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After Michael Bisping lost his UFC middleweight title to Georges St-Pierre last year, and then subsequently lost to Kelvin Gastelum just a few weeks later as a short-notice replacement fight at UFC China, the former Ultimate Fighter winner made it clear that his time as a professional fighter was rapidly coming to a close. Bisping said he wanted one more fight to end his career on but as possible bouts with Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida have fallen through, the question became, ”what fight could interest Bisping enough to return one more time instead of heeding the wishes of his family and walking away from MMA?”
Well now we may have an answer.
Speaking recently on his Believe You Me podcast, Bisping said that a trilogy fight with the man Bisping took the title from, Luke Rockhold, would certainly interest him as a swan song.
“If that motherf**ker wants to throw down at 205 [pounds], yeah, we can entertain that, buddy,” Bisping said. “I’ve got no problem knocking you out again.”
Rockhold was recently knocked out by Yoel Romero in their interim title fight at UFC 221. In the aftermath, the former champion has said he intends to move up to the light heavyweight division, unless he is offered a third bout with Bisping, a fight Rockhold has been chasing since losing the belt to Bisping at UFC 199. Rockhold won their first fight in dominant fashion but that was in 2014, and Bisping says Rockhold is a changed fighter since then because he broke Rockhold permanently.
“I exposed Luke Rockhold,” said Bisping. “I knocked him out. David Branch nearly knocked him out. Yoel knocked him out. I quite literally took his soul, so if he wants me to do it again, that is one that would stoke the fires so to speak.”
On paper, the trilogy match is a promotional dream. Bisping and Rockhold are two of the few marquee fighters who have a genuine and palpable dislike of each other and the UFC has always loved to promote a grudge match. Plus, with Bisping unwilling to fight any “any young guy looking to make a name off me” for his final bout, there aren’t may better options for Bisping to walk into the sunset off of.
If he does retire off of this fight, that is. Bisping conclude this discussion by suggesting that he could walk away from the game right now and be financially secure, or he could even stick around for one more fight after a potential Rockhold clash if the UFC made it worth his while.
“I’ll fight him at 205, I’ll fight him at 185,” concluded Bisping. “I’m not bothered. That’s if I’m gonna fight again, if the deal is right. Fortunately now, I’m in a good place.”
“I still love fighting. Fighting’s what I do, that’s provided me this platform and I still feel like I’ve got at least one more in me. I’ve got more than that in me but I’m just saying from my business perspective maybe one more makes sense, maybe two more, maybe no more. We’ll see what the future holds if the deal is right.”
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VIDEO STEW
Embedded.
UFC 222 Countdown.
Of course he would.
Bellator it is then.
Breaking News: Frankie Edgar willing to accept a big bag of money if offered to him.
DC better watch out.
Usman on Covington.
LISTEN UP
The MMA Hour. Interviews with Edgar, Lewis, Lobov, Emmett, and more.
The Co-Main Event. Discussing UFC Orlando and illegal knees in MMA.
Anik and Florian. Looking back at UFC Orlando and ahead to UFC 222.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Needle mover.
Welcome back.
I’m fighting Sergio Pettis in Chicago June 9th. Thank you for the continued support throughout my recovery. Really excited to be back, can’t wait to put on a show for you guys ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8VcLxbAiFo
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) February 27, 2018
Plenty of respect to Ledet for having the stones to join up publicly.
Thank you @LeslieSmith_GF, I just signed the petition for project spearhead #union
— Justin Ledet (@JustinLedetMMA) February 26, 2018
It’s a date.
#seeyousoonboiiii https://t.co/psT2jQwuAK
— Peoples Champ (@YoelRomeroMMA) February 26, 2018
Make it happen.
Happy to put another loss on your record by ko boy!!!@brianboom135
— John Lineker (@johnlineker) February 27, 2018
call me the Brazilian killa
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 27, 2018
When a fight with Bisping didn’t materialize, this is Brunson’s next move.
I see you over there liking all of the tweets of people saying we should fight @EliasTheodorou . 6-2 in the UFC, you’ve done enough to earn some action if you want it. The loser cuts their hair!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 24, 2018
Cain already getting that WWE heat.
Belts hold up your pants. Around here we have Championship Titles...
