Michael Bisping has finally got his shot at the UFC title after 10 years as a perennial contender.
It’s the fight of his life, and he knows it. But despite taking the bout against champion Luke Rockhold at barely two weeks’ notice, Bisping appears supremely confident.
The British veteran was oozing energy and excitement ahead of the UFC 199 title clash as he spoke to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour.
Serendipitously, The Count has been keeping himself in shape for his role in the new xXx movie with Vin Diesel – so he finds himself in near fight condition.
“Are the circumstances perfect? No they’re not. But I believe the circumstances are very good.
“Because I was doing the movie I was trying to keep in good condition. Being as vain as I am, I wanted to look good for the camera.
“So I was keeping my weight low. If it wasn’t low, fighting for the belt wouldn’t have been a realistic opportunity because I wouldn’t have made weight.
“From accepting the fight until now my weight is at 203lbs, which is where I am after a normal training camp
“I came back and did some pad work and my conditioning is right where it usually is.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ObcANPlEY
Bisping is coming off the back of an impressive and gutsy win over former middleweight champion and one-time pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva at UFC London which will no doubt add fuel to his fire.
But the 36-year-old reckons taking the Rockhold fight at such short notice could actually be a blessing.
“It’s all in the mind. Two weeks will be a positive thing for me. I always overtrain. The first couple of weeks of camp I feel fantastic, I’m throwing guys about, I feel strong, I feel good.
“Then as the camp progresses I train so hard because it means so much to me.
“By the end of the camp my conditioning’s good, but I’ve lost strength, I’ve gone from being confident to negative and then negative to confident and all these mixed emotions with a rollercoaster going up and down.
“But there’s no time for that. I’m two weeks out. My weight is good, my conditioning is good, I’m going to train like a madman for the next 10 days, I’m going to go in confident with no injuries and this time in a fortnight I could well be the new world champion.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVY21BPyL_I
Bisping famously lost to Luke Rockhold via guillotine choke in Sydney back in November 2014.
Rockhold went on to claim the middleweight strap from Chris Weidman – but Bisping hasn’t been defeated since that night, winning three on the trot.
“I know I’m the underdog and know I deserve to be the underdog. But nothing about Luke scares me it really doesn’t I know this guy its not like I’m going into unknown waters.
“I have the ability to beat this guy believe you me, we trained before and I made mincemeat out of him.
“I made mistakes in that last fight this time I’m not going to play the long game I can’t afford to do that.”
The Lancastrian fighter, who now lives out in California, was calling for a title shot after his victory over Silva but it appeared he had been overlooked by Dana White.
Even when Chris Weidman pulled out injured, the No.5 ranked middleweight didn’t think he was top of the list to step in.
Asked if it bothered him, he said:
“You’d have to ask Dana about that. It doesn’t matter, I am getting the shot and I want this.
“Jacare speaks all the time about wanting the belt, well it was offered to him on a silver platter and he turned it down.
“People turn things down, you can’t do that. I’ve been presented with this opportunity and I’m taking it.
“I’m a real fighter I’ll fight anyone, any place, any time. If I lose this I’ll never get a shot again, but I believe I can win this and that’s why I’m taking this fight.
“Not only do I deserve this but I know I can do this. I know this guy, Luke Rockhold’s been knocked out before
“I’m going to give him everything I’ve got and I believe everything I’ve got is enough to put him down
“Yes I want to be the victor, I want to be the world champion, but I also want to beat Luke Rockhold – it’s personal for me.
“He’s the biggest, smuggest prick I’ve seen in my life and would love another opportunity to punch him in the face – where do I sign up?!”
