Rivals Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping to headline UFC Australia in November
Rivalries sell and the UFC is cashing in.
Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping have been exchanging barbs everywhere from social media to national television for years at this point. Now, they'll finally have their grudge match.
Rockhold and Bisping will meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Fight Pass in Australia on Nov. 8, it was announced Friday on FOX Sports 1. Not only are both ranked among the top 10 in the middleweight contender rankings, but the heat between the two is also legitimate. Rockhold recently challenged Bisping to a side wager -- if he finished Bisping in the first round, he would get Bisping's fight purse.
Bisping (25-6) probably won't take that bet. But the fight represents a huge opportunity for him to get back into the UFC middleweight title picture, which he has hung around for a good chunk of the last decade. The 35-year-old Brit is coming off a fourth-round TKO of Cung Le last month in Macao. Le also happens to be Rockhold's training partner, further adding fuel to the feud.
Rockhold (12-2), the former Strikeforce champion, is ranked No. 5 among middleweight contenders, compared to Bisping's No. 8. The 29-year-old California native has won two straight, against Costas Philippou and Tim Boetsch, and has just two career losses. A win over Bisping very well could earn him a title shot.
No other fights have been announced yet for the Australia show. But this is a pretty good start.
