Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold Continue War of Words After UFC 199 Rematch

Michael Bisping’s title victory was the feel-good story of the evening at UFC 199, but it didn’t take long for those good vibes to turn into harsh words once Saturday’s headlining combatants hit the post-fight press conference dais. After 26 Octagon appearances, Bisping claimed his long-sought-after championship with a first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold at the Forum in Los Angeles. “The Count” took the bout on two weeks’ notice and was a heavy underdog, but he claimed the belt just 3:36 into the fight, avenging a 2014 loss to Rockhold in the process. While Bisping’s elation in the moment was evident, he bristled at Rockhold’s reaction in the immediate aftermath. “He was out. I went over to talk to him afterwards, to say, ‘Well done.’ He didn’t have a clue where he was,” Bisping said on Fox Sports 1. “I shook his hand and he was kind of a bit of an asshole afterwards to be honest. Even when I shook his hand he said, ‘I already shook your hand.’ I’m like, ‘Don’t be bitter, man. Don’t be bitter because I took your belt, Luke.’” Rockhold offered a different take on the post-fight exchange at the press conference. “That guy is such a dick. You show your true colors after a fight, and that f—ing guy comes up to me, “Do you know where you are?” I f—ing picked you up off the canvas and gave you respect [in our first fight] That guy is a piece of s–t and I want to f—ing come kill him next time around. He’s a just a maggot. Those are true colors.” That response led to a back-and-forth shouting match that felt much like the war of words that preceded their UFC 199 showdown. Only this time, Bisping was already vindicated by the results in the Octagon. More than that, the victory …

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