a black belt in jiu-jitsu and some kind of crazy skilled wrestler, he was mounted by Rockhold, and had something like a hundred strikes landed on him. The referee should've called that fight after the third round. Where were his mount escapes? He should be embarrassed more for the fact that he got his ass absolutely kicked, but I went out there and knocked Luke out in the first round.
"Why should he be embarrassed that I'm the champ? I mean, really, it's about time that Chris Weidman just shuts the f**k up. He's acting like a little bitch, and we all know it. Everybody is sick of him and all that whining. He's always feeling sorry for himself and making excuses. Quit being a little bitch, Chris. Get back in the cage, win a fight and then maybe we can talk."
Weidman is the former middleweight championship who played a role in Bisping's eventual title victory. After losing to belt to Rockhold, Weidman was granted an immediate rematch for UFC 199 but was forced to withdraw from the bout just a couple of weeks beforehand. Bisping got the call and the rest is history.
As for Rockhold, Bisping is none the friendlier.
"I thought Rockhold was going the Derek Zoolander route, but I guess that might not be working out for him as well as he thought it would. Maybe the winner can get a school for people who can't read good and who want to learn to do other stuff good, too."
Before accepting the fight with Jacare, Rockhold turned down a fight off from the UFC because "the money was bullshit" and had begun doing some modeling work in the interim. After renegotiating his contract, Rockhold then accepted the fight with Souza, a rematch of their Strikeforce title bout from September of 2011 which Rockhold won by unanimous decision. Bisping doesn't believe he will do it again.
"Seriously, though, I think Jacare beats him. I don't think Rockhold will ever be the same again. I think I exposed him, to be honest. I think I exposed his chin, for sure. If Jacare stands in the pocket with him, he can definitely catch him. Vitor did it, I did it and Jacare can do it, too.
"Rockhold is good, don't get me wrong. He's got great kicks and very, very good jiu-jitsu, but he doesn't have very good hands. If you get past the kicks and get him close, you can catch him.
"The good thing for me is that one of them gets beat. I couldn't care less which one it is. I'll fight the winner of that one or the winner of Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman. Makes no difference to me."
But first Bisping has to get his revenge on Dan Henderson. In a separate interview with Champions (below), Bisping continued his verbal assault on the division, predicting how his fight with Henderson will go.
"I'm gonna put a beating on Dan Henderson like he's never experienced. I'm gonna make him feel every one of his 46 years. He's gonna know that he's had his ass kicked thoroughly... Dan Henderson's gonna get beat to a living pulp. I'm gonna toy with him for two rounds. I'm gonna make him feel old and slow and embarrass him and in the third round I'm gonna knock him out cold."
Before UFC 199, Bisping said he was going to knock Rockhold out and he did it. Maybe Mystic Mike is now in effect.
Bisping takes on Henderson on October 8th in the main event of UFC 204 in Manchester, England.
MUST-READ STORIES
The UFC hired Mick Maynard and promoted Sean Shelby in the wake of Joe Silva retiring.
Chael Sonnen isn't ready to tell all about his move from the UFC to Bellator, yet.
Cyborg questions her nutritionist about taking birth control pills before a fight.
Sage Northcutt questions the opposition Mickey Gall has faced so far.
EXTRA CREDIT READING
Whims. Steven Rondina of Bleacher Report discusses how the UFC brass weaponized post fight bonuses.
MEDIA STEW
Julianna Pena during the Tate-Nunes fight.
Cyborg's Vlog.
TTTHS.
Not sure what benefit Floyd gets from no longer pretending they will fight, but that's nice.
Luke Rockhold believes a win over Jacare gets him a title shot.
LISTEN UP
Anik and Flo.
Brit Pack.
Show the Art
TWEETS
Big ups.
Congrats to @seanshelby & @Mickmaynard2 on their new roles. And big congrats to Joe Silva on HOF career:https://t.co/Tu6k85Nq6J
— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) September 20, 2016
Of course he is.
