Bisping’s win leaves Rockhold seething

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Michael Bisping’s dramatic first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC 199 at The Forum capped a lengthy journey to the UFC middleweight title and made him the first English champion in the organization’s history.

What it failed to do was settle the contentious rivalry with Rockhold.

The two exchanged testy words throughout the postfight news conference before needing to be separated by UFC officials as they exited the stage.

Bisping extended his arm in what appeared to be an attempt to shake Rockhold’s hand, but the gesture only served to further escalate tensions that were running high after an emotional question-and-answer session.

When Bisping arrived onstage drinking a beer, Rockhold was in the middle of answering a question about Bisping’s postfight behavior after he had knocked Rockhold out.

“That guy’s such a (expletive),” Rockhold said. “You show your true colors after a fight and he came up to me (in a mocking tone), ‘Do you know where you are?’ ”

Rockhold thought he deserved better after the way he treated Bisping after submitting him in their first meeting.

“I picked him up off the canvas and showed him respect,” Rockhold said. “That guy’s a piece of (expletive) and I want to come kill him next time around. He’s a maggot.”

Bisping said he originally tried to be respectful, but was shunned. The bickering only got worse from there before culminating with the near-skirmish afterward.

None of it was going to take away from Bisping’s moment, though. He had chased a title shot for nearly a decade as a contender without ever getting the opportunity until he agreed to step in for an injured Chris Weidman on two weeks’ notice.

“This has been a lifetime’s work,” the 37-year-old said. “I always felt I was capable of doing this. I had some ups and downs along the way and I understand why people didn’t believe in me because I’ve lost some key fights. But I always believed I could do it. That’s why I took this fight on short notice. I am a fighter and I shocked the world.”

Bisping was more than a plus-500 underdog to beat Rockhold, but insists he knew he would win. He was especially confident after noticing on tape that Rockhold tends to drop his right hand. Bisping ended the fight, and Rockhold’s title reign, with two big left hooks.

It was all part of a plan that took far more than two weeks to put together.

“I do believe in destiny. I do believe in the universe pulling it all together,” Bisping said. “I’ve worked my life toward this. I’ve worked tirelessly. I made a lot of sacrifices. I quit work when I had a wife and two kids and we were broke. She supported me and let me do that. I moved away to another city and slept in my car. I remember sleeping in my car and trying to open the door with (a layer) of snow on top of it that had froze and trying to break my way out of the car just to go train in the morning. People don’t know the road I’ve been on.

“I know I’m a loudmouth idiot at times and I can be a (expletive), I know I can. But I’m just out there trying to look after my family, look after my children and give them the best life possible the only way I know I can. This is what I do. I fight. I don’t do anything better in this world than that.”

He’s also pretty good at getting under Rockhold’s skin. Rockhold hopes he’s granted an immediate rematch to settle their differences in the cage.

“I gave him the opportunity and he made the most of it. Give me the opportunity and it will be the end of it,” the former champion said. “It will be a short-lived destiny.

“I feel like I’m still the best in the game and I will prove that anytime. I’ll be back right here with the belt in front of me.”

Rockhold may have to wait in line. Weidman is still in the mix for a title shot when he’s healed and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has soared up the rankings into contention for the top contender spot.

Bisping may not be in the right frame of mind to make decisions any time soon.

“To be honest, I just want to relish this moment,” said Bisping, who plans to rent a villa in Thailand with his family. “Ten years in and I never got a title fight and then I knock the bum out in the first round. I’m just going to ride the crest of this wave and have a few drinks. I do envision the mother of all hangovers coming my way pretty soon. Then once I take the time to let that clear, drink a few waters and maybe take a couple Ibuprofen to get rid of the throbbing in my head, then I’ll take a look at the landscape and see who wants a knocking out next.”

One thing is for sure: Bisping won’t have to wait another 10 years for his next title fight.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj