The rest of the middleweight division is about to lose their minds…
Michael Bisping shocked the world when he upset Luke Rockhold on June 6th, 2016. Chris Weidman had to pull out of a scheduled rematch against Rockhold so Bisping got the call and promptly threw the division into chaos.
Credit has to be given to Luke Rockhold for agreeing to the bout, but the outcome has left his division without a defending champion for 16 months now. An ACL injury would prevent Rockhold from taking an immediate rematch, and Bisping has been able to avoid all other legitimate challenges from middleweight contenders ever since.
Is Michael Bisping’s Title Reign the Worst Ever?
Bisping’s sole defense of the middleweight title during his now 16-month reign as champion was against Dan Henderson. At the time, Henderson was only ranked #14, yet the UFC was determined to give Hendo a title shot in his retirement fight.
Luke Rockhold recently made some damning public statements regarding Bisping’s infamous run with the title:
“I think it’s the worst in UFC history!” Rockhold stated regarding Bisping’s run as middleweight champ.
“No one has ever gotten that treatment, no one has avoided all the top contenders. He was supposed to fight Jacare, he avoided that, he was supposed to fight Yoel, he avoided that, and somehow he’s getting away from this fight Whittaker. He found Dan Henderson, the No. 14th ranked at the time, and now he’s going for GSP. He hasn’t done anything.“
Rockhold might be absolutely livid when he hears what Bisping may have planned for after his bout with GSP.
Daniel Cormier Apparently Wants to Face Bisping
Recently on his podcast, Bisping commented on another possible money-fight somewhere down the line. Bisping and Daniel Cormier were working together over the weekend and apparently off-camera Cormier was saying he wanted to face Bisping.
“Speaking of guys that think they can take me. Which of course when I say this, most people are gonna think he can take me – I was working with Daniel Cormier at the weekend and . . . all he kept talking about all weekend was, ‘Mike, I want to fight you next. I want to fight you.’ On air, off air, at the hotel, constantly. He was like, ‘Mike, I will break you within five minutes.’ Dude, are you crazy? Do you really believe that?
After Jon Jones failed a drug test at UFC 200, Michael Bisping offered to step in. Despite the middleweight champion’s offer, the decision was made to go with Anderson Silva vs Daniel Cormier instead.
Michael Bisping Comments on Facing Daniel Cormier
“I don’t know if he’s joking or if he’s serious. But if he is serious, I’ll fight him next even though I said last week I’m gonna retire. I would fight Daniel Cormier because that would be a huge fight. DC is a great guy. He’s hilarious, hell of a fighter and he seems to be targeting a fight with me. So DC, if you’re serious, which I kind of think you are, then yeah, screw it, if only to annoy everyone in the world I will, again, fight somebody who doesn’t fight at middleweight.”
Luke Rockhold, who is teammates with Cormier, doesn’t appear to be on the current champion’s radar.