— Sage (@SageBeckettWWE) February 26, 2018
*hands mic back to the #Advocate @HeymanHustle https://t.co/Rqt975dRoq
Thank you @SageBeckettWWE for handling my light work. No need to pass the mic back to Your Humble #Advocate, you took care of business with expert precision. #MicDrop @WWE @WWENXT @UFC @cainmma pic.twitter.com/X6AT08EMV7
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) February 26, 2018
I don’t mic drop but I’ll drop @BrockLesnar and use that belt to hold up my pants.
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) February 26, 2018
Nice response.
Thanks.
Thank you so much to all you amazing fans. I'm super grateful for you all, and moments that should humble the hard headed I take as a badge of honor. It is a rough sport, but that doesn't deter me from the love of competing in it, as I always learn more about myself every time
— Ben Saunders (@bensaundersMMA) February 26, 2018
Making a change.
Moving up to 205# after much consideration w my team and UFC. Can’t wait to bring all of my fans and supporters the best performance yet! You deserve it. Just wait! #Lionheart #UFC #MovingUp pic.twitter.com/hE3d7Uunar
— Anthony Smith (@lionheartsmith) February 26, 2018
Inspirational.
This is a mug shot of me taken Feb. 18th 2012 exactly six years ago from my first @ufc loss, Ironic? The loss I took this day was way more serious then the loss I took 8 days ago. Win or learn.... #grateful #sober #onlyup pic.twitter.com/2w5aLiKt2G
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) February 26, 2018
Prospect killer.
#ProspectKiller #FishAndChips #Bellator200 #London pic.twitter.com/dDJ9fBxKJw
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) February 26, 2018
Update.
UPDATE
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) February 27, 2018
-Received Rampage's Takedown Check today.
He is a MAN of his WORD.
As am I:
I promised I would NOT CASH IT; and I won't.
I will...
DEPOSIT it, though......
Oh
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) February 27, 2018
And on th'subject of
HONORABLE
FIGHTERS....
Tito wants Chuck "fight" in UFC...
I heard Coker was the guy who went & paid to get that scoundrel's car out of Repo yard, and he took care of the KID he found sleepin' in the back seat....
Six months sprawl training and he’s a contender.
One shot you know the rules @spittinchiclets pic.twitter.com/lDwhDAk76z
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 26, 2018
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jack Marshman (22-7) vs. Bradley Scott (11-5) UFC London, March 17.
Emmanuel Sanchez (16-3) vs. Sam Sicilia (16-8); Bellator 198, April 28.
Alexa Grasso (10-1) vs. Tatiana Suarez (5-0); UFC Santiago, May 19.
Vicente Luque (12-6-1) vs. Chad Laprise (13-2); UFC Santiago, May 19.
Guido Cannetti (7-3) vs. Diego Rivas (7-1); UFC Santiago, May 19.
Andrea Lee (8-2) vs. Veronica Macedo (5-1-1); UFC Santiago, May 19.
Syuri Kondo (6-0) vs. Poliana Botelho (6-1); UFC Santiago, May 19.
Rafael Carvalho (15-1) vs. Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2); Bellator 200, May 25.
Michael Page (12-0) vs. David Rickels (19-4, 2 NC); Bellator 200, May 25.
Walt Harris (10-7) vs. Daniel Spitz (6-1); UFC Utica, June 1.
Hector Sandoval (14-4) vs. Jarred Brooks (13-1); UFC Utica, June 1.
Joseph Benavidez (25-4) vs. Sergio Pettis (16-3); UFC 225, June 9.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2011: B.J. Penn went to a majority draw with Jon Fitch in the main event of UFC 127. This was the last time Penn fought in the octagon and didn’t lose.
2015: At Bellator 134, Liam McGeary won a unanimous decision over Emanuel Newton to become the Bellator light heavyweight champion.
At Invicta FC 11, Cris Cyborg defended her women’s featherweight title, knocking out Charmaine Tweet in 46 seconds.
2016: Michael Bisping won a unanimous decision over Anderson Silva at UFC Fight Night 84.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
Poll
Do you like the idea of Bisping-Rockhold III?
This poll is closed
-
39%
It’s perfect.
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23%
It’s good.
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19%
It’s fine.
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9%
I’m not a big fan of it.
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7%
Please, no.
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