7 Best Fights Of Michael Bisping's Career
1. Luke Rockhold - UFC 199
How could it be any other? It was looking like Michael Bisping would go down as one of the greatest UFC fighters to never get a shot at a championship. Whilst he had competed in a couple of title eliminator fights, he had come out on the losing side both times, and not without controversy. Dan Henderson was using TRT before it was prohibited outright when he knocked out Bisping at UFC 100, and many felt that "The Count" actually won his fight with Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2, despite the judges deciding otherwise.
Then fate and fortune intervened. Newly crowned Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was expected to fight Chris Weidman, the man he had beaten for the belt, in a rematch in UFC 199's main event. However, Weidman was forced to pull out of the bout due to injury. The UFC's first choice for his replacement was Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, but he was also on the shelf following his most recent victory over Vitor Belfort. Therefore, the UFC turned to Bisping who was more than happy to take an opportunity that he may never have gotten otherwise.
The perceived problem for Bisping in the eyes of the media and fans alike was that he had been given only 17 days to prepare for the biggest fight of his life. Not only that, but Rockhold had already beaten Bisping handily in 2014, submitting the Brit early in the second round. As such, Bisping was a huge underdog going into the fight and few were giving him any chance of actually winning the belt.
None of this mattered to "The Count" as he shocked the world, knocking Rockhold out in the very first round. After almost ten years of battles inside the Octagon, Bisping finally had the championship that he had coveted throughout his UFC tenure, and earned himself a well-deserved Performance of the Night bonus along with it. The result has been called one of, if not the biggest upset in UFC title fight history.
The question for Bisping now is: can he avenge one of the most vicious knockouts in UFC history and defend his belt? He gets the chance in front of his hometown fans on October 8th.
--
What do you think? Which are The Count's greatest bouts? Let us know in the comments!