Michael Bisping bests Luke Rockhold in verbal sparring match
Just 48 hours away from their main event title fight at UFC 199, Michael Bisping likely scored his first victory over Luke Rockhold as the two engaged in a back-and-forth war of words at the pre-fight press conference.
Bisping is well known for his fast tongue and quick wit and he was doing everything in his power to blast Rockhold in the final days leading up to their fight.
As the press conference got underway, Bisping first accused Rockhold of ducking a fight with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in favor of fighting him on two weeks notice. Bisping had been in Toronto filming a part in the new "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" movie alongside Vin Diesel when he got the call for the fight after former champion Chris Weidman suffered an injury.
"A source very close to the UFC that shall remain nameless gave me some information. Luke says he's on a different level than everybody else and he's by far the best fighter and he can destroy everybody, this, that and the other, well if that is the case it turns out he is a liar," Bisping shouted. "Because the guy has a bit of vagina inside of him because he turned down Ronaldo "Jacare" (Souza), whatever his name is.
"He turned the fight down. I didn't turn this fight down. Two weeks, two days, two hours, I'll take on anyone, any time, any place, certainly this (expletive)."
Rockhold denied turning down the fight with "Jacare" and instead said that he chose to fight Bisping when the UFC came calling with the offer.
The middleweight champion was then asked about his brimming confidence that's been on display in the weeks leading up to the title fight, even before he knew he was fighting Bisping.
"That's how you overcome things, that's how you put yourself out there, you believe it and you achieve it," Rockhold answered. "That's what I do. I know what I'm going to do."
Rockhold's inadvertent rhyme gave Bisping the opening he needed to take another shot at the champion while also taking aim at the fact that he's just now defending the belt for the first time after winning the title last December.
"It sounds like the worst self-help book you've ever read. Conceive, achieve, believe. Shut the (expletive) up," Bisping said. "Listen, you're talking like you're this dominant champion. You just won the belt.
"This is your first defense. It's not like you're Anderson Silva, who I just beat by the way, this is your first defense, you're going to lose the belt."
Rockhold certainly pulled no punches when firing back at Bisping, especially when he took aim at the British middleweight's damaged eye that put him out of action for a year and could have easily ended his career.
"I (expletive) knocked you out and choked you out and you still have the audacity to run your mouth. That is the most amazing thing about you, Bisping. I know you can't see straight but obviously you can't think straight either," Rockhold said.
Bisping closed things out by taking another dig at Rockhold's perceived arrogance while predicting that the crowd at The Forum on Saturday night would actually be in favor of him over the champion.
Bisping has rarely been the fan favorite outside of his native England, but he says Rockhold's attitude might have earned him a few more cheers at UFC 199.
"The American fans are cheering me on!" Bisping said. "I think I'm going to get a bigger cheer than you on Saturday because they all see a smug (expletive) just like I do. Just like all these people do."