Am hearing that @cmpunk is likely going to get another fight in the UFC. No final decision yet, but leaning that way.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) September 20, 2016
Wouldn't be surprised if this was it.
Someone tell @CMPunk I'm ready to cash in on this #MoneyInTheBank. @ufc pic.twitter.com/4OnVr61peU
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) September 20, 2016
Dana says a lot of things. Many of them aren't true.
@kylemuir17 @TheNotoriousMMA @Ealvarezfight not true it's @TeamKhabib
— Dana White (@danawhite) September 21, 2016
After watching everything play out, seems like Eddie is making a last ditch push to get this one.
Let's do this @TheNotoriousMMA I'm ready !! Your futures not bright enjoy this one while it last . #ItsAllOver
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 21, 2016
The illusion of Greatness will soon be Over. It's time for Truth ! GN guys I have an early morning #ufc205 #eafight#thnq #phillyfighter
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 21, 2016
That's unhealthy.
I don't sleep. I wait.
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) September 21, 2016
Everyone know who is the real Eagle you're both bunch of chicken your daddy @danawhite protect you One of you going to be my food soon https://t.co/ZPvICQWGi4
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 21, 2016
Happy birthday indeed.
I hag a very generous birthday gift today. Thanks @danawhite @ufc #ufclightweightchamp2016 #inshaAllah
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 21, 2016
Hey @Ealvarezfight checkmate you don't have much time let's do this @ufc
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 21, 2016
Me and Dana just waiting for Eddie to sign. I promise I will finish you fast and with no pain. https://t.co/4Zv9j8xejZ
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 21, 2016
Also, the UFC did this to their champion, which got him peeved.
Remember when @NathanMarquardt did THIS to the current UFC Welterweight Champion?! #UFCFIGHTPASSpic.twitter.com/u4PRsaSLtR
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) September 20, 2016
@UFCFightPass wow really? Show what I did 2 Koscheck, Condit, Kim, Lawler, Daley, Hieron. The disrespect! Also tell about the TRT exemption
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) September 21, 2016
Feels like something they would do to Mighty Mouse given the opportunity.
@cyberstalkingU @UFCFightPass name me another champ they did that to. Zero
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) September 21, 2016
Oh, and Cody Garbrandt vs. Cruz looks like it's happening at the end of this year.
I'll be the champ before 2017!! https://t.co/GfKxpfTifA
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) September 21, 2016
The NYBA telling it like it is.
Why who gives a fuck. No they don't https://t.co/fVauM9Uw5s
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) September 19, 2016
Exact same catch weight for me as cyborg,I was lighter than her 3 weeks ago to make this 140lbs
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) September 20, 2016
Technically true.
@BrianStann @LOCKloaded @love_life7474 @ben_barvels also it stops you from like getting pregnant which makes you gain a lot of weight ##fact
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) September 21, 2016
This is the best budding MMA feud.
Yo Super Scared Corncutt, How bout a bet: Loser shaves their head? Stop takin selfies & take antibiotics. I'm gonna hurt u @sagenorthcutt https://t.co/Q81gHrv249
— Mickey Gall (@mickeygall) September 21, 2016
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hisaki Kato (6-2-0) vs. A.J. Matthews (8-5-0); Bellator 162, October 21.
Ryan Couture (10-4-0) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (19-3-0); Bellator 162, October 21.
Ian McCall (13-5-1) vs. Neil Seery (16-12-0); UFC Fight Night 99, November 19.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2013: Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson put on the Fight of the Year and one of the greatest fights of all time in the main event of UFC 165. That event also saw Renan Barao KO Eddie Wineland with a spinning back kick in an interim title match.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Bisping-Hendo is quietly just around the corner. I'm genuinely excited. If Hendo wins, it's probably the single greatest moment in the history of the sport. Pretty rare for something like that to be on the table.
Be easy y'all.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.